Family Matters 4 by the British International School, Shanghai

MAGAZINE

FAMILY MATTERS

ISSUE 4 In this issue Relocating to Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Second- and Third-tier cities The importance of Sport in Education A balanced technological diet A guide to family housing in shanghai Making the most of a gap year

The worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toughest job P 27

the british international school

Shanghai, China

Issue 4

FAMILY MATTERS Relocating to China’s secondand third-tier cities p 10

ASK THE EXPERTS

FAMILY MATTERS

SCHOOL MATTERS

04 Where to live in Shanghai? 10 Relocating to China’s second- and thirdtier cities 20 Tips for relocating with children 22 Settling in a new country

29 When parents disagree 30 Fathers and children 32 Step-parenting and authority 34 Single parenthood pros and cons

56 International Award: Accepting the challenge 60 Measuring success – IB results 64 Mandarin – the new international language? 70 The importance of sport in education 74 Why is it important to learn music? 80 A balanced technological diet 86 Life after school: Making the most of your gap year

FAMILY MATTERS 26 Boost your child’s brainpower with Sudoku 27 World’s toughest job 28 Traditional versus non-traditional parenting

p 22

HEALTH MATTERS 36 Childhood asthma – is there a cure? 39 “Winter illness, summer treatment” ... what?

MEMORABLE SHOTS 40 Shanghai Essentials Guide: Memorable moments

LISTINGS 90 Community, Health, Kids Activities and more

p 40

Journal of The British International School

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Where to live in Shanghai?

By Kate Lorenz Managing Director Ark International

The city of Shanghai is divided by the Huangpu River, creating two distinct areas: Puxi and Pudong. Puxi, west of the river, contains the historical heart of Shanghai and is still what most people refer to as downtown. This side of the city undoubtedly offers the greatest choice of shops, culture and nightlife.

owntown Shanghai in Puxi is a relatively small area, made up of the greater parts of Jing’an, Luwan and Xuhui Districts. The official centre of the city is People’s Square, but to many people this is merely the geographical centre, as social life is focused more on the former International and French Concessions. Pudong, east of the river, was largely built in the last fifteen years and is particularly known for the financial and commercial district Lujiazui. This part of town has two strong features: commercial life and highend residential complexes. The two sides of the city are connected by bridges, road tunnels, the Metro and ferries. There are distinct advantages and disadvantages to each area, depending on your own particular circumstances and lifestyle preferences.

There is of course no formula to calculate where the best place to live is. Much depends on your budget and personal choice. Nevertheless, there are some obvious trends on where people tend to settle down after moving to Shanghai. Here are some basic guidelines: • Young professionals, both couples and singles, tend to live in downtown Shanghai in Puxi. Where exactly obviously depends on the location of their office and thus what kind of transport they prefer to use (bus, Metro or taxi). • Families with children attending international schools usually live in western Shanghai (Hongqiao, Minhang or Qingpu Districts) or Pudong, depending on which school their children attend. • Couples with young children below school age live all over the city in Puxi, Lujiazui and even Hongqiao or Pudong.

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• Older couples with no children or older children (who only visit during boarding school holidays) often seem to prefer the more expatriate lifestyle in the Hongqiao / Pudong villa complexes. There is obviously no ‘best’ district – each offers its own special features, advantages and disadvantages. To better understand the differences, some research and a personal visit are important. There are dozens of living options. Over the last few years, the choices have developed along with the city’s great economic and social achievements. The question of where to live is definitely not an easy one, but it’s better to be spoiled for choice than have no options at all. It’s important to ask your real estate agency to give you an in-depth overview of the different areas, even before you start your housing search – this is a giant of a city.

ASK THE EXPERTS THE FORMER FRENCH CONCESSION The former French Concession is a narrow (approximately 1.5 km wide) corridor stretching east to west across Luwan and Xuhui Districts. As the name suggests, the area was under French administration in the 1930s and is now sometimes also known as Frenchtown. (Note: the French, as with other colonial powers, did not actually own the land, but were ‘given’ the right to administrator the district under their own rules – hence Concession.) The former French Concession is now a highly soughtafter residential area. It’s great for expats who want the convenience of the city, but also enjoy the romantic ambiance of old Shanghai. This area has a large range of low- and high-rise apartments, but is particularly famous for its restored colonial properties. The former French Concession has seen an influx of boutiques, galleries, stylish bars, coffee shops and restaurants in recent years, making it ideal for young couples and singles.

Busy Nanjing Lu Broadly speaking, there are four areas to choose from: Pudong, downtown, Hongqiao and Minhang / Qingpu. However, within those four areas, there are micro centres. For example, in Pudong the choices are Lujiazui, Green City / Jinqiao, Century Park, Longdong Avenue and Kangqiao. Each one of these areas is suitable for families, depending on which school your children attend and what your family’s priorities are. So, if you’re a family moving to Shanghai, how do you get started? Ultimately most families decide on the school and housing is secondary. However, choosing the school does not always immediately narrow down the location. This is because schools often have more than one campus. BISS has three campuses throughout the city, and so even after deciding that your children will attend BISS you may still be unclear as to which campus is best for you.

There is obviously no ‘best’ district – each offers its own special features, advantages and disadvantages. To better understand the differences, some research and a personal visit are important.

Many young families find it the best area for downtown living, because there are kidfriendly restaurants, the streets are relatively quiet and green and there are a number of kindergartens. However, there are limitations for families: • • • •

It can take 40-70 minutes to travel to many of the international schools. There are virtually no villa compounds with large play areas. The streets are busy and crowded and many families find them difficult to navigate with prams / strollers. The attractiveness of the area has resulted in higher rents and property prices.

The Bund, one of the most famous tourist destinations in Shanghai

The next question is: What is most important for you as a family? - Living close to the school so your children don’t have to take the school bus? -

Living with easy access to… • the office? • Shanghai’s international airport? • Shanghai’s domestic airport? • Downtown life?

Although travelling around Shanghai is becoming easier because of the city’s everimproving road and subway systems, if your children are going to school in Pudong you probably don’t want to live in Minhang.

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ASK THE EXPERTS XINTIANDI Xintiandi in Puxi is one of Shanghai’s most sought-after residential areas and technically still part of the French Concession. The shopping centres, bars and restaurants along Huaihai Zhong Lu make this an excellent downtown location for living. Xintiandi itself is a retail and F&B development established by one of Hong Kong’s largest developers, the Shui On Group. The development is only two blocks, but is packed with restaurants, bars and shops. The area around Xintiandi has seen a large influx of high-end, highrise apartment complexes in recent years, but also sports a number of individually redeveloped town and lane houses. The pro and cons for families are similar to those of the French Concession. Pros of living in the Xintiandi area: • One of the most prestigious addresses in town • Plenty of nightlife and recreational activities • Convenient mass transportation system with two subway lines • Easy access to Pudong through the new Fuxing Tunnel Cons of living in the Xintiandi area: • The traffic along Huaihai Lu can be extremely congested • Xintiandi is considered an expensive area • Relatively small public green areas • It can get very noisy, especially during the weekends JING’AN This fashionable area along Nanjing Xi Lu has attracted many high-rise apartments and also contains some lovely restored colonial properties. Nanjing Xi Lu in the area around Plaza 66 and the Portman Hotel Traffic in Shanghai

is Shanghai’s most luxurious shopping destination, rivalled now only by some of the retail outlets on the Bund. Apart from shopping, Jing’an also offers the convenience of the Metro (Line 2) which goes to Pudong and Hongqiao. An abundance of nightlife entertainment options around the Portman Hotel is an added plus. Pros of living in Jing’an: • Close proximity to one of the largest CBD areas on Nanjing Road • Good selection of shops, bars and restaurants • Good public transportation network and subway system Cons of living in Jing’an: • High density of buildings, resulting in more noise • Many commercial buildings • Not as pretty as the former French Concession GUBEI & HONGQIAO Gubei is a longstanding favourite of foreigners in Shanghai, especially Asian expatriates and those who want access to excellent facilities on a lower budget (compared to downtown). Gubei was Shanghai's first expatriate apartment area, built in 1994, and lies within Hongqiao. Further west of Gubei, the area close to Hongqiao Airport features a wide range of high-end villa complexes and can be regarded as Shanghai’s original family-orientated suburb. Rents here are rather pricey, as demand is very high. The compounds are stable and there are very few new expatriate housing options being built in this area, so prices remain high. Pros of living in Gubei or Hongqiao: • Quiet lifestyle with suburban perks • Established expatriate shopping facilities, including Shanghai’s largest Carrefour A view of Pudong

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• • • •

Close to many international schools Close to Hongqiao Airport Shanghai Zoo and surrounding parks offer lots of recreational options, especially for children Easy access to downtown by Metro

Cons of living in Gubei or Hongqiao: • Limited public transportation network and subway system • Less nightlife entertainment than downtown Shanghai MINHANG A number of international schools are now based in the Minhang area, towards western Shanghai. It’s connected to downtown by the Metro and new roads make the area a relatively easy commute. There are many new villa compounds and apartments being built in the area. This area used to have very limited Western amenities, but there has been a large influx of shops and restaurants catering to expatriates living near established international schools. As Shanghai’s traffic grows rapidly, Minhang and Qingpu have become increasingly popular, as families don’t want their children to have a long commute to school every day. QINGPU Qingpu, like Minhang, has seen an increase in international schools and Western-style housing. Like Minhang, the distance from downtown makes rents here more reasonable and the convenience of Huqingping Highway (an extension of Yan’an Elevated Highway) has made this a popular place for expatriate families. The downside is it takes at least 30-45 minutes to get downtown. The Huqingping / Gaojin Lu area has a large supply of new villas, close to the new French

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Lujiazui financial centre / German and Western Academy schools and just 20 minutes from the American, Singaporean and British schools. Like Minhang, there has been a huge increase in shops and restaurants in the area over the last two years. SHESHAN There are a number of golf courses in the Sheshan area. Its lush surroundings, resort facilities and deluxe villas have attracted expatriates who are less concerned about travel time (around 40-60 minutes by car to get downtown). PUDONG Until 15 years ago, Pudong was primarily composed of large tracts of farmland. Its glass and steel skyline today is the symbol of Shanghai's inexorable economic development over the last two decades. Besides being an economic hub, Pudong also offers a large variety of foreign housing estates and compounds that give families an alternative to crowded downtown life. Pudong’s roads are more orderly and less busy than those of Puxi, the air feels cleaner and it’s becoming increasingly popular as Western amenities such as supermarkets, shops, restaurants and hospitals open up at a rapid rate. The most popular areas in Pudong are Lujiazui, Jinqiao (also known as Green City) and Kangqiao. Pros of living in Pudong: • Quieter and less frantic lifestyle • More green space and fresh air • Streets are less congested • Large supermarkets such as Carrefour and Metro

•

Close to international schools

Cons of living in Pudong: • Travel time to downtown can be lengthy, due to congested tunnels and bridges • Limited social and nightlife entertainment options, though this is changing • Obviously lacks the charm of Puxi and its tree-lined streets LUJIAZUI Lujiazui is Pudong's main business district, the downtown area east of the Huangpu. This area is famous for its magnificent skyscrapers, including the Jinmao Tower, the Oriental Pearl Tower and the newly built Shanghai World Financial Center. There are lots of high quality apartment complexes with great river views and fantastic facilities. There are also a number of lower budget properties that offer large apartments at a great price. Downtown Puxi, on the other side of the river, is only 3 to 5 km away and takes 10 to 45 minutes to get to (via the main tunnel linking Puxi and Pudong), depending on traffic. Those who don’t wish to live among skyscrapers and shopping malls can choose from a number of new suburban developments, located near international schools and foreign-focused supermarkets.

perfectly to the expatriate lifestyle. Green City is in Jinqiao Export Development Zone, which has attracted companies such as Philips, NEC and GM. This area is ideal for families with children studying in one of the international schools nearby, many of which are within walking distance of several wellmanaged housing compounds. Approximately 20 minutes drive from Jinqiao are a number of villa complexes along Longdong Avenue. These compounds have seen a significant increase in occupancy over the past few years due to their proximity to Jinqiao, and offer great value for money. These compounds have more local Chinese occupants than expatriates, compared to Jinqiao, which is predominantly expatriate. KANGQIAO Kangqiao is a relatively new area in Pudong and becoming increasingly popular with expatriates. With a number of international schools and villa developments, the area is situated on the outskirts of the main city within easy walking distance to many of the more rural areas of Shanghai and close to Century Park. You will certainly be able to find some good deals here. With the new road systems built for the 2010 World Expo, travel to downtown areas is much easier. The area is developing its own facilities for sport and evening entertainment.

JINQIAO (GREEN CITY) With a good number of international schools, a Carrefour, a Dragonfly Spa, a Blue Frog bar, a Pines supermarket and a wide selection of villas and deluxe apartments, Jinqiao caters

Journal of The British International School

Kate Lorenz is Managing Director of Ark International, an Orientation and Housing company for expats by expats. kate@ark-shanghai.com www.Ark-Shanghai.com

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Relocating to Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Secondand Third-Tier Cities By R. Barry Spaulding Intercultural Trainer Pricoa Real Estate and Relocation Services

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The strong pace of Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic development, its rapid growth and the geographical diversification of foreign investment here, as well as an increasing range of regional options for multinational investment, have presented a number of relocation issues for those considering a new position in China. Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s firsttier cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, historically the destination for a large proportion of people relocating to China, continue to be supplanted by a range of other cities as foreign investment expands into other regions in line with Chinese government incentives, lower labour cost, expanding transportation infrastructure and growing regional markets. Just over half of the 270 companies surveyed last year by the American Chamber of Commerce in China now have a presence outside the traditional regions for foreign investment of Bohai, the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta.

