BC Campus’ students in “Talking East and West” 

Recently, SUIS Jiaoke Campus BC Program students Julian, Cindy and Rita won Second prize in the fifth “Talking East and West” high school-university student cultural exchange exhibition event in the international curriculum section of the high school group. 

The Shanghai Municipal Education Commission collaborates with the Shanghai Educational Press, the Shanghai Student Moral Education Development Centre, and the Shanghai Youth International Exchange Centre to organise the “Talking East and West” cultural exchange exhibition for high school and university students. This year’s “Talking East and West” competition added an international curriculum subgrouping to the high school group, and our school’s first participants achieved remarkable results. This event drew 126 teams from 16 districts in the city, and after three rounds of fierce competition, 33 teams remained, each winning the third, second, or first prize for the high school group, the high school international curriculum subgroup, or the university group, respectively. 

This year’s accomplishment was even more impressive because it coincided with the pandemonium caused by the Covid 19 pandemic. Julian, Cindy, and Rita, along with their advising teacher Mrs. Wei, selected “The Difference Between Western and Eastern Responsibility Awareness” as the topic for their play “The Protagonist’s Coming of Age Ceremony” Through three phases of elimination consisting of script writing, live exhibition, and video exhibition, our school’s representatives emerged victorious and were awarded second place out of 126 competing teams. 

Cindy Xu: “This was my first time competing on ‘Talking East and West,’ and I’ve learned a great deal from the experience. The most difficult aspect of the entire competition was the visual and aural translation portion of the semifinals, and we were able to pass because of the strong foundation in English that we had acquired through the BC curriculum. The two years of immersion in the English environment of the school were very helpful in enhancing our expression and translation skills. Our timing and ability to select the most appropriate language for the situation were somewhat deficient. Observing other organizations has taught me a great deal. Mrs. Wei encourages us to continue expressing ourselves in the exhibition the following year, and I eagerly anticipate it. 

Rita Huang: “I would like to thank every member of the team for their efforts and contributions. I would also like to thank Mrs. Wei for her guidance and support. I believe that we can only obtain the support and recognition of the judges if we have strong teamwork and mutual support. At SUIS, where one of the prominent philosophies is ‘Where East Meets West,’ we have heard much about the cultural “clash and mix” between eastern and western cultures, which is why we chose the topic ‘The Difference Between Western and Eastern Responsibility Awareness’ This work sheds new light on our duties and responsibilities and deepens our understanding of ourselves as a result of contemplation and observation in our ordinary lives as we approach adulthood. 

Julian Gong: “During the event’s preparation phases, every member of the team displayed exemplary team spirit and a proactive attitude, overcoming numerous obstacles along the way. We gained a great deal of knowledge and unforgettable memories. As a participant in an international curriculum, I am pleased to investigate the distinctions between eastern and western culture in this manner. The scriptwriting process and the competition as a whole have stoked our pride and confidence in our distinct culture. I hope to have more opportunities in the future to discuss Chinese culture and to disseminate our culture and ideology around the globe.” 

 Mrs. Wei: “This is our first time participating in this activity, and while the competition is novel to us, ‘Chinese and Western ideas’ is very familiar. As a Mandarin instructor in the BC program, I am ecstatic to see students applying what they have learned in class to the creative ambiance of the competition. I wish that students can travel abroad with tolerance and respect for the differences between Chinese and Western ideas, a passion for traditional culture, and cultural self-assurance.”