Learning goes both ways
International students are finding a whole new world at an area school, while broadening the horizons for students from the Southland as well.
Morgan Park Academy has a decadeslong tradition of welcoming youth from other countries as part of a student exchange program and this year they’ve arrived from China, France, Italy, Norway, Spain and Taiwan.
“It’s opening my mind and culture,” said Agathe Pons, an exchange student from Paris. “It’s about (improving my) English … but also everything it can bring me culturally. I’ve seen the city and it’s just beautiful … I went to the Chicago History Museum this week and saw City on Fire: Chicago 1871, which was really fascinating.”
Agathe also likes the school’s welcoming atmosphere and closeknit classes, she said.
“Here the classes are way smaller, about 10 people, which is a pretty good thing in my opinion. In France there are about 35 students in a class.
“Small is really good because I think I learn faster and better.”
While here, Agathe is living with Meg Carey, an English teacher at Morgan Park Academy who also has children at the school.
“Agathe is a wonderful person. She wants to learn not only academics while here, but wants to gain a cultural understanding of America,” Carey said. “We talk about the differences in food, music and other little things we don’t even notice. … And we find we have a lot in common too.”
Carey said by immersing herself in an American school and culture, Agathe was helping enrich the lives and minds of her fellow students, and staff for that matter.
“Our students get to know each other well and have a strong respect for each other. Not only has she met American teens, but students from other countries,” Carey said.
Allison Bowles, the school’s associate director of admissions and a host parent for a students from Taiwan and France, said the academy’s curriculum strives to expose students to global education and the culture.
“This definitely adds to this appreciation,” she said.
In a typical year, students celebrate Chinese New Year, the Indian festivals Holi and Diwali and a spring Global Explorer’s Week where they spend time virtually visiting other countries.
“I think the cultural appreciation and global education are ingrained in our mission statement,” Bowles said.
But being a host family also is fun outside of school.
“They’re down for exploring and trying absolutely everything,” Bowles said. Her host students and
two sons have made trips downtown and to a few museums, along with fun activities at home such as dressing up for Halloween and carving pumpkins.
Tiffany Chen, who has been in the U.S. since age 11 but at Morgan Park Academy since she was a freshman, said she loved the diversity.
“I can meet a lot of students who come from different backgrounds,” said Chen, a senior. “In China we’re all the same.”
Chen said that diversity had
also led to learning more than she might in a classroom where everyone was alike.
“I’ve been able to communicate, exchange an idea and learn about each other’s culture,” said Chen. “That’s something very exciting to me.”
Already planning for more international students next semester, Morgan Park Academy is looking for local families to host.