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China’s support infrastructure has been developing so rapidly that maintaining up-todate information on areas of importance to international assignees like transportation, housing, schools, medical facilities and shopping is difficult. Faced with these challenges, as assignments to China’s second- or third-tier cities become even more common, a range of factors needs to be considered to make sure the relocation is successful, understand how these cities’ amenities compare to those of first-tier cities and make sure effective due diligence is undertaken to ensure adequate preparations are made prior to relocation. Understanding the tier concept While there are no formal tier definitions, a number of assumptions can be made to illustrate the differences between the various types of cities. The first tier can probably be considered to be Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The cities have a large foreign population and concentration of Western businesses, including both regional and country headquarters, and a range of service sector companies, as well as many industrial production facilities. Each of these cities has a well-developed network of support services for the expatriate community including international medical facilities, international schools, shopping, leisure activities and a range of housing options targeted at expatriates. Opportunities for partners of assignees are greater and it’s possible to settle quickly into the large foreign community in each of these cities. Second-tier cities are usually a bit less developed in this support network, less

cosmopolitan and have a smaller Western community. However, many of these cities have developed quite rapidly over the past several years in terms of these support services, in many cases reaching similar levels to first-tier cities. Some good examples would be Suzhou, Nanjing, Dongguan and Dalian. Third-tier cities often lack much of the expatriate support network and a large

Even within the tiers there are often big differences between cities in the areas of infrastructure and support services Western community, often necessitating adaptability and alternative provisions for things like education and health care. However, even within the tiers there are often big differences between cities in the areas of infrastructure and support services. Understanding these differences and beginning a due diligence process around an assignment to a second- or third-tier city needs to start with an understanding of some of the core developments in the Chinese economy today. These developments will affect the future direction of assignments in China and result in differences in growth levels of these cities.

Nanjing Lu, Shanghai at night

Another difference that needs to be considered in assessing what an assignment in a secondor third-tier city will be like is an understanding of the balance between public and private sectors in the region

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Examining China and its regional differences First, China needs to be examined not as a unified market, with similar levels of development, but regionally as a group of submarkets with different levels and patterns of economic development. Beginning with the economic reforms in the 1980s, there was quickly a divergence in regional growth rates and living standards in China that continues to this day and begins to provide an explanation of the range of differences existing outside the first-tier cities. A look at per capita GDP figures for China’s cities begins to illustrate the magnitude of these differences. Urban dwellers in China remain much better off than rural residents, but even in urban areas there is a large discrepancy in average per capita GDP, which remains far below that of the United States. The top ten cities, with per capita GDP of RMB56,500-91,900, are firsttier cities Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, as well as other cities in the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta. Number 10, Xiamen, is the only top ten city outside these regions. A range of cities cluster in the RMB35,000-55,000 per capita GDP range, including Dalian, Hangzhou, Tianjin, Nanjing, Dongguan, Ji’nan, Ningbo and Wuhan. Below these cities, in the RMB15,00035,000 range, are a number of cities including Changchun, Xi’an, Fuzhou, Chengdu, Hefei and Chongqing. (Source: demographia.com; chart included in Appendix B.) These income statistics can quickly provide some sense of what someone relocating may expect as, generally speaking, the less wealthy cities will have a less developed infrastructure of

ASK THE EXPERTS housing, restaurants, shopping and other amenities. In many of these cases, proximity to Hong Kong or other first-tier cities will be an important consideration in relocation planning. Another difference that needs to be considered in assessing what an assignment in a second- or third-tier city will be like is an understanding of the balance between public and private sectors in the region. Areas with more of a market economy and more foreign

In more marketoriented environments assignees can expect a wider range of amenities and services investment have generally been quicker in putting a more developed infrastructure of housing, shopping and other amenities in place. Contrary to what many expect, this varies widely in China, depending on regional development patterns and models. For example, Guangdong and Fujian Provinces, originally poorer agricultural provinces when economic reforms were initiated in the 1980s, were opened to foreign investment and private enterprise earlier than other areas in China. Booming, wealthy cities such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou, and secondarily

Zhuhai and Xiamen, are the result, with the local economies largely built on private manufacturing and services investment, both local and foreign. In a more market-oriented environment like this, assignees can expect a wider range of amenities and services. China’s heavy industrial areas in the northeast, and manufacturing cities in the interior, still retain more government control over economic development and still have a larger state-owned sector involved in manufacturing. The northeast was developed in the 1950s on the back of Japanese heavy industrial investment and remains a centre for heavy industry in China. Other interior cities were developed as production facilities and industry was moved from the coast of China in the 1960s to avoid concentration of industry there in the event of a war with the US or Soviet Union. In these regions the market provides fewer amenities and services and the range of options often depends on local government understanding of, and focus on, attractive infrastructure to attract foreign investment and the expatriate management that comes with it. Cities like Dalian, Shenyang, Xi’an, Taiyuan, Lanzhou, Chongqing and Wuhan all fall into this category. In a middle category is the Yangtze River Delta area, birthplace of China’s industry more than a century ago. This highly developed area, with Shanghai at its hub, reformed many of its state-owned industries long ago and has a history of business experience with the West, resulting in cities with generally attractive infrastructure and amenities. Cities here include Suzhou, Nanjing, Wuxi and Hangzhou.

Evaluating closely

the

regions

As seen above, different rates and patterns of economic growth; historical experience with foreign investment and Western preferences; and different regional economies all have resulted in quite varied urban infrastructures and relocation experiences across China. This mandates the need for real due diligence in understanding exactly the situation awaiting assignees in China. Being able to evaluate a possible assignment effectively and deciding what options exist to supplement things missing in a location, such as Western medical facilities, international schools, shopping and international-standard housing, is very important. With China’s embrace of the Internet, there is a range of China expatriate sites, blogs and local government sites (good websites to start with for background and links to many cities include www.mychinastart.com, www. echinacities.com and www.chinaexpat.com) and other information sources. Examining second- and third-tier cities in each of the regional categories discussed above provides a real sense of the difference compared to first-tier cities and the information sources available. Guangdong / Fujian Dongguan Located halfway between Shenzhen and Guangzhou, Dongguan is a major centre of electronics, light manufacturing and furniture production, largely produced by foreign manufacturers or outsourcers. With a range

People’s Square, Chongqing

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ASK THE EXPERTS of foreign restaurants and shops (including the world’s largest shopping centre), and international standard apartments and villas, Dongguan is home to a large number of international assignees. With just one international school, and proximity to both Guangzhou and Shenzhen (45 minutes and 30 minutes by train respectively), many families opt for schooling and residence in one of those locations. There’s a small Global Doctor health clinic, but most medical needs are met through Guangzhou’s international medical centre, or in Hong Kong, just 80 km away. (Useful websites: www.dongguan. gov.cn, www.thatsdongguan.com, www. dongguanexpat.com) Fuzhou The capital of Fujian Province and a port, Fuzhou hosts an increasing number of multinational production facilities focused on electronics and machinery. The city has one international school but no international clinic, with Fuzhou General Hospital providing care for the expatriate community. Like many third-tier cities, Fuzhou has seen rapid expansion of international supermarket / retailing chains in the past several years including Metro, Carrefour and three Wal-Mart Supercenters. While there is far less international-standard housing focused on expatriates than in Xiamen or Dongguan, there’s a range of housing options, from new private apartment blocks to serviced apartments. (Useful websites: www. echinacities.com/cityguide/Fuzhou, www. chinaexpat.com/list/101)

Office building in Shenyang Northeast China / the interior

www.liaoning-gateway.com)

Shenyang

Chongqing

The heavy industrial centre of northeastern China, Shenyang has attracted a range of foreign investment, and has a large international population and an international school with 165 pupils and an American curriculum. Housing options have grown recently and include hotel apartments, townhouses and newly-constructed apartments. A small health clinic, American Medical Center-Global Doctor Clinic, exists. Retail options include two Wal-Mart Supercenters and Carrefour. (Useful websites: www.shenyang.gov.cn, www.chinaexpat.com,

Chongqing, the industrial and commercial centre of southwest China, directly administered by the central government, has emerged as a gateway to central China as well as a location for foreign investment. The small but growing expatriate community is served by two international schools. Medical needs are provided by an international hospital as well as Global Doctor, providing medical care as well as medical evacuation options. Three Wal-Mart Supercenters, three Carrefour hypermarkets and a Metro provide retail options. In addition to apartment

Multicultural students in an international school

Being able to evaluate a possible assignment effectively and deciding what options exist to supplement things missing in a location, such as Western medical facilities, international schools, shopping and international-standard housing, is very important 14 FAMILY MATTERS + Issue 4 Journal of The British International School

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WELCOME TO THE BRITISH SCHOOL OF BEIJING. The school is founded on one simple bedrock. Traditional family values of respect, good manners, good behaviour and high expectations. Students of all ages are guided to become part of a community based on mutually supportive pillars. The British School of Beijing will provide your child with the highest quality education preparing pupils for GCSE and A-levels. The school is based on the National Curriculum of England, in an international setting and as a result, students develop and mature into young adults equipped with the qualifications and skills to enter universities worldwide.

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With a general understanding of some of the regional differences of Chinese cities and the range of information that can be obtained from the Web, it has become reasonably easy to understand and evaluate the lifestyle available for expatriates in a wide range of second- and third-tier cities

Inside a shopping mall in Dalian

options in international hotels in the city, a growing range of rental apartments and villas are offered in new developments. (Useful websites: http://english.cq.gov.cn, w w w. e c h i n a c i t i e s . c o m / c i t y g u i d e / Chongqing) Yangtze Delta (Jiangsu / Zhejiang) Nanjing The provincial capital of Jiangsu Province and capital of China before 1949, Nanjing provides a relatively cosmopolitan lifestyle for international assignees. It offers a range of housing options from luxury apartments and serviced apartments to villas; two international schools; three international clinics (SOS, Global Doctor, BenQ); access to a range of goods from a range of retailers including Wal-Mart, Metro, four Carrefours and Auchan; and a wide range of Western food and bars. With the recent opening of the high-speed train route, Shanghai is now just a bit over an hour away. (Useful websites: www. nanjing.gov.cn, www.odtn.com) Hangzhou Capital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou provides a range of support infrastructure for foreign assignees. These include Hangzhou International School and North American Hospital. A broad range of housing options exist, as do Western restaurants and nightlife. Retail options are plentiful, including several Wal-Marts, Carrefour, Auchan, Metro and

Tesco. (Useful websites: www.hangzhou. gov.cn, www.hangzhouexpat.com, www. morehangzhou.com) With a general understanding of some of the regional differences of Chinese cities and the range of information that can be obtained from the Web, it has become reasonably easy to understand and evaluate the lifestyle available for expatriates in a wide range of second- and third-tier cities. Relocation companies, expanding dramatically in China over the past few years, can also provide a broad range of information and assistance. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to note that not all locations have vendors, and a provider needs preparation time before the assignee is expected to arrive. Improved communication and transportation infrastructure, government incentives for foreign firms to invest, lower cost of land and labour outside Chinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s firsttier urban areas and increasing investment by major global companies in second- and thirdtier cities necessitate supplier investment in their wake. The resulting logistics and supplier support, coupled with rapidly developing transportation infrastructure, facilitates more interior production. These factors all mean that assignments to secondand third-tier cities will become increasingly common. Clearly understanding what awaits; understanding the options available in key areas like housing, schooling, medical care and lifestyle; and tailoring the optimum relocation plan for these formerly out of the way destinations: all will be part of relocation to China for an increasing number of international assignees.

A new apartment building in Shenyang

Assignments to second- and thirdtier cities will become increasingly common Policy and programme considerations One of the most critical concerns for a company sending assignees to these more remote areas is a comprehensive and compliant transfer policy and programme. While the traditional international assignment or transfer policy will most likely address most of the needs of these employees, it is important to understand those areas where additional focus and attention is paramount. Some companies view many of the soft benefits and services as optional with regard to international assignments and transfers. These benefits, including language and

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Keep in mind that research and preparation really is key when planning an assignment to any of China’s second- or thirdtier cities, especially given the rapid rate of development in many of them cultural training, home finding / settlingin services and partner / family support become vital when sending employees to second- and third-tier cities. In most of the first-tier cities, many companies have established offices, plants, facilities and so on, along with local personnel who can be instrumental in helping an assignee get settled. In many of the second- and thirdtier cities, companies do not have as solid an infrastructure and must rely on third-party vendors to assist with helping the assignee and family acclimate themselves to the new location. It’s important for companies to establish strong relationships with vendors in these areas to ensure that their assignees and families are being well cared for. As mentioned previously, medical facilities in some areas are either not available or not of the same standard as those in first-tier locations. For this reason, having a formal emergency medical assistance and evacuation policy is fundamental. Probably the most critical aspect of a programme for it to successfully support an assignee in a remote location is flexibility. A standard international assignment policy may not address the issues that assignees in

these locations face. As mentioned, housing options in many of these locations are often more limited. Some policies are very specific regarding the type of housing an expatriate can occupy in the host location. However, in many of these areas, typical expatriate housing may not be an option. Therefore, a policy must allow some flexibility regarding the type of housing, level of housing and payment of housing established for assignees in lower-tier cities. With regard to dependent education, it’s important that companies consider the level of schooling available in the host location. A comprehensive policy will address the issue of boarding school, which is sometimes necessary for assignees in more remote locations when adequate local schooling is not available. It may be a surprise that even some of the first-tier cities in China are listed as hardship locations per the US State Department (www. state.gov). Considering this, many of the second- and third-tier cities are considered hardship locations as well, with State Department hardship post pay differential rising to 30 percent of basic compensation. Not only is providing a Hardship Allowance

considered standard practice, but companies must also consider offering Rest & Relaxation (R & R) leave for their assignees in hardship locations. R & R leave provides the assignee and their family an opportunity to travel to a non-hardship location once or twice a year to relax and enjoy some of the standard amenities that may not be available in the host location. Many assignees and their families use these trips as an opportunity to get medical check-ups or treatment and obtain items such as groceries and nonperishables that they can’t get locally. A comprehensive and competitive policy will include provisions for both hardship pay and R & R leave. Finally, keep in mind that research and preparation really is key when planning an assignment to any of China’s second- or thirdtier cities, especially given the rapid rate of development in many of them. Make sure that all factors are adequately considered before decisions are made. After all, every relocation (no matter where in the world) should be as comfortable and pleasant as possible, and doing the right up-front preparation will help the transition process.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR R. Barry Spaulding is a Cross-Cultural Management Consultant with over 25 years of international experience in global leadership, management and strategy formulation, focused on the China market. As an international banker, Mr Spaulding managed an office in Beijing and headed Chase Manhattan Bank’s New York China Group, which was active in advising in the negotiation of many US corporate joint ventures in China. He has also acted as a consultant for many US and Chinese organisations, focusing on a range of cross-cultural issues such as quality training, management, leadership and multicultural team integration.

