About the Host School
The School was established in 1035A.D. and has around 2700 students, from 13 to 18 years old.
The school has a strong ethos, summed up as being rooted 'deep in history and culture, with excellent teaching and studying style that can establish a solid foundation for the further development of students'. A key goal is to make itself among the best schools at home and abroad with the four-word motto: 'honesty, confidence, meditation and bravery' as the basis.
The School is highly recognised nationwide and has three campuses: Suzhou Lida Middle School, Suzhou High School-SIP and Suzhou High School (covering an area of 10.66 square kilometers) and a wide range of teaching facilities. The school has won honourable titles of all kinds, such as 'Civilised Unit' for 5 consecutive years, most 'Aesthetic Advanced School' twice and 'Model School'. Recently, the school has been judged as one of the first '4-star' schools of the province.
The A Level Centre
The A Level Centre was established in May 2007 and currently has 268 students on roll. We have 20 foreign teachers and 8 Chinese teachers. All students who completed A2 level in 2009 went on to universities across the world, including: University of Cambridge, Oxford University, LSE, Imperial College London, Emory University, Carnegie Mellon University, Michigan and University of Southern California.
The vast majority of students are lively, smart, highly motivated, trustworthy, confident, sociable, determined, helpful and dedicated.
Facilities are good with a variety of well equipped science laboratories, studios, lecture theatre, study rooms and teacher rooms. Computers and projectors are available in each classroom. Students also have various opportunities to join in club activities, such as: Cartoon Club, Detective Club, Magic Cube Club, DIY Club, and to participate in community service activities, such as Red Cross volunteer, orphanage home teacher and nursing home volunteer.
The challenge in teaching, as with all our centres, is in delivering subject teaching when English is a second language and to pupils with a completely different cultural background. At IGCSE level, students can study Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Business Studies, English as a Second Language, Arts and P.E. (instructed by both foreign teachers and Chinese teachers). AS and A2 level is instructed by foreign teachers only. Students generally take 5 subjects at AS and 3 to 4 at A2.
Lifestyle
Off campus accommodation is very good and teachers can get a furnished, 2-3 bedroom apartment covered by the accommodation allowance. The school is located in the city centre, so there is easy access to various entertainment and leisure facilities: shopping malls, bars, international restaurants, gardens and Chinese traditional tea houses. We have staff always on hand to offer assistance when required.
Suzhou is a very beautiful city with its network of canals, bridges and lakes. It is also famous for its delicate, traditional style of gardens, architecture and silk products. Proximity to Shanghai (about 40 minutes by train) ensures that you feel well connected to modern China. The city of Wuxi is also very close by. Main attractions include: Shiquan Street (for bars, restaurants and shops), Gardens (The Humble Administrator's Garden, Tiger Hill, Lingering Garden, Lion Grove), and the canals and bridges that connect the whole city.
The climate is hot in summer and quite cold in winter. We also have a rainy season in early summer.
For further information about the city, please see:
http://www.chinahighlights.com/suzhou/
http://www.muztagh.com/suzhou/index.html
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Suzhou.aspx
Teacher Case Study
Michelle Barton, English
Before I came out to teach with Dipont in China, I had just finished my PGCE and had been teaching English Language and Literature GCSE and A-Level in a sixth form college in London. I have a degree in English Literature.
Prior to this, I had also carried out some EFL teaching during summer holidays at summer schools, and also tutored privately at all levels.
The majority of my time is spent planning, marking (especially marking!) and teaching. Other duties of mine include helping with university application essays, personal statements and writing references. We have extra-curricular activities as well, like the IT club, which take place after school hours.
Students need help mostly with their writing and speaking. Unfortunately, class sizes mean it is hard to do any meaningful speaking practices beyond familiarising them with exam formats and making them accustomed to speaking to time limits, but it is possible to make inroads into their writing problems.
English subject teachers do not teach public exams past IGCSE, but we do offer TOEFL, IELTS and SAT support in semester two.
The most noticeable aspect of teaching here is that the students are far easier to teach than their English counterparts. There is none of the confrontation, intimidation and general behaviour problems that are common in many English classrooms. Generally, students take learning very seriously, do their homework on time (most of them), and work very hard. They are very keen to learn about 'western' cultures. Some of them are a real pleasure to teach.
Because the centre is small, the staff have all become close; we socialise with each other and are friends which is important in a country which can be as confusing and baffling as China. This is totally different to my experience of working in an English school, where outside one's department, one could feel quite alienated to the rest of the faculty as there are so many other staff. Here, everyone knows each other well.
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Student Case Study
When did you start at the A Level Centre and how would you describe your experience there?
I started in September 2007 and it has been an excellent experience to get myself well prepared to study abroad.
What have been the benefits to you personally in studying A levels?
Being taught by well qualified teachers from different countries and having friends with open minds and the same ambitions. My confidence has increased and my English language skills have improved – especially in spontaneous ways. My attitude has changed towards the way I study, for example through class seminars. Finally, learning and experiencing a diversity of other cultures.
What have been the challenges in studying A levels?
Definitely English language problems when I first entered the Centre. And not being familiar with answering routines, especially for essays in Economics and Business Studies.
What grades did you obtain/or are predicted to obtain?
At IGCSE: A* A* A*AC. At AS Level: AABB. A2 predicted grades: AAAA
What are your plans for University?
I'm not yet sure whether I will attend a UK or US university. I have put applications in for both.
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