Twenty-eight Taiwanese high school students will make their way to Cochrane today, July 3, for three weeks worth of formal English language studies, and a close-up look at southwestern Alberta culture.
The students are part of a larger crew who will be taking part in Rocky View School’s International Program. Now in its third year running, the program offers the English-second-language learners a full-range of English-speaking and western-themed activities.
“This program is really an opportunity for public schools in Taiwan to send high school students across the world to practice speaking and listening to the English language by native speakers,” explained Bonnie McKie, coordinator of the international education program.
Overall, 58 teenagers will be taking part in the program, along with the two Taiwanese teachers who accompanied the students on the trip. The other 30 students will be based in Airdrie.
Here in Cochrane, students will spend Tuesdays and Thursdays in a formal classroom setting at Cochrane High School, said program teacher, Luisa Toteda. The rest of the week, the international students will take in a variety of Alberta-related activities: from bowling and mini-golf, to trips to Heritage Park and Lake Louise.
On July 4, the visitors will kick off the program at the Cochrane Ranche Historic Site, where they will take part in a guided interpretative hike from the Town of Cochrane’s Tom Strachan. They’ll also receive a lesson in the fine art of roping, said McKie.
“The roping lesson will serve as a great introduction to western culture,” she said. “It’ll be a warm up for their trip to the Stampede Parade, which is the next day (July 5).”
While in Alberta, the students will be staying with residents of Cochrane and Airdrie. They’ll be heading back to their homes in Taiwan July 26.