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Guangzhou China Cities: Income Per Capita - 2007 China Metropolitan (City) Regions Gross Domestic Product: 2007 Provincial, Sub-Provincial & Prefectural Level Cities Purchasing Power Parity (US$) Ranked by GDP/Capita

APPENDIX A

Rank

Metropolitan (City) Regions

Hong Kong

Suzhou, JS

Rank

Metropolitan (City) Regions

¥ (RMB)

US$ PPP

$42,200

Tangshan, HEB

¥44,700

$12,400

$25,500

Zibo, SD

¥43,500

$12,100

¥ (RMB)

US$ PPP

¥91,900

Metropolitan (City) Regions

¥ (RMB)

US$ PPP

Haikou, HA

¥26,700

$7,400

Chengdu, SC

¥26,500

$7,400

Rank

Wuxi, JS

¥83,900

$23,300

Yantai, SD

¥41,300

$11,500

Lanzhou, GS

¥25,600

$7,100

Shenzhen, GD

¥79,600

$22,100

Huizhou, GD

¥41,000

$11,400

Luoyang, Hen

¥25,100

$7,000

Guangzhou, GD

¥71,800

$19,900

Baotou, NM

¥40,400

$11,200

Harbin, HL

¥24,700

$6,800

Shanghai, SHG

¥66,400

$18,400

Shijiazhuang, HEB

¥40,300

$11,200

Fushun, LN

¥24,500

$6,800

Zhuhai, GD

¥61,700

$17,100

Ji’nan, SD

¥39,300

$10,900

Jilin, JL

¥23,300

$6,500

Foshan, GD

¥61,200

$17,000

Anshan, LN

¥38,400

$10,700

Xiangfan, HUB

¥22,500

$6,200

Beijing, BJ

¥58,200

$16,200

Jiangmen, GD

¥37,800

$10,500

Xi’an, SAA

¥21,300

$5,900

Xiamen, FJ

¥56,200

$15,600

Taiyuan, SAX

¥36,400

$10,100

Liuzhou, GX

¥20,700

$5,800

Nanjing, JX

¥53,600

$14,900

Wuhan, HUB

¥35,600

$9,900

Guiyang, GZ

¥19,500

$5,400

Changzhou, JS

¥52,800

$14,700

Hohhot, NM

¥34,900

$9,700

Xuzhou, JS

¥19,200

$5,300

Hangzhou, ZJ

¥52,600

$14,600

Zhengzhou, HEN

¥34,100

$9,500

Kunming, YN

¥18,800

$5,200

Handan, HEB

¥51,900

$14,400

Changsha, HUN

¥33,700

$9,400

Shantou, GD

¥17,000

$4,700

Dalian, LN

¥51,600

$14,300

Urumqi, XJ

¥31,100

$8,600

Linyi, SD

¥16,300

$4,500

Ningbo, ZJ

¥50,500

$14,000

Nanchang, JX

¥30,500

$8,500

Nanning, GX

¥15,800

$4,400

Zhongshan, GD

¥49,500

$13,700

Fuzhou, FJ

¥29,500

$8,200

Datong, SAX

¥15,600

$4,300

Tianjin, TJ

¥46,100

$12,800

Changchun, JL

¥28,100

$7,800

Huai’an, JS

¥15,500

$4,300

Dongguan, GD

¥46,000

$12,800

Hefei, AH

¥27,600

$7,700

Chongqing, CQ

¥14,700

$4,100

Shenyang, LN

¥45,600

$12,600

Wenzhou, ZJ

¥27,500

$7,600

Qiqihar, HL

¥10,000

$2,800

Qingdao, SD

¥45,400

$12,600

Baoding, HEB

¥27,100

$7,500

Sources: Annual statistical reports, generally from www.chinaknowledge.com GDP PPP calculated from 2007 International Monetary Fund data

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Tips for relocating with children

Moving can be a very stressful and emotional time. You will move many valuable possessions when you change addresses, but none as precious as your children. Here are some tips to help you prepare your children for their move.

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ASK THE EXPERTS • Before you leave, make a final visit to your child’s favourite place(s). You could even bring a camera so your child can hold on to their favourite memories, even after the move. • Encourage your child to exchange home and email addresses with their friends. They can take pictures of them too. You can remind them that staying in touch with their friends is fun. When they get to their new home, they can write to their friends and tell them all about it. • Try to include the children when making plans for the move. If it’s possible, take them with you when you visit your new city or to see your new home. This may alleviate some of their fear of the unknown. • Talking with your children about the move is very important. Encourage them to talk about their feelings, and to tell you if they feel scared, nervous or apprehensive. Encourage them to ask questions so you can put their minds at ease. If you explain why you’re moving, what the new home will be like and the exciting things to be found in the new area, they may start to feel more optimistic about the experience.

• Although you may be tempted to discard their old, tattered toys, hold on to a few of your child’s favourites. Let them unpack some of these well-loved toys and put them in their new room. Let your child help decide how his or her new room will be arranged and decorated. • Once you arrive, survey your new home for loose steps, low overhangs and other possible accident areas. Keep an eye on the children until they become familiar with the new home’s peculiarities. • If you can, take a break from setting up your new home and spend as much time with your child as you can. Once they start school, they’ll be anxious to tell you all about it: their teachers, their classes and all of their experiences.

• You may want to accompany your child to school for the first few days to help them feel more relaxed. The first few weeks in a new school may be difficult. Follow their progress closely and don’t hesitate to visit their teacher. • If you’re moving to a radically different environment – rural to urban, or viceversa – be sure your children are aware of the differences and understand what to look out for. You can visit Crown’s Kids Connection website at www.crownrelo.com/kids

• Help your child learn about their new city. Libraries, tourist information centres, the local Chamber of Commerce, book stores, the Internet and moving companies are all good sources of information. • Research some places like zoos, parks, museums and malls (for the teenagers!) that they might enjoy in their new neighbourhood, and tell them all about them. Some of these exciting places may even have websites so they can check them out and see what they look like. • Just before moving day, prepare a package for each child with their favourite toys, books, clothing and snacks. Label it with the child’s name and be sure to keep it handy during the actual move.

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Settling in a new country by Vela Ganeva Savills Rsidential Leasing

Going back to school is always an exciting period, but when coupled with a new country and new school, the process can become overwhelming. Whether the family is moving to Shanghai for a temporary work assignment or a whole new life, making an international move with children in tow can seem a daunting task.

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ASK THE EXPERTS To ensure a smooth transition for everyone, parents should tell their children as soon as plans to move are confirmed. Regardless of the reason for the relocation, it’s important to explain, in simple terms, why the move will be a great adventure for the whole family. Tips for a smooth international move Here are a few tips for keeping children engaged, happy and secure when the family moves to a new country: •

•

• • •

Enroll the children in language classes. They’ll feel more confident if they can speak to and understand the locals, and they’ll adjust faster. Encourage a sense of discovery and adventure. Spend time deciding together what the family will see and do in the new country. Prepare as much as possible to become familiar with the new culture and environment. Be ready for culture shock. Listen to children’s concerns and look for a way to smoothly resolve them. Stay connected with family and friends back home. Pictures, emails and letters will help everyone keep in touch.

It’s difficult for kids to move to another country, leaving friends and family behind. Although the transition may take time, living and going to school in a new country has unlimited benefits for children. Being organised and keeping them involved in

major decisions will help the international move go smoothly for everyone. Getting adjusted Adjusting and settling in might take a little while, especially when the new country is very different from back home. Take it slow and give the new place a chance. Once you’ve adjusted to the new neighbourhood and your

Although the transition may take time, living and going to school in a new country has unlimited benefits for children house is growing on you, it’ll be time for the kids to start at their new school. Children need patience, as being the new kid is always a bit strange, but the good news in Shanghai is that your children will not be alone, as many new expatriates arrive every year. Little by little, your children will make friends and feel at home in the new city. Maybe they were taking swimming classes back home, so you’ll want to find swimming classes in Shanghai so they can take up where they left off. Or maybe being in a new place will inspire them to try something new – like art classes, football or

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a new musical instrument. The more your children communicate with other kids and take part in fun activities, the more Shanghai will feel like home. Tips for the first few weeks or months at the new school •

•

Talk to your kids. A lot. The first few weeks of school can be challenging and you might find that your child reacts differently than you had expected. Make sure you take the time to talk to them about their experience. Watch for any signs that your child is not adjusting. Ask for one-on-one time with teachers if needed, and resolve any concerns as early as possible. Grades may change. Be aware that your child’s grades could be affected by the move. Often, grades go down. This can be due to the change in curriculum or teaching styles, or simply because they need time to adjust. Encourage extra-curricular activities. Help your children find clubs and activities they’re keen on, either through school or a community centre. Encourage sleepovers and play dates. Ask your children about new friends, then call their parents and invite them over for an afternoon or evening. Or volunteer to drive them to the mall or to a movie.

Remember, it’s going to take time. Adjusting to a new home, new school and new friends will take a while; give your child the chance

ASK THE EXPERTS to feel comfortable in their new space. It may even take a few months before things settle. Allow your child (and yourself) that time. And before you know it, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll all be feeling a lot more at home in Shanghai. Conclusion While it may be difficult for parents to be clearheaded during the whole relocation and settling in process, maintaining focus on

While it may be difficult for parents to be clearheaded during the whole relocation and settling in process, maintaining focus on the end result is a great help the end result is a great help.Â An expatriate experience is the opportunity of a lifetime, providing children with unparalleled knowledge, an open mind and a unique opportunity to explore Chinese culture and language. While there may be a few difficult discussions, and undoubtedly some tears, parents need to remember that they are giving their child a gift. Following some constructive strategies such as those suggested above can help you all make the transition from early difficulties to the thrilling experience of Shanghai. At Savills, we specialise in finding the right home for families relocating to China, and with over 1,000 cases every year, we generally find that the above tips help families smoothly adjust to the new environment. Nevertheless, every family and their children have their own special needs and a unique experience, and should look for the things that work best for them. Vela Ganeva Savills Residential Leasing T: 021 6391 6688 ext 650 E: resi-leasing@savills-sh.com

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family matters

Boost your child's brainpower with Sudoku! In a short time the Sudoku bug has infected huge numbers of the UK population, and has spread across the world. Why has a simple logic puzzle become so popular, and how can your kids benefit?

udoku puzzles were first published in the US in the 1970s and are sometimes known as Number Squares. They have been popular for many years in Japan, where the name Sudoku (single number) was coined. The current craze started late in 2004 when a UK newspaper started publishing the puzzles. Within weeks the puzzles were picked up in other newspapers and Sudoku became the pastime of choice for commuters, parents and even kids. From a parentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s point of view, Sudoku puzzles are perfect for long journeys, waiting rooms and rainy afternoons. They are being found more and more in the classroom, as teachers wake up to their benefits and use them as time-fillers for children who finish early, as whole-class activity or as homework. Indeed, the UK government-produced Teachers magazine has recommended that Sudoku puzzles be used in the classroom as brain exercise.

difficult for younger children, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth seeking out puzzles made especially for kids. Children as young as five can try a 4x4 grid, then build up to the 6x6 grid and finally take on the traditional 9x9 grid. Why is Sudoku so appealing? Although Sudoku grids usually use numbers, your child does not need mathematical skills to solve the puzzles, only logic. Using logical reasoning appropriate to his/her age, your child decides how to place numbers into a Sudoku grid. There is only one correct answer for each puzzle, no guessing is necessary and the rules are easy to learn. The more puzzles you do, the better you become. Each puzzle

As well as developing your child's logic and reasoning skills and concentration, Sudoku puzzles, if done at the right level, build your child's confidence. Children of all abilities enjoy the challenge of an age-appropriate puzzle. Bear in mind that many of the puzzles published in newspapers are too

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typically takes a child about 20-30 minutes to complete, and gives them a real sense of satisfaction when finished! And that, really, is the secret of their popularity. You feel good when you finish one! And then you want to try another one, and anotherâ&#x20AC;Ś

Family matters

The world's toughest job Parenting is the most difficult job in the world. The process lasts longer than most modern careers. It requires a larger investment – in time and money – than just about any other activity. The complexity of choices is greater, and the outcome more uncertain. Greater patience is needed and the roller coaster of emotions is more daunting than in any other undertaking.

arents have to learn, virtually from scratch, a range of new skills – and they have to get their job as close to right as possible the first time. Relatively simple diaper changing rapidly gives way to complex medical conundrums. Educating a child, both intellectually and ethically, not to mention choosing among formal education alternatives, is a serious and difficult process.

People with the ability to view life's challenges with a sense of confidence and resilience go a long way toward instilling those characteristics in their children. Showing respect toward their spouses – and their children – helps engender the same quality in the child in two ways. It helps grow self-respect in the child, and leads them to a proper respect for the rights and value of others.

Dealing with divorce and single-parenthood, safety, emotional wellbeing and a spectrum of practical and valuebased situations can tax the best parents. These, and many more situations, often offer puzzles to solve that have inherently mixed practical, psychological and ethical dimensions. Mix in grandparents, media reports and 'expert advice', educators' views, other children and many other outside influences – both on the parents and the child – and you have one hellishly difficult stew.

Parents who early on demonstrate a sense of fair play when deciding among competing claims give children a good foundation in many ways. The child benefits from the justice shown toward their valid concerns, while at the same time witnessing an approach that becomes valuable in later life. Along with these values, parents who demonstrate willingness to devote time to listening and sharing experiences establish a foundation of life-long trust and love.

Parents who successfully negotiate the maze often have some basic characteristics in common.

Parents are right to enjoy both the practical results of their efforts and the deep emotional satisfaction that comes from the process and the outcome. Few careers consistently offer such high dividends for a job well done.

Life doesn't always reward good behaviour. But fortunately, all the effort needed to be a good parent pays off in a hundred ways. Raising children well is a tremendous source of pride and joy, and rightly so. Helping provide the skills – intellectual, emotional, ethical and social – needed to thrive in an increasingly complex society rewards parents many times over.

