International Students

At Redland High School we often have requests for girls who wish to perfect their English to come and spend some time with us. The length of time can vary from one term to two or three years. Normally these international students stay with relatives or host families near to the School. Below are just three accounts from girls who joined us from Spain, China and Germany.

Jannika from Germany

My name is Jannika Schmal and last summer I spent a term at Redland High School with the aim of improving my language, especially for conversations in my everyday life.

To begin with I found it rather hard to get used to Redland High because it was so different from my German school, but the girls were amazing and made me feel comfortable with everything. It seemed strange to study exclusively with girls, to wear a school uniform and to experience the whole British school system but it became easier as time drew on.

I chose to study some subjects that we don't have in Germany - for example Textiles, which I really enjoyed. It was interesting to design clothes and to think at the same time about marketing them. Another subject I liked very much was art. The Redland High students have many more choices compared to my art lessons in Germany. I began with fine art and drawing but then moved on to making sculptures out of clay which was really good fun.

The girls I got to know at Redland High really made me feel at home, so that in the end it was hard to leave them. They even wrote cards for me and gave me little Christmas presents. I made friends with different girls from different 'groups'. These were not just English girls, I also met a girl from Georgia who moved to England one year ago and immediately supported me. Other friends were from Pakistan, China and Italy. Although they had always lived in England it was still a mixture of different, interesting cultures.

I am definitely going to visit Bristol again and go for a night out with the girls. I found Bristol a beautiful city and people there were really nice and, of course, polite. And I am looking forward to re-visiting the School for a week.

All in all I am glad that I had the opportunity to spend three months in England. It was an amazing experience which helped me to improve my language and also let me meet many different kinds of people and cultures. It will give me confidence for the rest of my life.

Chloe from China

Looking at the gate of Redland High School for Girls, there is nothing I can do about it, so I start to walk into the school, start to find the classroom, and what lessons I have. Lots of emotions crowd into my heart. I can see a lot of English girls.

What a big change in my life! I am from Hong Kong and moved to England to study when I was fifteen years old. Why I am here? The reason is simple, because my English is not good enough and my parents thought that I depended on them too much. So my parents wanted me to have an opportunity to improve my English and grow up in England. When I first heard this news, England? What a surprise! I am quite excited, because this sounds very interesting to me, to go to a new place I never seen, and meet some other foreigners. My parents arranged the trip about five months ago, but I didn't know until they told me.

The first day I went to Redland High I compared the English school with the Hong Kong school. What a different culture! Especially in my school in Hong Kong: the building, the uniform, the teachers, the lunch time, the weather, the students, activities … my school is called Yan Oi Tong Chan Wong Suk Fong Memorial Secondary School and it's for boys and girls. Redland High School is like a big domestic home, very comfortable and attractive, while my school in Hong Kong is just like several big tower blocks, it has six floors with three big sports fields. And there are about two thousands students in my school, while here there are only about five hundred. The classes are smaller here. In Hong Kong we have at least thirty three students in each class, so teachers have to speak using microphones as the classes are big. So I benefit from the small classes here, because I can study better and the teachers can look after the students. And the teachers have more patience here! The weather is different as well, it was the first time for me to see the beautiful snow last winter in Bristol, and I really enjoyed making a snow man with my cousin and played in the snow at the School with other girls.

I sometimes felt confused and anxious, particularly in the first few months in Bristol. However, I am glad to meet other Chinese people, who are also studying in England. Therefore, I am feeling a lot better than before. Additionally, I am very impressed with the kindness of the English people. For example, if I need any help, they will support me. I am also aware how polite they are. I know that coming to England is good for my future.

Everybody has an aim, that's what people are looking forward to, to achieve the final goal. I am the same! And that's why I am here, with my aim: I will finish my studies in England, and return to Hong Kong to find a satisfactory job. By then I am afraid I will miss my friends and teachers in England.

Lucia from Spain

As it wasn´t my first time at Redland High, I felt much more comfortable and it was easier for me than last year. Everyone was as nice, or even nicer, to me as last September. The teachers were used to seeing me in their classrooms and although I didn't understand everything, I tried hard! I know I improved my English in some areas which wouldn´t have been possible without the opportunity the School brought me.

The thing I most liked about Redland High was that everyone recognized me and made an effort so I could have a nice day every day. Spanish lessons were very amusing and I was glad to see that the girls in my class had really improved (as now they were able to speak with me in Spanish a lot more than last year!). I loved the meals at Redland High because they are so different from what we have in Spain, where we eat lunch at 3 instead of 1. Well in fact Redland High is very different from my Spanish school! There are works and projects all over the corridors; the ICT room is very new and the library is very comfortable and there were lots of things to do in the break period or at lunch time. I was very surprised when I first saw the tuck shop because I think is important to help people who really need help and that´s what you do when you buy chocolate or biscuits from Fair Trade. My Spanish school building isn't nearly as nice - when I saw Redland High School from the outside it seemed like a palace! Back in Spain, we have lots of football pitches and basketball courts but in RHS there is a great variety of sport fields and you can practice the sport you like, not just football or basketball.

In conclusion, everything was just perfect for me. I really hope I can come and visit Redland High again someday, and all I can say is, thank you! Thanks to the School, to the teachers, to my friends …….to everyone who made my experience unforgettable!