Learning Journeys
De La Salle High School - Jerusalem
The exchange programme with De La Salle High School ( DLSHS ) in Jerusalem became a challenge when traveling was no longer possible this year . Ms Lina Al Khateeb , a teacher at De La Salle High School , Jerusalem and Mr Raymond Karam from SJI decided to identify topics so that the students in groups from both countries can research and present to the rest of the teams at the end of the collaboration . The topics were : Food , Festivals , Popular cultures , Day in your life , Family , Attractions for visitors , Challenges and dreams and How did we get here ?
Once or twice a week the students met online to discuss their projects and put together their presentations . The meetings were an eye opener for the students and the teachers on both sides .
The presentations at the end were very impressive , informative and a symbol of collaboration at its best regardless of the distance . The students from DLSHS attempted to make the Singaporean prata and learnt about our Gardens by the Bay , while the Singaporean students learnt about their falafel and humus , and the Holy Sepulchre and the Mosque of Omar .
National Tainan Second Senior High School - Taiwan
In the beginning , talking to a screen for the GEP exchange deterred many of the participants from initiating conversation with the Taiwanese students . Soon , we managed to find common ground with the Taiwanese students , particularly about food and bubble tea ! However another challenge arose - the language barrier . Our Taiwanese counterparts were much more conversant in speaking Mandarin than our Josephians . This posed a problem as the students had to discuss the topics and work on their project . Despite this , many of us found new ways to communicate . Some of the students used LINE and social media sites like Instagram to converse and bond with the Taiwanese counterparts . Some used Google slides to write points in their native language and then translate the points using Google Translate and with the help of their Taiwanese friends . Others researched each other ’ s countries thoroughly and wrote insightful scripts . All these helped the students to produce an informative presentation about the respective topics that they had chosen . Through their research , the students noticed the importance of the bilateral ties Singapore had with Taiwan , as well as the similarities of the two countries . From managing the nation ’ s resources to development in Artificial Intelligence , and the food and beverage culture during the COVID-19 , the students have learnt tremendously from the experience .
Humus and Falafel made with chick peas
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