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family matters

Traditional vs non-traditional parenting In the past 40 years, roughly since the 1960s, parenting (along with dozens of other life issues) has undergone a revolution in thinking. Traditional methods have been questioned, in many cases rejected, and a spirit of experimentation has resulted in the adoption of many alternatives. Many people began to believe in the 60s that the restrictive, almost Victorian parenting styles of earlier generations were unsuited to a modern society. Many converging views led to that conclusion, including Dr Spock's books and those of other influential child psychologists.

he results of this new approach have now been observed for the past 10-20 years, and after a generation of experimentation, some have come to believe that the traditional ways were not so far off after all. The pendulum has begun to swing back to more traditional views of parenting. But are these the only alternatives? Are the only options either harsh and unreasonable discipline or a soft and mindless lack of discipline? Many contemporary psychologists envision a third way. Parenting is an enormously complex undertaking, requiring huge amounts of patience and struggle (both emotional and financial) and a long-term commitment. But that effort can be made much simpler by some relatively simple observations about human nature. The first thing that strikes any parent is the

unabashed joy children take in exploring the world around them. Babies are fascinated by sights, sounds, movement and a variety of sensations. As children mature, asking questions becomes a virtual mania, at least for a few years. If a parent responds with enthusiasm to those early gropings, they are recognising and supporting the fundamental attribute that young humans are using: curiosity. This is just another way of saying that the child is seeking to use their mind to understand and deal with the world. Developing that faculty is the foundation for other essential aspects of a child's personality, including self-esteem, empathy, enjoyment of life and other positive characteristics. To develop a healthy self-esteem, it's necessary to feel that we can understand and deal with the challenges life brings, even when we’re young. To deal with others fairly, and to empathise with their circumstances and

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reactions, a child has to be able to understand what it's like to walk in their shoes. To enjoy life, a young person, like any adult, has to be comfortable with their ability to achieve the values – both material and spiritual – essential to a successful life. Parents can help in that effort by leaving open all the options that modern society offers. There’s no need to return to the socially restrictive views of a hundred years ago, with the conformity, rigidity and frequent disapproval of individual choice. But neither do parents need to succumb to moral anarchy or relativism and regard all options as equally valid. Human nature is not infinitely plastic, and the demands of the real world require facing facts. The third way represents the best chance a developing individual has for a positive life.

Family matters

When parents disagree

Sometimes it's surprising that the divorce rate isn't higher than it actually is (about 50 percent in many developed countries). Assuming it isn't just inertia on the part of the other 50 percent, it's a tribute to the willingness of so many couples to work out their differences.

ortunately, most parents agree on one thing: children should not be put in the middle of these conflicts. Avoiding that requires skill, maturity, tact and compromise. To work out reasonably consistent policies to cover the thousands of different real-life experiences of family life requires careful thought. It also takes a willingness to be frank about what each partner wants and views as fair; and it requires bucket-loads of honesty. Each parent needs to be willing to face reality and be reasonable. That's difficult to do in states of high emotion and about subjects that are important, like how to raise children. Just as in society in general, when one party simply bullies another to achieve a shortterm gain the result is frustration, injured feelings and often a violation of simple justice.

A willingness to recognise, despite anger or irritation, that the other party has a valid point of view and an unselfish interest in the outcome, requires considerable objectivity. But objectivity doesn't have to mean emotional or value neutrality, simply a willingness to see things as they are. One thing that helps encourage that objectivity is the realisation that both parties have an equal stake in the larger issue â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the welfare of the child. That shared interest can form the basis of a mutual effort to discuss different evaluations, biasing factors and other barriers to a satisfactory arrangement. But when each party makes a sincere effort (or more accurately, repeated efforts), such resolutions are possible. Successful marriages are fundamentally those in which each partner genuinely admires and cares for the other. That forms the

basis of respect that children both observe and absorb over time. That respect and admiration makes it possible to see the larger picture and longer-term goal â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a compromise that doesn't simply leave both parties exhausted or unfulfilled. Mature parents will ultimately realise that no single disagreement is likely to be so important that it's worth harming the happiness of family members. You don't burn the house down because you don't like the colour of the drapes. Respectful parents will see that one of them may get their way this time, but the next time their partnerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s point of view will prevail. Few things are so important that no compromise is possible. What time to have dinner, how clean the house should be, what time the child should be home from outdoor activities, even what university to attend... the list is endless. But only in the rarest of cases is it overwhelmingly important that one point of view prevail for all time. In every case above, and many more, it's healthy to try one person's preference, then experiment with another if the results are less than satisfactory. Seeing it as an ongoing process allows each parent to feel his or her values are respected. The child benefits doubly from this. He or she gains the best possible outcome, discovered by experience. The child also sees that Mum and Dad can disagree while still respecting one another's point of view. The child sees honesty and reason at work in an atmosphere of admiration and love. This may well be the best lesson of all.

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family matters

Fathers and children Few things have changed so radically in the last 100 years as the view of a father's role in parenting. Once, it was the Victorian approach of ‘rarely seen law-giver’. Then the Freudinfluenced ‘not a terribly important factor’ idea became dominant. That was gradually replaced by the ‘wise breadwinner’ paradigm of the 1950s. Then came the social revolution of the 1960s, which taught that fathers were little more than sperm donors. Now there's the contemporary, splintered view that encompasses a dozen conflicting outlooks.

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Family matters

orting out a better view, therefore, has to involve getting back to basics and asking: “What are fathers for? What's the effect of their presence or absence? What actual influence do they have?” Complex and difficult questions, to be sure.

Many broad-based studies concur on one point: kids raised without fathers have a much higher incidence of bad outcomes – poor scholastic performance, violent activities, drug use and criminal convictions. However, what to conclude from that can be problematic. Some point to the economic factors accompanying many fatherless households. Others point to more psychological or ethical factors. Whatever the root cause, and likely there are many, the conclusion remains: kids need dads in order to get the best chance in life. Of course, being a father and being a good father are not the same thing. Studies and common experience suggest that merely supplying funds for food and shelter, helpful as that is, is just the beginning of paternal input to a good outcome. Fathers, whether in single-parent homes or two-parent dual gender homes, are still looked to for guidance. Female children often look to fathers for a sense of protection, and as an alternative voice in conflicts with the mother. Young males are influenced by their father when evaluating their own identities.

In two-parent dual gender homes fathers can benefit children of both sexes by, among other things, demonstrating how decisions are made and how they interact with the mother. Both male and female children get clues about ‘normal’ parental roles when they observe how the father acts when choices are being considered. Do they typically defer certain categories of choices to the mother? (Diet, bedtime, household chores.) Do they discuss differences calmly, or do they loudly proclaim male authority? These observations, along with a wide variety of other common experiences, help shape children's views of interaction between the sexes. Even during times other than joint decision-making, fathers influence children’s views of adults and the world. Different fathers can display very different basic approaches to problemsolving, for example. One father may be confident, objective and display a sense of the excitement of discovery and success. That's a very different outlook from the man who shows resentment, fear and self-doubt or hostility at the need to overcome life’s challenges. Children observe fathers in these, and numerous other, settings. What they observe influences their views much more than what is explicitly said or preached. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but real experience offers volumes.

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Step-parenting and sharing authority Being a step-parent is somewhat like being in middle management: you get complaints from both above and below. One way out of this dilemma is to step out from the middle and simply become part of senior management â&#x20AC;&#x201C; though successful employment of that strategy will require cooperation from the biological parent! Then again, if you don't have that already, that may well be a major source of the difficulty to begin with.

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Family matters

ike any change in human dynamics, adjustments to child-parent relationships take time. Attempting to force the situation will likely result in frustration for all parties. The biological parent may well be threatened by the need to share power, and the child will typically resent being guided by someone they see as not being officially sanctioned. Here again, the cooperation of the biological parent is key. Honestly communicating frustrations in a non-confrontational way gives that parent the opportunity to hear what needs of the step-parent are being thwarted. Experience suggests that no quick fix or instantaneous change is likely to take place. Several calm, mature discussions will need to occur before a meaningful, lasting shift can take place.

children sit down for a quiet, unhurried talk. This assumes the children are older than about three or so. During the discussion, which the biological parent should initially lead, an age-appropriate statement of policy can be revealed and discussed. The two parents should have prepared this in advance and agreed on any compromise beforehand. The discussion should not simply be about laying down the law. Children need a sense of control and freedom to choose, just as adults do. However, the adults are necessarily in the role of ultimate decider in the household.

household. It provides children with clear guidance that needs to be reinforced by actual experiences and occasional reminders. Such an arrangement, formalised by the discussion, will help relieve the step-parentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s anxiety about what to expect. The stepparent, too, needs to know when to assert authority, and when to take a back seat. All parties benefit.

Showing the children that the adults are united in this area will go a long way toward avoiding attempts to play one parent off the other â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including parents in another

The step-child, too, is necessarily part of the equation. Seeing another adult in the role of step-parent, rather than intruder, will take time. How much time depends on the age and child. The child shouldn't be allowed to dictate terms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; adults need to remain the term-setters in the house. However, a sincere respect for the child's context benefits all parties. One way to ease this transition is to have the biological parent, the step-parent and the

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family matters

Single parenthood pros and cons Since roughly 1970, at any given time approximately 2030 percent of children live in single-parent homes. The number varies from study to study and country to country. More of the single parents are female than male, but again the numbers vary substantially from one study to the next. Whatever the sex of the parent, parenting alone raises some unique challenges.

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Family matters

ince most single parents continue to work, many of the basic difficulties involved are practical ones: how to find and afford a babysitter or daycare, what to do when you have to work late or on weekends, how to arrange shopping and so on.

Teens left alone at home for long periods may be unduly influenced by peers. That can often lead to unwanted behaviour. While most parents want to respect their teen's privacy, watching for early tell-tale signs of drug use or other harmful behaviour saves everyone a lot of grief later on.

Single parents find all manner of creative arrangements for meeting these difficulties. Many rely on older children to care for younger ones, while the younger ones often take on more responsibility than other children in their age group. Many rely on friends and relatives. Some simply leave the child home alone for extended periods.

Single parents have a unique opportunity to influence their child for good or ill, without the counterbalance of another parent. Fortunately, many children raised in a single-parent home report with admiration the extra effort required and made by their single-parent mum or dad. You might be one of them.

But beyond the practical arrangements, there are many parenting issues of a more value-oriented or psychological nature that can be equally or more daunting. Single parents are more likely to second-guess their actions, without a spouse to bounce ideas off. Many find dealing with children of the opposite sex a special challenge. Single parents often find it difficult to know how to guide them, without a spouse to consult about their childhood experiences. Some of that gap can be filled by discussions with grown siblings, however. But single parenthood can have advantages, even in difficult circumstances. The absence of a partner means the absence of sometimes irrational and vehement arguments that the child would observe. Establishing parenting rules and guidelines is more straightforward for the single parent, since there is no partner to consult or debate with. Several recent studies point to other positive â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or at least the absence of negative â&#x20AC;&#x201C; aspects of single parenthood. For single parents with adequate incomes, there have been no ill-effects observed on a child's educational or personal development. Indeed, being raised in a single-parent home often makes children more mature and responsible at a younger age. Many benefit from the increased attention that a single parent often bestows in the absence of a spouse. Being raised in a single-parent home may have been a social stigma in previous generations, but those attitudes are largely gone. Some now regard the situation as more 'contemporary' or even 'hip'. Single parents can do much to ease their own minds by paying close attention to their children. Pre-teens who become withdrawn may be suffering from the effects of parental divorce or death. Children are often reluctant to discuss their feelings on these subjects, and a great deal of patience may be required to draw them out.

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HEALTH matters

CHILDHOOD ASTHMA – IS THERE A CURE? Dr Greg A. Livingston, Ph.D. Chinese Medicine Physician Shanghai East International Medical Center

According to Western medicine, childhood asthma has no cure. But is there really no cure for this increasingly common illness?

hildhood asthma is one of the most common chronic illnesses in children. As with adult asthma, childhood asthma is caused by inflammation of the airways that makes them overly sensitive, leading to signs and symptoms that range from minor coughing or wheezing to serious flare-ups that interfere with breathing. According to Western medicine, there is no cure. Prescription inhalers (usually consisting of a bronchodilator, a steroid or both) can prevent or put an immediate stop to most asthma attacks, and other medications may afford more long-term relief, but unfortunately none of these offers a cure,

meaning that when medication is ceased the asthma returns. From the perspective of Chinese medicine, asthma is merely a symptom of an underlying systemic condition. According to these tenets, many cases of childhood asthma are the result of poor digestion and weak fluid metabolism giving rise to pathogenic phlegm and fluids. These fluids tend to migrate to the lung, where they obstruct it and cause asthma. For a cure to be found, it is this condition that needs to be addressed. In cases like this, the first step is to use herbs to transform and remove pathogenic fluids and ‘warm’ the lung. This frees the lung from obstruction and stops the asthma. Once this has been accomplished, the digestion, fluid metabolism and lung are strengthened, thereby removing the source of the pathogenic fluids and improving lung function. The following is the case of a recent patient of mine (the name has been changed). Jim, male, 30 months of age. Jim had been suffering from bronchial asthma for over a year, and was using an inhaler almost daily. About once a month his asthma would worsen, often

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after becoming chilled or catching a cold (which was quite often), and he would develop bronchitis for which he would take antibiotics. Asthma attacks consisted of croupy cough and wheezing, and often he would cough so severely that he would vomit. My diagnosis was pathogenic phlegm and fluids in the lung, exacerbated by environmental cold. I prescribed him four days of herbal tea, and soon after he started his symptoms began to subside. On the third day he had a bout of severe coughing that again made him vomit, only this time he vomited a large amount of thick white phlegm (his body finally had the strength to cough the phlegm out). After this his asthma was virtually gone. He returned after four days for more herbs, but this time treatment focused less on stopping the cough and the wheezing, and more on removing the phlegm and fluids, and strengthening the digestion, fluid metabolism and lung. He continued to take herbs for a total of five weeks, during which time he was completely asthma-free. Three months later, Jim has not had another asthma attack, gets fewer colds and has better appetite and digestion. While not all cases are as easy as this, Jim’s progress is not at all unusual (although vomiting phlegm is quite rare). So, contrary to common perception, many cases of childhood asthma CAN be cured.

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HEALTH matters

“Winter illness, summer treatment” … what? Have you ever noticed that some illnesses are seasonal? It is indeed true that certain illnesses tend to flare up in one season or another, primarily as a result of climatic factors such as temperature and humidity. In Chinese medicine we like to use these seasonal fluctuations to our advantage, and one way we do this is by treating winter illnesses (illnesses that worsen in the cold winter months) during the summer. This is called “Winter illness, summer treatment” (冬病夏治).

he theory goes something like this: Certain illnesses are aggravated by the cold of winter because they contain an element of ‘cold’ in their etiology. If we try to treat these illnesses in the depths of winter, when cold is fierce and the illness is at its worst, we will have difficulty removing this ‘cold’, and be preoccupied with controlling the aggravated symptoms of the disease. Consequently, it is more difficult to eliminate the root of the problem – the ‘cold’. If, on the other hand, we treat it during the warm months of summer, when there is an absence of environmental cold and symptoms of the illness are milder, we can more easily remove this ‘cold’ from the body, thus addressing the root of the problem. In this way, many winter illnesses can be successfully treated.

chronic bronchitis, stomach pain, chronic diarrhea and painful menstruation, or even simple aversion to cold.

