The Study Tour Exchange Program combines elements of travel and learning. Our school is committed to organizing various study tours and exchange programs, providing students with opportunities to learn both on campus and abroad, further embodying the saying "Reading thousands of books is not as useful as traveling thousands of miles."
Through domestic study tours, students deepen their understanding of their homeland's history, culture, social development, and the lives of its people. Participating in overseas exchange programs also allows students to learn about foreign cultures and global development trends, broadening their international perspectives. These study tours aim to cultivate independence and confidence in students, while enhancing their interpersonal communication skills.
Maryknoll Secondary School has been a partner school of the AFS Program in Hong Kong since 2019. Each year, the school hosts an international student from various regions such as Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Additionally, our students have the opportunity to apply for the program annually to become overseas exchange students and attend local secondary schools abroad.
 |
 |
 |
I really enjoyed my life in Maryknoll from the beginning to the end. During my year there, I attended different subjects, such as English, Mathematics, Visual Arts (VA), Physical Education (PE) and Physics. Sometimes, I would take part in Other Learning Experience (OLE). Some differences I notice in teaching would be how Science is taught. While Italian schools mostly focus on the theoretical aspects and rarely use the laboratories, Physics and other Technology Science lessons here use a more practical approach, so I was very happy and surprised to be able to do some experiments in the lab. VA was a very interesting subject that I had never tried in Italy, even though I’m not very good at drawing or painting. Sometimes, the teacher even mentioned arts in Italy, which made me feel proud and allowed me to learn more about both Italian and Chinese cultures.
PE in Hong Kong seems to be much more important than in Italy. Unfortunately, sports are not very valued in Italian schools, like how there’s no such thing as school sports team, team colours or Sports Day, which is a bit sad for a sport-lover like me. If you want to do sports in Italy, you have to join a local club depending on the sport you want to practice. During my time here, I joined the athletics team, even joined the inter-school competition with other girls. I found the training quite similar to my practice in Italy, but the main difference is that in Italy we don’t train at school. I believe any school should focus more on physical education like Maryknoll. It helps students stay healthy and develop their skills. I also joined Sports Day, where I proudly won four medals in long jump, 100 meters, class relay, and team relay.
I have always loved Asian culture, which is one of the main reasons I chose Hong Kong for my exchange. Held at Maryknoll with the help of local students, AFS Hong Kong organized Cantonese classes for all exchange students. This club also helped me get closer to other Maryknoll students, and I made many friends through it. With my friends and host family, I visited many beautiful places and tried lots of delicious food — one of my favourite aspects of Hong Kong culture! I’m sad that I can’t eat the same food in Italy, because even if we have Chinese restaurants, the taste’s just not the same.
My year in Maryknoll has been unforgettable. I would like to thank my class teacher, Ms Chu, who always helped me throughout the year — with lessons, classmates and any doubts I had. I’m also grateful to all the other teachers who supported me during my time in Maryknoll. I’ve learned so much not only about Hong Kong’s culture, language, and school life, but also about myself. I have made wonderful friends and faced new challenges, hence have grown up to be a better person. I will always keep this experience close to my heart and hope to return to Hong Kong one day.
 |
 |
 |
When I was a junior form student, I joined the AFS Club on my teacher's recommendation. This gave me the opportunity to meet exchange students from around the world and gradually develop a strong interest in international cultures. I am very grateful for the support of my family and teachers, which enabled me to successfully apply to become an exchange student in the international exchange program. I hoped that by studying abroad, I could become more independent and improve my English skills.
One of the features of the AFS program is that I could choose to live with a host family, allowing me to integrate into the local life as quickly as possible. Through living with a local family, I was able to learn their local lifestyle, and get to know how to cook various Italian dishes and desserts. My Italian host family often took me to visit famous historical sites, allowing me to deeply experience the rich history and culture of Europe.
Additionally, the family I stayed with ran a pharmaceutical business, which gave me the opportunity to visit a pharmaceutical factory and learn more about drug production and biotechnology. This was an eye-opening experience for a student of biology and physics like me! Moreover, I attended a local language school and quickly learned Italian, French, Spanish, and other languages within a year. I was able to communicate easily and confidently with classmates of different nationalities and made many friends.
Of course, there were times in the early stages of the exchange when I felt uncomfortable being in a foreign country. I am very grateful for the messages of concern from my teachers, which made me feel warm and supported. I also hope to encourage my fellow students to "live in the moment" ("vivere il momento" in Italian), let go of past disappointments or difficulties, seize the present, and bravely try new things to create unforgettable learning memories for themselves.
Our school organizes a Mount Fuji Climbing Exchange Program in Japan, training students' willpower through the challenge of climbing a high mountain. After six months of training, 20 students were ultimately selected to participate.
During the climbing process, students demonstrated perseverance, and even if they were unable to reach the summit due to weather conditions, they still gained valuable experiences. Furthermore, the exchange program includes various enriching activities such as cultural experiences and school exchanges. Students challenge themselves, step out of their comfort zones, and try many "firsts" in their lives, expanding their horizons and gaining invaluable experiences.
|
HK01 Media
|
RTHK Review
|
Others
.jpg)