This method is commonly used to treat asthma, but can be applied to any illness or symptom that worsens with exposure to cold, including Raynaud’s disease, osteoarthritis, bone spurs, back pain, joint pain, sinusitis, a weak immune system,

Yours in health,

Furthermore, because ‘yang’ (heat, light, activity, etc) is dominant during summer, there is an opportunity to fortify and strengthen the ‘yang qi’ of the body. Therefore, this theory can be applied to special food, herbal and moxibustion (a type of heat therapy) treatments for anyone wishing to strengthen their constitution, improve general wellbeing and extend longevity. So, whether we suffer from a winter illness or simply wish to improve our health and longevity, the theories behind “Winter illness, summer treatment” have something to offer us all.

Dr Greg A. Livingston, Ph.D. Chinese Medicine Physician Shanghai East International Medical Center

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Shanghai Essentials Guide Memorable shots

In response to requests from readers of The British International Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shanghai Essentials Guide, we have included a selection of our guideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most striking photos. Shanghai is an exceptional city and we hope that these shots continue to provide you and your family with fond memories. The Bund at night Journal of The British International School

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Nanjing Dong Lu Pedestrian Street by Richard Restell 42 FAMILY MATTERS + Issue 4 Journal of The British International School

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World Financial Center and the Grand Hyatt

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Photo by Richard Restell Journal of The British International School

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Tai chi on the Bund by Richard Restell 46 FAMILY MATTERS + Issue 4 Journal of The British International School

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Yu Gardens at night 48 FAMILY MATTERS + Issue 4 Journal of The British International School

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Endless City 50 FAMILY MATTERS + Issue 4 Journal of The British International School

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Shanghai watertown at night 52 FAMILY MATTERS + Issue 4 Journal of The British International School

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The iconic Shanghai shot 54 FAMILY MATTERS + Issue 4 Journal of The British International School

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The International Award: Accepting the challenge By Mark Angus Principal The British International School Shanghai, Nanxiang

The International Award is a well-established and much valued part of life at The British International School Shanghai. Hundreds of students over the years have been a part of the programme, and it continues to be a highlight of their school years for hundreds more. The Award helps to underpin our schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core value of helping others to be the best they can be and enables our pupils to put this philosophy into practice, both in terms of what the International Award teaches them and in the way it encourages them to help others as well.

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EDUCATION matters History The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award was established in the UK in 1956 by HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as a response to growing social concern about how to engage young boys and men between 15 and 18, the ages at which they could leave school and had to enter National Service, respectively. At first the programme was only available for boys, but it didn’t take long before a scheme for girls was launched in 1958. Further evolution followed, until the current format was established in 1980. Although the Award has always been arranged around four sections, these have changed over the years. In 1956, the four sections were: Rescue & Public Service Training; the Expedition; Pursuits & Projects; and Fitness. In 1980 these became, and remain: Service; Adventurous Journey; Skills; and Physical Recreation. Furthermore, in 1980 it became possible for young people up to the age of 25 to take part in the programme. The value of the Award quickly became apparent to schools and organisations around the world, and the programme was soon to be found in a wide range of international schools and youth organisations throughout the British Commonwealth and beyond. In 1971 the Award operated in 31 countries, and by 1989 this number had increased to 48, seeing

the Award delivered in countries beyond the boundaries of the Commonwealth for the first time. This rapid expansion saw the formation of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International Association (IAA) in 1988, while the name became The International Award for Young People. Currently, over 120 countries operate the Award and over 6 million young people worldwide have taken up the challenge. The programme is now expanding to include groups of people who have not previously

The impact of the Award on many of these young people is extraordinary: it transforms their lives had opportunities to develop themselves. Recent Award projects around the world have focused on involving young offenders, those with disabilities, street kids and aboriginal communities. The impact of the Award on many of these young people is extraordinary: it transforms their lives.

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The challenges involved The award is tough – deliberately so – but it is about young people challenging themselves as individuals, not about reaching specific standards set by others. However, the Award does challenge them to re-examine their own beliefs about what they can achieve. Award holders are also highly valued by both educational establishments and employers because of their self-confidence, ability to work as part of a team and leadership skills. The programme has three levels, each requiring more commitment than the last: • • •

Bronze Award – at least 14 years old and requiring a 6-month commitment Silver Award – 15 or over and requiring a commitment of at least a year Gold Award – 16 or over and requiring a commitment of at least 18 months

Candidates are required to complete activities in the four different areas: • • • •

Service Adventurous Journey Skills Physical Recreation

Service – Candidates are required to undertake work that shows a commitment to wider society, such as community service projects, conservation work or voluntary service in

EDUCATION matters hospitals or homes. This can also include specialised training in areas like lifesaving and first aid. Adventurous Journey – This part of the Award is about adventure and discovery. Participants can hike, ride or cycle, and on the way develop an understanding of the environment and the importance of working as part of a team with a common purpose. They learn the significance of training, preparation, selfsufficiency and self-reliance. Skills – In this section of the Award, candidates have the opportunity to develop their personal interests and learn practical skills. They are not required to reach any set standard – rather, they set their own goals against which they can measure their progress. Physical Activity – All participants are required to undertake organised and regular physical activity, showing perseverance and improving fitness. They will record their own progress, and can participate in individual or team sports of their own choice.

embraced the challenge of reaching out to their local communities and beyond. Over the course of the school year, Nanxiang participants undertook three adventurous journeys – to Nanbeihu Mountain in September, to Tianmu Mountain in October and to Hainan in March. These journeys were both physically and emotionally demanding,

It promotes civic values, recognises and rewards physical courage and achievement and teaches pupils that self-improvement is the most valuable critical skill that they will ever develop

The Award in action In June 2010, the first participating pupils at The British International School Shanghai, Nanxiang received their Bronze Awards in a ceremony in front of their families and friends. All the pupils who received the Award had relished the exciting opportunities for self-development, adventure and camaraderie that the Award afforded them, and had gladly

as pupils had to be largely self-sufficient, taking responsibility for their own kit, equipment, food and drink, as well as having to navigate and read maps. These journeys were undertaken alongside pupils from our sister school in Minhang, meaning that our pupils also had the opportunity to mix with a range of new and different people and make new friends.

As part of their community service, participants spent three months teaching at the local Ma Rong Kindergarten during their ECA time. This proved to be a most enjoyable and rewarding experience as our pupils began to have an understanding of how demanding it can be to assume responsibility for the learning and wellbeing of others. These sessions were warmly appreciated by the pupils and staff at Ma Rong, and it is very much hoped that this will become a regular part of our International Award in the future. In addition, pupils were introduced to the skill of public speaking, culminating in a public speaking competition in April. The competition, judged by Kevin Foyle and Dr Terry Creissen, was conducted according to the rules of the English Speaking Union and took as its theme ‘Regeneration and Renewal’.

Why not get involved? As all of the above demonstrates, the International Award is the ideal project for pupils at international schools to become involved in. It promotes civic values, recognises and rewards physical courage and achievement and teaches pupils that selfimprovement is the most valuable critical skill that they will ever develop. The British International School actively promotes the Award and encourages the participation of pupils at all three of our locations in the city, meaning all our pupils have the opportunity to join in this truly international and worthwhile scheme.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mark Angus read English and Drama at Flinders University, Adelaide, where he specialised in the Elizabethan and Jacobean theatre. He also has an MA in Early Modern Studies from King’s College, London where his main focus of study was the repertories of 16th- and 17th-century playing companies. He gained his PGCE in Secondary English from the Open University and was previously the Academic Deputy Head and Head of Boarding at Westminster Cathedral Choir School, a boys’ preparatory school in central London. Mark Angus has published articles in a variety of journals on a diverse range of subjects, from Victorian crime to the theatre of Sophocles, and has also written for the theatre and radio. His interests include literature, theatre, wine, sport and travel.

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Measuring Success – IB results 2010 By Stuart White Head of Secondary The British International School Shanghai, Puxi

Families with teenage children can easily see the advantages of spending some time living in China. Watching your children walk on the Great Wall or stride confidently through the bustle of a busy international airport can certainly reassure a parent that they’ve provided opportunities for growth that are not easily come by within one’s home country.

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EDUCATION matters

The self-assurance and easy manner that many expatriate teenagers quickly develop is an asset that will serve them well in many situations in years to come. A key question for many families relocating overseas with teenagers at crucial points in their secondary education, though, is whether there will be a price to pay through the educational qualifications their children gain. Can students deal with the upheaval that moving countries and schools inevitably causes and still succeed in the formal academic sphere? Can we all have our cake and eat it too? As international educators, this is a crucial question for us. The answer is unequivocally yes, and perhaps the best way to illustrate this is with some real and recent examples from students finishing secondary school with us in Shanghai in 2010. At The British International School Shanghai, Puxi, students from more than 50 countries follow a UK curriculum, with all the benefits of standardisation and rigour that this provides. Taught by teachers trained in the UK and experienced in the British education system, they work towards IGCSE examinations at age 16. After that, for their final two years of secondary school, in common with many of the top schools in the UK, our students work towards the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma, highly regarded by universities and employers around the world. A word of caution here: there is great danger in measuring schools by their results, and in the measurement culture that exists in some parts of the world, including the UK. This leads to attempts to rank schools by raw exam data, rather than by the sort of real educational value that any parent recognises

as they watch their son or daughter thrive, grow and develop. We are a non-selective school, and our own measure of success is to ensure that every student achieves as much as he or she is capable of. We pride ourselves on meeting individual student needs and we evaluate everyone’s progress individually. That doesn’t mean we don’t take exams seriously – quite the opposite – but they aren’t everything to us, and we

The self-assurance and easy manner that many expatriate teenagers quickly develop is an asset that will serve them well in many situations in years to come don’t bend our education around the needs of examinations. True education adds immeasurable value, and strong examination results then follow as a consequence, not as an aim in themselves. What this means in practice is that our graduating class of 2010 did get the best of both worlds. They produced outstanding

results, and we were very proud of them and pleased for them. The 23 students who made up our IB Diploma cohort achieved an average score of 32 points, well above the global average of 30 points, and equivalent (for those who understand UK qualifications) of better than 3.5 A grades at A Level. We are all understandably delighted at what our students have achieved, and we wish them every success next year and in the future. While all successes are to be celebrated, it is perhaps appropriate to highlight the five of our students who produced scores above 35 points, and a further two who scored over 40. Anyone who knows the IB programme knows that this is a measure of really high academic success in a wide range of subjects. Our top student obtained a world-class score of 44 points from a maximum of 45, equivalent to nearly 6 A grades at A Level, and placing her performance in the top 1% in the world! We know that there’s more to life than exams. Every day in Shanghai tells us all that, as we experience its colour and culture. Students who grow up in this environment are perfectly placed to become tomorrow’s global citizens. Our 2010 leavers are now studying in ten different countries spread across four continents, helped by the special international school combination of sensational life experiences, high self-esteem and top-class academic qualifications. Watch out for them in the future.

Stuart White has enjoyed working in a variety of schools over the last twenty years. He studied Engineering at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge and worked briefly as a telecommunications research engineer for GEC’s central research labs in London, before training as a Physics teacher. He started his teaching career at Winchester College, one of the UK’s oldest and most prestigious independent schools, before moving on through a variety of positions including Head of Physics, Boarding Housemaster, Director of Studies and Deputy Head in well known independent schools in England. Working as Vice Principal and then Interim Principal at Aiglon College in Switzerland gave him a taste for the benefits that arise from living and working in an international community, and he took up the role as Head of Secondary at The British International School Shanghai, Puxi Campus with enthusiasm – a feeling he still has as he steps into work each morning! He is married to Jane, also a highly experienced teacher, and has three children. When time allows he enjoys playing and watching most forms of sport, as well as playing the clarinet or just soaking up the Shanghai atmosphere and environment. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Mandarin The new international language?

汉语会成为新的国际语吗？ by Dr Terry Creissen OBE Executive Principal and Jenny Chen Mandarin Co-ordinator The British International School Shanghai

With so many people learning to speak Mandarin, how important will it be for the future of commerce, and what is the educational value of learning this language? Each time I meet parents whose children plan to join The British International School Shanghai, they seem convinced that an understanding of Chinese is going to be a real bonus when their children enter the world of work. I tend to agree with them; yet I also see so many Chinese children desperately learning English because they believe that English will be the leading language for the future.

随

随着近年来学习汉语人群的扩大，随之而来的疑问是汉语究竟能在未来的商务世界中扮演多重要的角色，学习汉语究竟有多大的教育价值？每次我接待那些打算把孩子放到上海英国学校的家长时，大家都很肯定地认为了解汉语对于孩子将来进入职场大有裨益。我原本也趋于认同这个看法，但与此同时大量的中国孩子们却在拼命地学习英语，因为他们相信英语将是未来的首选语言。

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EDUCATION matters

I suspect that both groups are right, and that competence in both languages will be an essential requirement for international companies over the next few decades. This mix of English and Chinese was brought home to me this summer when I watched Firefly, a science fiction TV series set in a spacefaring future. In the programme, people often use Mandarin as an alternative language in their day-to-day business transactions. I recall a deep sense of satisfaction in recognising some of the words they were saying. Understanding Mandarin isn’t easy for those of us from English or European languagespeaking countries who either don’t have an aptitude for languages or who are rather late in learning. The sounds, the tones and the written language are so different to our own experiences that it’s a real challenge to uncover the mysteries of this ancient language. It requires real determination and regular practice to master the basics, yet when studying it for the first time there are significant advantages: the grammar is relatively easy and the use of pinyin (a phonetic version using the Western alphabet) makes it more accessible. Not only is learning Mandarin interesting and useful, it’s also good for the development of the brain. Research suggests that English and Mandarin speakers use their brains in different ways to decode the language. Those who speak English, and probably those who speak most other European languages, use

the left side of their brains more, which links speech sounds together to form individual words. Conversely, Mandarin speakers tend to use the right side of the brain to work out shapes and structures and then make the

Understanding Mandarin isn’t easy for those of us from English or European language-speaking countries who either don’t have an aptitude for languages or who are rather late in learning link to the left side for the interpretation process. This is a similar process to that of the musician who links structure and patterns to the creativity and character of the music. Mandarin speakers use both parts of the brain to interpret intonation and to recognise characters and give the

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correct meaning to the words. Learning Mandarin might even be said to make you more intelligent. From our experience, we certainly know that in other disciplines, such as mathematics, Chinese speakers benefit from the simple way of describing numbers in Mandarin. This concept fascinates parents, students and teachers, and helps us all realise the importance of learning difficult characters alongside the spoken language. So it seems that learning Mandarin can increase the power of your brain, and help you become part of one of the fastest developing global economies of the 21st century. There’s no doubt that China is rapidly becoming an economic super-power. Its strong manufacturing base and determination to embrace new technologies will certainly ensure its future as a leading supplier of manufactured goods that we have come to expect in our everyday lives. Meeting members of the business communities in China is always made easier when they realise that you have made some attempt, however small, to speak and understand some basic words and phrases. I’m always impressed by those who can talk to me in my native tongue, and I’m sure our Chinese counterparts feel the same way. The big question, however, is whether Mandarin will ever become the standard business language of the global economy. With so many English-speaking countries across the globe, it seems possible that the dominance of English as the common

EDUCATION matters

看来，两种说法都没错，在未来的几十年中，汉语和英语在世界商业舞台上将共同扮演着举足轻重的角色。我的这一想法在今年夏天得到了进一步的佐证：暑假中我看了一部讲述未来世界探险的科幻电视连续剧《宁静号》，在剧中主人公们时不时地使用汉语作为商务活动的语言之一。令人深感满足的是，我竟然能听懂其中的一些内容。对于我们这些既无天资又晚学外语的英语或欧语系国家的人来说，理解汉语是件不容易的事。汉语的语音语调和书写都与我们的母语有着天壤之别，发现、揭示这门古老语言的秘密对我们而言是真正的挑战！然而，尽管掌握汉语的基础知识需要持之以恒的不断练习，但其语法的相对简单和拼音（根据西语拼读规则建立的读音系统）的使用仍对于初学者极其有利，能够普遍地为大家所接受。学习汉语不仅有意思而且有

用，同时还有利于大脑的发展。研究者们发现，英语和汉语使用者的大脑用不同的方式来解读这两门语言。讲英语，甚至是欧

对于我们这些既无天资又晚学外语的英语或欧语系国家的人来说，理解汉语是件不容易的事语系语言的人们更多使用他们的左半脑来结合发音以形成个别词汇。而讲汉语的人则趋于使用其右半脑来解析汉字的图形和结构，并联结其左半脑来完成整个解读过程。这就好比音乐家通

过建构和谱曲来表现音乐的独创及特质的过程。汉语使用者同时用两部分大脑来解读汉字的音形义，所以学习汉语可使你变得更加聪明。另外从我们的经验来看，可以肯定在一些学科如数学中，运用汉语的简单表数方式能学得更好更快。如此解释汉语学习的重要性常令家长、学生和老师们感到十分新颖，并让大家意识到汉字和汉语听说的学习是同等的重要，并且应该齐头并进。因此，学习汉语能提升大脑的潜能，并能帮助我们成为21世纪全球经济发展最快区域的生力军。毫无疑问，中国正在迅速成为一个超级经济实体。它强大的制造业基础和致力于运用高新科技的决心将保证使其成为未来全球日用品制造业的主要供应国。和中国的商界人士会晤中或多或少地使用汉语能够使对话更为畅通，也能让对方感受到你的努力和诚意。那些能用我的母语同我对话的人总能给我留下深刻的印

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EDUCATION matters language of international communication will still retain the high ground; but it also seems certain that Mandarin will be a close second. The best way to learn a language is to be immersed in it, day by day. Students and adults studying and working in China have a great opportunity to become competent, or

Students and adults studying and working in China have a great opportunity to become competent, or even fluent, speakers and writers of Mandarin even fluent, speakers and writers of Mandarin. Every student at The British International School Shanghai is given the opportunity to learn the language as part of their formal lessons. They are also encouraged to practise their language acquisition within and outside the formal classroom. While the language of instruction is English, in each primary classroom pupils can talk to a bilingual teacher in either Mandarin or English. These highly educated members of staff

support the teachers delivering the English National Curriculum. Specialist teachers of Mandarin to foreign language speakers provide specialised lessons as part of the school timetable, but the informal practice of language is to be encouraged throughout the school day. In the shops and around the streets of Shanghai, overseas residents, young and old, should try whenever possible to speak and

In the shops and around the streets of Shanghai, overseas residents, young and old, should try whenever possible to speak and understand the language understand the language, even when they’re given opportunities to speak in their native tongue. I frequently visit the local market to buy fruit and vegetables. During these visits, I try out my Mandarin on the unsuspecting traders. Sometimes they look rather puzzled due to my mispronunciation of the words I have so carefully learned in advance. However, many do try to comprehend

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

without me allowing them to resort to pointing and using a calculator to show the cost. I often ask them to talk to me in Chinese saying, “Wo xuexi Hanyu. Ni keyi shuo Hanyu ma?” It may take a little longer, but my simple explanation always has the desired effect, even if I do end up buying carrots rather than bananas because I have the two words mixed up in my brain. As is usually the case, my ayi only speaks Chinese. We have some very interesting conversations that take some time to get through, but she’s very patient with me and we seem to overcome my language deficiencies in the end. As for the characters, this is a different issue for many of us, and learning is a tedious and complex process. I have yet to master more than a few dozen characters, but given time even this hurdle can be overcome. I watch with amazement as some of my colleagues at school write so quickly in this amazing script. I am equally in awe of those students who manage to master several thousand characters during their time at the school. There’s no doubt that verbal and written communication with a fellow human being is one thing that separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom. We should celebrate this and treasure the difference in language by making every attempt to meet and greet people in their native tongue. I doubt that I’ll ever become fluent, but I’m determined to have fun learning Mandarin and demonstrate my respect for this amazing country by meeting Chinese people part way in our communications.

Dr Terry Creissen OBE BA (Hons), MA, MBA, PGCE, FRSA, FCIM Dr Creissen worked in a variety of schools stretching from the southwest to southeast of England prior to taking up the role of leading our schools in Shanghai. Between 1994 and 1997, he was a Board Member of the Training Development Agency for Schools. A former Schools Inspector, Terry has been a consultant for the British Government and was appointed as an e-learning consultant for the British Educational and Communications Technology Association (BECTA). He has chaired the Schools Forum within the County of Essex and was the national Headteacher representative with the National Association of Head Teachers. Terry is a qualified trainer and Consultant Leader for the National College for Schools and Children’s Services in England. He is a long-standing member of MENSA. In addition to his degree and teaching qualifications from the University of Sussex, he has an MA and MBA in Educational Leadership and Management and was awarded the OBE by the Queen of England in June 1997 for “services to education”. He is also a keen musician and a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts (FRSA). Terry is passionate about education and strongly believes that the children always come first. He is the devoted father of three grown boys. Dr Creissen is based at our Pudong Campus where he is the designated Principal. He is the Executive Principal for all three Shanghai schools.

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EDUCATION matters 象，我想我们的中国同任面对会说汉语的老外也会表以同样的敬意。然而问题是，汉语究竟能否成为全球的标准商务语言，面对世界上众多的英语国家，也许英语作为国际交流的主要语言仍将占据主导地位，但肯定的是汉语将会紧随其后成为第二重要的国际语言。

方是否说英语，都应该积极尝试去理解汉语、用汉语交流。我常常去当地的市场买水果和蔬菜，并试着同那些友好的摊主们练习汉语。尽管我事先会做足功

在华学习、工作的成人即使不能达到口头和笔头同样流利的程度，但也势必拥有绝佳的机会成为强有力的汉语使用者

学习语言的最佳方法是日复一日的浸润其中。在华学习、工作的学生和成人即使不能达到口头和笔头同样流利的程度，但也势必拥有绝佳的机会成为强有力的汉语使用者。在上海英国学校，每位学生均能在正式课程中学习汉语，并且学校提供机会鼓励他们在课内课外使用习得的语言。在小学课堂里，尽管英语是授课语言，小学生们却可以用中英双语同学校的双语助教们进行交流，这些受过专业训练的双语助教同时可以很好地辅助教授英国国家大纲课程的教师们开展课堂教学。除了安排专职汉语教师为学校的课程提供汉语专业课，学校还鼓励大家在课余时间积极课，人们有时仍会被我不标准的练习使用汉语。发音弄得百思不得其解。不过，在不得不拿出计算器表明价格之在上海的大街小巷、街面店前，大多数摊主还是能耐心地去铺中，无论年轻还是年长的外国理解我说的话。我要鼓励他们跟居民们，在遇到对方时，不管对我说汉语，所以我常说的一句话

是“我学习汉语，你可以说汉语吗？”也许会花点儿时间，不过我简单明了的词句总能起到较好的预期效果，当然，有时也会发生因为我把“胡萝卜” 和“香蕉”弄混淆了而买错的情况。和大多数外国人一样，我的阿姨（钟点工）只会说中文。我们之间的对话虽然通常会花些时间却充满趣味，她对我十分耐心所以最终我们总能克服语言缺失的障碍互相达成理解。就汉字而言，对大部分外国人来说学习汉字的经历是如此的陌生、枯燥和复杂。我至今才学会了几十个汉字，不过只要给自己足够的时间，这个障碍也会最终被克服。我常目瞪口呆地望着一些同事飞快地书写这种不可思议的文字，同时也惊叹于孩子们竟然能在学校短短的几年内掌握上千个汉字。毫无疑问，口头和书面的交流把人类世界和动物王国区分开来。我们应该庆幸于此，应该不放弃每次能使用对方的母语同他人进行交流的机会，更应该珍惜不同语言带给我们的各种多元化的体验。也许我永远无法说得字正腔圆，但我会始终享受学习汉语的乐趣，尽可能在和中国人的交流中理解彼此，以此表达我对这个古老国家的尊重和敬意。

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jenny Chen is the Mandarin Co-ordinator for The British International School, Shanghai. As a Nord Anglia Education, Long- Service Award winner, she believes that helping others is the best way to help oneself. Jenny joined The British International School, Shanghai on the first day of opening in 2002 and has been the Mandarin Co-ordinator in Pudong, Puxi and now for all our Shanghai campuses. She is devoted to constructing, developing and implementing a consistent Mandarin curriculum across the three campuses. She has also been instrumental in promoting cross-curricular programmes and helping the school to develop local communications and cultural exchanges. Jenny has a variety of personal interests including classical guitar, tennis and backpacking. Her biggest achievement in life is her 6-year-old boy Paopao who, amazingly, has a map in his head of wherever he has been or whatever he has read about.

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The importance of sport in education By Kevin Foyle Principal The British International School Shanghai, Puxi

The history of sport is as long as the history of mankind; we have always been actively sporting beings. Sport has shown itself to be a useful way for people to increase their mastery of nature and their environment. The ancient Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Egyptians all played sport in various forms. Many of the modern sports we enjoy have their origins in the English public schools of the 18th and 19th century, where leading educators, many of them classicists such as Dr Thomas Arnold of Rugby School, emphasised the importance of sport in education. Sport has traditionally had two distinct but complementary roles in schools, as well as in society in general. Mass participation in sport, which became widely known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sport for Allâ&#x20AC;? in the UK, has always co-existed with the pursuit of sporting excellence. In spite of the fact that we live in a period of rapid change, the importance of sport in school has remained undimmed and in many respects has been brought into sharper relief by the lifestyles we lead in the early 21st century. Sport has always been seen as a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. Schools have an important role to play in educating students about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle through personal health and social education programmes and a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, introducing them to the pleasures of sport and physical fitness and encouraging them to take part. In the last ten years, much has been written in the media about the effects of modern living on levels of childhood obesity. Sport provides an antidote as an enjoyable, active and often outdoor alternative to the various computer- and TV-centred pastimes so popular among the young, and indeed among adults.

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It is important that we get young people involved in sport, because good habits formed during childhood are very often habits that we maintain throughout our lives. There is of course room for computer games in life, but they too often become a recreational default, and they cannot fill the hugely significant role that childhood sport plays in assisting in vital physical development. More than this, many studies have shown that fit and active children are very often happier and more successful in their academic work. Sport as recreation is important not only for fitness; children who are interested in sport are less likely to get involved in negative and dangerous lifestyle options in their teenage years, particularly if they have a shared commitment to a team. Their attitude is shaped by a peer group with a positive, mutual goal and interest, and the sense of discipline and responsibility that goes with it. Sport in all its guises also plays an important role in teaching young people respect. To enjoy most games we need some form of opposition; without them the contest, whether a recreational game of tennis or a fiercely contested inter-house basketball tournament, is impossible. Therefore we must appreciate and be respectful of our opponents for the part they play. Similarly, students must learn to respect rules and

authority: once again, sport is a safe and healthy endeavour where rules and the referee are a central element. Young people soon learn that without them the activity simply flounders, quickly descending into chaos. Sport, if delivered properly as a means of developing healthy social interaction, has another important role in the education of our pupils. Those who have never played rugby, for example, often find it difficult to understand how such a physically tough and combative sport can have such a strong and thriving social scene attached to it. It is not the purpose of this article to explain why, but rugby and many other sports are very good at bringing people together and breaking down barriers. Traditionally teams and their supporters partake in refreshments together after a school sports contest, and there’s no better way of promoting social interaction than bringing people with similar interests together over a meal or a drink. Many schools also undertake sports tours or participate in sports tournaments, for example through the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS), which brings young sportsmen together from across Far East Asia and further widens their social network. The highly competitive nature of modern society and everyday life is mirrored in sport

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because competition is an intrinsic part of sport, and again sport provides an excellent learning environment. Very few other experiences in school can match sport’s ability to teach us how to, in the words of Rudyard Kipling, “meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two imposters just the same”. Another core element is being part of a team. This yet again illustrates that sport is a microcosm of life itself. Most employers rightly value the ability of prospective employees to perform well as part of a team. An important part of a child’s education must be to ensure that they understand the importance of successful relationships, where individual personal needs and desires are tempered and adapted to the needs of others. Furthermore, students should have a clear understanding and appreciation of the fact that they can very often achieve a great deal more through co-operation and teamwork than through their own individual efforts. Sport in school provides a myriad of opportunities for this to be experienced and reinforced. The role of sport in school is not confined to the benefits of mass participation in an open access sports programme. Most schools also do what they can to support the pursuit of sporting excellence. A broad programme of sporting activities creates a wide base of participants for a performance

EDUCATION matters pyramid, which at its pinnacle has elite sports performance. The opportunities provided result in some students wanting to hone and further develop their sporting skills. These pupils play in the school’s top teams, where the best players are selected to play against their counterparts in other schools. Playing and competing in inter-school sport is part of pursuing sporting excellence, and approached the right way is a source of great pride to the participants and the wider school community. It is sometimes necessary for individuals to join programmes outside school to continue their development. Here at The British International School Shanghai, Puxi, we have a number of pupils pursuing their sporting dreams through intensive programmes outside of the school day. We happily and actively support them in these endeavours. No matter what their level, hard work in pursuit of improved results teaches students a great deal about the importance of self-discipline; improved performance rarely comes from anything other than focused hard work. Students also learn to take on responsibility for their training and performances, and undoubtedly also the need for perseverance in the face of adversity or failure. The path they are taking and the experiences involved can help them to develop a mental toughness which will prepare them for some of the pressures and stresses of modern life. It is no coincidence, as I review this piece, that many of the words we would all like to

have attributed to ourselves and our children – respectful, determined, responsible, selfdisciplined – feature prominently in this article. Sport has always been important in school, not just because it promotes a healthy and active lifestyle, hugely important in itself of course, but because it helps ensure that children get a rounded education. Very few other undertakings can teach us so much about the trials and tribulations of life in the real world, and equip us with so many

invaluable life skills. Students will learn that life is not fair; that it is often competitive; and that they can expect pressure in one form or another. Sport therefore still has an important role in educating young people in the 21st century because, as Thomas Arnold shrewdly observed, sport is “a formidable vehicle for character building”.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Principal Kevin Foyle has fifteen years of

experience in school leadership. He studied History, Physical Education and Sports Science at Loughborough and briefly earned a living as a professional cricketer. He began his teaching career at Winchester College, one of the UK’s leading independent schools, where he taught history and politics before taking on the job of Headmaster of Norman Court Preparatory School IAPS in 1995. After twelve very happy and successful years the draw of a new challenge on the international circuit resulted in his appointment as the founding Principal at The British International School Shanghai, Nanxiang Campus in 2007. Inspired by the wonderful fusion of Eastern and Western approaches to learning found in Shanghai, at the beginning of 2009 he moved to take up the position of Principal at The British International School Shanghai, Puxi Campus. He is married to Gill and they have four children, two presently at The British International School, Puxi Campus. In his spare time sports, reading and exploring the city, especially the beautiful French Concession, are his main interests.

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Why is it important to learn music? By Heather Brown Music Teacher The British International School Shanghai, Nanxiang

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music. . . I get most joy in life out of music.” — Albert Einstein Journal of The British International School

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EDUCATION matters

You don’t need to be fluent on an instrument to reap the benefits of learning music. Simply humming your own tune or listening to your favourite music can instantly bring on a smile. Music gives people the confidence to step up to their peers and perform with their own interpretation and feelings. Music gives people the opportunity to lead and work as a team. Music can help to define a nation’s culture and shape communities. Music can help to characterise moods and is proven to help heal the body. In short, music features in everyone’s life in some form or another, so learning about music can be extremely beneficial in shaping a person’s future, attitude and work skills.

Confidence esteem

and

self-

How many times have you been nervous when delivering that presentation to the executive board, taking charge of a meeting or speaking in front of the class? Having the confidence to perform in front of others, either solo or in a group, is an invaluable skill that can be transferred into nearly every school subject and area of life. Music gives you ample opportunities to perform on many different levels. This may be performing your own composition, or singing while acting a role on stage. Perhaps you will perform to the class, or maybe to the whole school – perhaps

even on television. Performing allows you to develop the skills needed to face an audience, make mistakes and deal with those mistakes under pressure. Performing also gives you the chance to learn about your audience, discovering how to engage and interact with them. Reading an audience can be crucial in clinching that deal or selling your product, summing up to the jury or breaking news of a life-threatening condition to a patient. Performance skills are easily transferable to other subjects and situations, and music is one of the simplest platforms for improving these skills.

Leadership, management and teamwork Many jobs today require leadership, management and teamwork. Being part of a musical group can help to advance these skills in a fun and creative way. Learning to be a principal player in an orchestra, lead trumpeter in a jazz band or front man in a rock band gives you the opportunity to take responsibility for others in the group, manage rehearsals and build a positive and healthy team attitude. Management skills, deciding who gets to perform what solo when or which piece to play at which concert, are crucial. Decisions have to be made in all areas of life, and making sure everyone is catered for while enjoying themselves and improving

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“One group of elementary students received musical training, while another group received an equal amount of discussion skills training. After six months, the students in the music group achieved a significant increase in reading test scores, while the reading test scores of the discussion skills group did not change.”— Journal of Research in Reading, 1994

EDUCATION matters their skills is a fundamental management skill found in nearly every profession. Opportunities to develop such transferrable skills, are abundant throughout all kinds of music activities, at all ages, from the recorder ensemble in primary right through to the senior choir. Creating an ensemble together teaches you to accept ideas from others, implement your own ideas and learn to compromise, and demands negotiation and discussion skills from all members of the group.

Culture Every culture shares some common features and celebrations such as weddings, funerals and birthdays, and music can be the one thing to gel them all together. You don’t have

“Students who can perform complex rhythms can also make faster and more precise corrections in many academic and physical situations.”— Center for Training and Motor Skills, 2000

to speak another language to be able to jam or perform with someone. You don’t have to be fluent in German or Italian to enjoy listening to Mozart’s operas. Music can help children to understand the values of others and the way their cultures and nations think. Through performing, listening and composing

their own Christmas, New Year, Divali and Thanksgiving music, for example, children can learn the similarities and differences of music from cultures around the world and appreciate their richness and diversity. It also helps children to define their own identity.

Community Music also gives people a chance to work across the age groups, religions and races. People from different walks of life get the chance to meet others, not only within their own school or community, but also through

“92% of people who play an instrument say they are glad they learned to do so.” –

Gallup Poll 2000.

wider regional, national and international competitions, school trips and regional orchestras. For children, there are also national youth initiatives such as the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. Children get to work with adults both in and out of school hours in a professional capacity. All these opportunities help children develop their sense of relationship with people and their varying roles within the community. Furthermore, performing in the community allows children to become a greater part of it and, in some ways, define it. Look at music of the recent past, for example. Music from the latter half of the twentieth century is

full of statements concerning both war and peace, and bold political statements, all of which helped to define certain eras. For instance, Live Aid in 1985 was perfect proof of how powerful music can be in linking communities around the world and helping to achieve a common goal. In addition, music has been proven to affect the brain. Research done by the American Music Therapy Association and the British Music Therapy Association has shown that a strong beat and/or a change in tempo can bring about changes in brain waves, heart and breathing rates and memory. These changes can be used to relax the body and help it deal with stress. Listening to music has also been linked with improving the symptoms of people with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s. So, how can I learn more about music? It’s easy! Depending on where you are in the world, most schools have a music programme in some form or another, either embedded in the curriculum or as a programme allowing extra lessons or activities around school hours. Lunchtime activities and extracurricular activities (ECAs) after school and at weekends provide ample opportunities for children and adults to get involved. Staff bands are also open to parents and friends. So what can learning music do for you? Music improves your mind and body, develops your knowledge and understanding of different cultures and gives you a bank of key transferable skills. And if nothing else, music is fun!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Heather Brown taught music both in Scotland and London for several years before coming to Shanghai. Whilst in the UK, she regularly performed with many ensembles, including theatre performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and has recorded for BBC Radio 2 and ITV television. Miss Brown has also competed several times at the UK National Brass Band Championships.

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a balanced technological diet By Mark Wilson Secondary Head Teacher and Matthew Seigal Secondary ICT Subject Leader The British International School Shanghai, Pudong 80 FAMILY MATTERS + Issue 4 Journal of The British International School

There’s been a debate in education for a while about the role of technology, in comparison with a ‘traditional’ education. This article looks at both sides of the debate and develops a hypothesis that the so-called opposing sides are a myth; that education is about a balanced blend of a wide variety of teaching and learning skills, among which embracing technology as an integral part of 21st-century learning is an element, but not the key element.

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People under 20 are often referred to as ‘digital natives’ having grown up without ever knowing a world before computers, video games consoles, mobile phones, DVD players and always-on high speed Internet. The story goes that using this technology is as intuitive

It’s very easy to be seduced by evangelists who want to saturate education with laptops, iPads, iPhones, YouTube and Facebook to our children and students as switching on a TV was to the older generation of ‘digital immigrants’ who were around before these tools and gadgets were invented. It’s very easy to be seduced by evangelists who want to saturate education with laptops, iPads, iPhones, YouTube and Facebook – educators do strive to be modern and relevant – but we need to decide whether we need to go this far so quickly, and if there are unwanted consequences. The myth of multi-tasking A recent PBS documentary tracked a group of MIT undergraduates who were so at home with digital technology that they enjoyed using different forms at the same time, claiming to be excellent multi-taskers. Is it really possible for students to read a book, answer homework questions, watch a video, listen to music, conduct 8 different IM conversations and play FIFA 2010 at the same time? American journalist and author Nicholas Carr confessed that he can’t multitask very effectively in his 2008 Atlantic article ‘Is Google Making Us Stupid?’ when he noted: “Over the past few years I’ve had an uncomfortable sense that someone, or something, has been tinkering with my brain, remapping the neural circuitry, reprogramming the memory. My mind isn’t going – so far as I can tell – but it’s changing. I’m not thinking the way I used to think. I can feel it most strongly when I’m reading. Immersing myself in a book or a lengthy article used to be easy. My mind would get caught up in the narrative or the turns of the argument, and I’d spend hours strolling through long stretches of prose. That’s rarely the case anymore. Now my concentration often starts to drift after two or three pages. I get fidgety, lose the thread, begin looking for something else to do. I feel as if I’m always dragging my wayward brain back to the text. The deep reading that used to come naturally has become a struggle.”

This concern that our brains are literally being changed by technology resonates with research that links children’s watching TV or playing video games to a lower attention span. “In other words, the quick pace of television and video may have a brain altering impact on children and adolescents. This altering of the brain is what may limit attention span.” – Allan N. Schwartz, PhD “Too much time spent watching television and playing video games can double the risk of attention problems in children and young adults. Those who exceeded the AAP recommendation were about 1.6 times to 2.2 times more likely to have greater than average attention problems.” – Researcher Edward Swing Even if we accept that too much exposure to multimedia and the bad habits of digital multi-tasking have a negative impact on attention and learning, is it possible to maintain the status quo of a teacher standing in front of a classroom transferring facts and knowledge to students? Schools still look the same now as they did a hundred years ago. Is that appropriate, given how rapidly the world is changing? “Compulsory education began in Prussia in 1717, with a teacher, chalk and a blackboard. 300 years later, many schools around the world still use the same outdated ‘cultural ritual’.” – Dryden and Vos, The New Learning Revolution, 2005 How do educators harness the benefits of technology without ruining students’ attention spans? It’s helpful to remind ourselves how and why we use digital tools in the classroom at BISS. Greater access to content We’re lucky to have one of the best English language libraries in Shanghai, but paper libraries will never be able to compete with the range and immediacy of up-todate resources available on the Internet. In addition to Wikipedia and Google Maps, we have every major news agency, such as the BBC, the Guardian and the New York Times, updating their websites in real time. Books used to take weeks to clear customs, but you can download them to portable devices in seconds using ebook applications such as Kindle, iBooks and Kobo. More opportunities for meaningful collaboration We set up the primary (www.bissworld. com/primary) and secondary (www. bissworld.com/moodle) Moodle sites to give our community greater access to learning resources and information about what happens in the classroom. There’s a push to make Moodle more interactive and collaborative so that students can

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make greater use of forums, wikis and questionnaires to work on group projects and find help when they’re stuck on homework tasks. Every student has a school email account, which they can use to ask their teachers questions or conduct interviews as part of their IB extended essays. Let’s not forget that our students are living overseas and benefit greatly from using Skype, instant messaging and social networks to stay in touch with friends and family in their home countries. Conclusion: Achieving a greater balance Question: Can technology be a useful tool to help students learn? Answer: Yes, especially when used alongside the support and guidance of a skilled educator. Question: Does technology distract students from learning? Answer: It can, and is more likely to when not used alongside the support and guidance of a skilled educator. The key to understanding the relationship between technology and education is to understand that they’re not in conflict, but rather are part of the same equation as a balanced diet. Eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day is a well known approach to maintaining a healthy diet. Technology plays an important part in helping students learn: it can encourage them to take responsibility to learn, it can guide them towards knowledge and research that would have taken us days before the Internet, it can help students personalise their learning and thereby improve it. However, it’s only a

The key to understanding the relationship between technology and education is to understand that they’re not in conflict part of the varied pedagogical approaches a teacher can take to help students learn. To maximise the potential of technology to personalise learning, students must first of all be taught how to use it. We’re talking about how to research, how to use search engines and research sites, how to gather primary research via electronic questionnaires and surveys; the power of technology can be a key tool in empowering the learner.

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We could have doubled the word count of this article by reflecting on the safety and privacy issues amplified by the emergence of social networks. That’s an important issue which we take very seriously, to the extent that our students look at digital citizenship as part of the Key Stage 3 ICT programme. Safety will lie at the heart of any digital strategy we implement. If technology can be so useful, should every student have a laptop? There are different views on this, mirroring the wider consensus that they can both enhance and distract from effective learning. Let’s not forget that in nearly every examination, from Key Stage 1 through to university, the student still needs to read an exam paper and write with a pen or pencil. Although exam boards have begun

to use technology for testing in certain areas, the traditional approach remains dominant. Responsible schools don’t leap into new schemes glibly. They need to prepare their infrastructure and their culture to make sure their use of technology improves learning. We believe we have a balanced approach, allowing IB students to bring their laptops into lessons and giving them access to the Internet throughout the school campus. We have also invested in two laptop trolleys to increase access among secondary subjects to ICT. We are indeed in the midst of a cultural revolution. Schools are undergoing the biggest changes since they were first created, as technology changes the landscape and opens up new horizons, not just in what students learn but in how they learn.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mark Wilson has been teaching for over 13 years, during which time in addition to his teaching and learning work with students he has been involved in training teachers for the Royal Academy of Dance, Middlesex University and through various Initial Teacher Training programmes. He joined Pudong as Headteacher for the Secondary School in 2009 after being involved in leading various schools in the UK. Mark has worked for the Department of Education through the Innovations Unit and the National College for School Leadership on Leadership projects in addition to being nominated for Teacher of the Year in 2005. Mark is often asked to speak publically at educational conferences, past events including Leading Edge Schools Conference, 14-19 Diploma Conference, Exceptionality Conference, Staff Training Conferences and Local Authority training based around personalising learning, tracking students’ progress and using Drama skills across the curriculum. His hobbies include playing guitar and singing, running, swimming and being a long suffering fan of Nottingham Forest Football Club. Mark is married with 2 children, Dylan and Erin.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR BA (Hons) PGCE - UK - Matt feels a sense of energy, optimism and enthusiasm in Shanghai which he believes is highly infectous. He believes that successful people know what they want out of life and have the confidence, determination and clear thinking to achieve their goals. They add meaning to their lives by being decent and ethical with their friends, families and in their communities. Matt is a keen blogger about technology and cultural interests and wants to make blogging and podcasting popular throughout the school community. He is also an avid fan of alternative rock, folk and electronic music.

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86 FAMILY MATTERS + Issue 4 Journal of The British International School

Life after school: Making the most of your gap year by Charlie Creissen (19)

When people hear the words ‘gap year’ they immediately think of freeloading teenagers stuck for something to do before university, simply wasting time by lounging around the house and watching television. But this just isn’t the case, and it’s this warped image that I wish to dispel. My gap year led to some of my most fulfilling experiences and has left me with memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I have no regrets about taking a year out to do this. First things first: You should guarantee your place at university. Deferred entry is the best way to do this, because you don’t have to stay in contact with the university or keep checking your email for updates on your applications. Sometimes, when travelling, the Internet isn’t always available or it costs a lot to use. The most hassle-free solution is to let your university know that you won’t be in contact for a while, so that your place is safe. Deferral of entry also means that, though you may feel like staying away forever, you still have a goal at the end of it all.

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EDUCATION matters

The biggest problem most people face is using their time productively. This is why the most important thing to do is plan, plan and then plan again! Before I did anything, I set my priorities straight and listed the things I

The biggest problem most people face is using their time productively wanted to do in order of importance. I began my planning by writing down what I wanted to achieve during the gap year and when I could schedule the different experiences I wanted to have. For me, the most important part of my year was work experience with

companies with chemistry-based areas of operation, because this is the field in which I want to work after university. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good to

Someone who wants to work as a journalist should try to obtain a job or internship with a local newspaper make contacts in different companies who can help you out in later life. For example, someone who wants to work as a journalist should try to obtain a job or internship with a local newspaper. My time on work

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placement gave me useful experience, and I learned a great deal about the industry from within. Working for two different companies was very interesting as I was able to compare the different experiences. I learned a lot about using equipment that I may use later on in life and also developed better people skills, having to phone up suppliers and place orders. I even managed to improve my Mandarin. Having a work-orientated gap year means that you come out with valuable experience for later life and credentials to show to future employers. Universities will also see that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done more than just travel around during your time out. Like most of my contemporaries, however, I wanted to travel with my friends. I planned out two different periods in which I could travel, working around my work experience. The first two months, I went away with

EDUCATION matters two friends from Shanghai. We went to India for five weeks and Thailand for three weeks, leaving straight after the end of school. The second period was from May to August when, along with three friends from England, I travelled all over South-East Asia for two months, ending with a fantastic month in Mongolia. This worked well for us all because I had time to complete the two internships and my friends had time to sort out university courses and do some work back in England. If you’re going with friends who live in your home country, make sure you keep in contact with them while you’re overseas so that you can plan times and places that suit everyone. It’s a lot easier and more fun travelling with a group of friends, but if you have to travel alone you’ll quickly meet people in hostels and bars. A lot of people travel alone (especially in South-East Asia) so it’s easy to find people to travel with. Ensure you choose your flights carefully and get the cheapest deals, so that you have

A lot of people travel alone (especially in South-East Asia) so it’s easy to find people to travel with more money to spend when you arrive at your destination. Budget airlines are easy to find and not too bad. You may find yourself spending the odd night sleeping on the floor of an airport lounge, but it’s really never as uncomfortable as it sounds. I found Air Asia to be a reliable and cheap airline, with many flights from Hangzhou, only a 2-hour drive or short train ride from Shanghai. Other people I met came all the way by train from different parts of China and crossed the border into

Vietnam without much trouble. Once in different countries, it’s easy to book buses and find out where to go. Locals are more than willing to help and will find the right bus for you if you ask politely. You should choose a place that you know you’re going to enjoy first, because some places can be off-putting for certain people. For example, anyone into enjoying the nightlife and meeting people on the beach should consider places such as Thailand or Laos. Those who want a challenging experience with sights and culture should consider Mongolia or India. You can always ask people who’ve already been to places to tell you what they’re like and give you tips on where to go and the best places to stay. They

You should choose a place that you know you’re going to enjoy first, because some places can be offputting for certain people can also help you decide which places are cheapest. For me, India was the cheapest, with accommodation under RMB10 a night, but accommodation in Vietnam, for example, is only RMB20-30 per night in the budget hotels and hostels. Lonely Planet and Rough Guides are useful in pointing you in the right direction, but there’s no need to use them for everything. You can use the reviews and articles to decide where to go when you get there, and local maps are easy to follow and understand. Quite often,

cities have areas for backpackers where you can find places that suit you and your budget. One of the bonuses of travelling is that you become more independent. This will prepare you for life at university. You will learn how to organise yourself when you have to book train tickets and hotels, cook, explore and, of course, make new friends easily. You also learn how to deal with being ill or injured and become more self-reliant. People you meet in the more touristy areas will be going to universities all over the world, so quite often you’ll find people going to the same place as you. You could end up with friends before you even arrive at university. Learning a new language is another good thing to do. Lessons from a tutor or online courses are easily available, and if you have enough time and plan your study carefully, you’ll quickly learn a lot of new vocabulary and develop your language skills. Rosetta Stone courses are also quick and effective ways to learn a new language. Travelling to a place where they speak the language you’re learning is also a good idea. Immersion is the best way to improve in any language. Spending some time living alone in the country where you’re heading to university is a good idea, because it gets you used to cooking for yourself and using money effectively without spending too much. When I was back in England, I also learned to drive so that I wouldn’t have to do it after university. If you’re going to England it’s best to do an intensive course, since you can pass your test quickly and it costs a lot less than individual driving lessons. All in all, I look back on my gap year as a success. I loved travelling, I learned new skills (driving a car and improving my Chinese) and I also gained valuable insight into my chosen field of study through the work placements. I’m looking forward to university in the UK, and am confident that this year has prepared me well for my next challenge.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Charlie Creissen (19) studied for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Award at The British International School Shanghai, Pudong Campus. He graduated with an outstanding score of 38 points out of a maximum of 45 and was rewarded with a place to read Chemistry at Sussex University in the UK.

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LISTINGS Accommodation Ambassy Court 1500 Huaihai Rd. (M) 淮海中路1500号 Ascott Pudong 3 Pudong Avenue (6886 0088) 上海浦东雅诗阁, 浦东大道3号 Bellewood Villas Lane 491 Huanlin Rd. 美林别墅, 环林东路491弄 Belvedere Service Apartments 833 Changning Rd. near Dingxi Rd. (6213 2222) 柏华丽豪华公寓, 长宁833号 , 近定西路

Emerald Court 2888 Hunan Rd. 翡翠园, 湖南路 Forest Manor 588 Jinfeng Rd. 西郊庄园, 金丰路588号 Forest Riviera 689 Gaojing Rd. 西郊美林馆, 高泾路689号 Forty-One Hengshan Rd 41 Hengshan Road 衡山路41号, 寿宁路98号 Fraser Residence Shanghai 98 Shouning Rd (2308 0000) 上海辉盛庭国际公寓, 寿宁路98号

Beverly Hills 1118 Mingyue Rd., Jinqiao Town 百富丽山庄, 金桥明月路1118号

Fraser Suites Top Glory 600 Yincheng Rd. (M) (6378 8888) 上海鹏利辉盛阁公寓, 银城中路600 弄1号

Cedar Villa 1705 Hami Rd. 别墅, 哈密路1705号

GaoAn Apartment 105 - 107 Gao’an Rd 高安公寓, 高安路105 - 107

Celebrity Garden 2 Chexin Highway 家天下别墅, 车新公路2号

Green Hills Lane 418 Jinxiu Rd. 云间绿大地别墅, 锦绣东路418弄

Chevalier Place Serviced Apartments 168 Anfu Rd. near Wulumuqi Zhong Rd. (6433 8599) 亦园, 安福路168号近乌鲁木齐中路 Citadines Jinqiao 55 Beijing Rd. (W) (2308 6666) 上海馨乐庭金桥服务公寓, 陕西南路5 - 7号 City Condo 118 Ziyun Rd 虹桥豪苑, 紫云路118弄 Consul Garden 555 Gubei Rd 虹桥华庭, 古北路555弄

Green Valley Villas 111 Hongguang Rd. 南翔绿谷别墅有限公司, 上海虹光路111号 Green Villas 700 Biyun Rd. 碧云别墅, 碧云路700号 Greenworld 68 Ruilin Rd. 上海金地格林世界, 瑞林路68号 Hampton Woods 589 Xinzhan Rd., Xinqiao 盛世香樟, 新桥镇新站路589号

Laidun Town Serviced Apts 839 Chenhua Rd. near Shenzhuan Rd (5769 0066) 莱顿小城(怡林花园), 辰花路839号近沈砖路 Lakeville 263 Zizhong Rd. 丽都别墅, 高泾路428号 Longbeach Garden Villa 165 West Xujing Rd. 长堤花园别墅, 徐泾西路165弄 Mandarine City 788 Hongxu Rd. 名都城, 虹许路788号号近古羊路 Mandarine de Gubei 1700 Gubei Rd. 名都古北, 古北路1700号 New Rainbow Asia Garden 1655 Huqingpin Rd. 新虹桥亚洲花园, 沪青平公路1655弄 One Park Avenue 500 Changde Rd. 静安枫景苑, 常德路500弄 Park View Lane 228 Baise Rd. 天然居, 百色路228弄 Perfect Garden 1889 Hongqiao Rd. 西郊华庭, 虹桥路1889号 Pinnacle Century Park 99 Dongxiu Rd. 置茂行服务公寓, 东绣路99号 Pinnacle Huashan 211 Xingfu Rd. (2211 9208) 置茂行华山豪庭, 幸福路211号

Seasons Villas 983 Huamu Rd. 四季雅苑, 花木路983号 Shanghai Centre 1376 Nanjing Xi Rd 上海商城, 南京西路1376号 Shanghai Racquet Club and Apartments Lane 555 Jinfeng Rd. 上海西庭网球俱乐部和公寓, 金丰路555弄 Shimao Riviera garden 1 Weifang Rd. (W) 世茂滨江花园, 潍坊西路1号 Skyline Mansion 200 Dongtai Rd. 盛大金磐花园, 东泰路200弄 Somerset Xuhui, Shanghai 888 Shaanxi Rd. (S) (6466 0888) 上海徐汇盛捷服务公寓, 陕西南路 888号 Stratford/Sylvan Lane 377 Zhuxin Rd. 万科红郡, 诸新路377弄 Taiyuan Villa Apartment 160 Taiyuan Rd. 太原别墅公寓楼, 太原路160号 The Emerald 2888 Hunan Highway 绿宝园, 沪南公路2888号 The Garden Inside Villa 658 Gaojing Rd. 西郊园中园, 高泾路658弄 Tiziano Villa Lane 1 Xiuyan Rd. 提香别墅, 南汇区秀沿路1弄 Tomson Golf Villa 1 Longdong Ave. 汤臣高尔夫别墅第8期, 龙东大道1号

Hillicas Villa Lane 2999 Hongmei Rd. 豪嘉府邸, 虹梅路2999弄

Pudong Century Garden 1108 Huamu Rd. 浦东世纪花园(传说99), 花木路 1108号

Crystal Pavilion Lane 318 Maoming Road 茂名公寓, 徐泾西路188弄

Hong Qiao State Guest House 1591 Changning Rd., Hongqiao (6219 8855) 虹桥迎宾馆, 上海市长宁区虹桥路 1591号

Rancho Santa Fe 333 Jinhui Rd. 兰乔圣菲, 金辉路333弄

Up Town 1398 Gubei Rd. 上城, 古北路1398号

De Oriental London 1000 Gubei Rd. 伦敦广场(东方伦敦花园) 古北路 1000号

Hongqiao Golf Villas 555 Hongxu Rd. 虹桥高尔夫别墅, 虹许路555号

Regency Park 1883 Huamu Rd. 御翠园, 花木路1883号

Vizcaya Lane 1988 Yunshan Rd. 维诗凯亚, 云山路1988弄

Contemporary Spirits 1801 Gudai Rd 当代艺墅, 顾戴路1801号

Rich Garden Gubei 881 Huangjin Avenue 古北瑞仕花园, 黄金大道881号

Dong Jiao Guest Hotel Garden Villa 1800 Jinke Rd. 东郊宾馆, 金科路1800号

Kerry Residences 1515 Nanjing Rd. (W) 上海嘉里中心, 南京西路1515号

Dynasty Villas Lane 851 Hongjing Rd. 皇朝别墅, 虹井路851弄

Kingsville 198 Anfu Rd. 金苑, 安福路198号

Ridgewood Cottage 385 Hongzhong Rd. 虹中别墅, 虹中路385号

Elegant Garden 189 Longxi Rd. 西郊明苑别墅, 龙溪路189号

La Doll 758 Beijing Rd. 国际丽都城, 北京路758号

Sassoon Park Villa 2419 Hongqiao Rd. 龙柏花苑, 虹桥路2419号

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Trinity Village Branch Lane 2, Lane 1168 Xiuyan Rd. 翠廷别墅, 秀沿路1168弄2支弄

Westwood Villas 299 Chengjiaqiao Rd. near Yan’an Xi Rd. (6465 1148) 伯爵山莊, 程家桥路299号近延安西路 Windsor Park 2279 Hongqiao Rd. 温沙花园, 虹桥路2279号 Xiang Mei Garden 388 Huamu Rd. 香梅花园, 花木路388号

LISTINGS Yanlord Garden Lane 99 Pucheng Rd. 仁恒滨江园, 浦城路99弄 Yin Tao Golf Villa 2222 Huqingping Rd. 银涛高尔夫别墅, 沪青平公路2222弄

Community Abundant Grace International 455 Hongfeng Rd. near Mingyue Rd. (5030 3313) 鸿恩堂, 红枫路455号近明月路 Chabad Jewish Center Of Pudong 99 Puming Rd. near Shangcheng Rd. (5878 2008) 浦明路99弄近商城路 Fuyou Lu Mosque 378 Fuyou Rd. near Houjia Rd. (6328 2135) 福佑路清真寺, 福佑路378号近侯家路 Grace Church 375 Shaanxi Rd. (N) near Beijing Rd. (W) (6253 9394) 基督教堂, 陕西北路375号近北京西路 Hengshan Community Church (Protestant) 53 Hengshan Rd. near Wulumuqi Rd. (6437 6576) 上海犹太旧址, 衡山路53号近乌鲁木齐路 Historic Ohel Rachel Synagogue 500 Shaanxi Rd. (N) near Beijing Rd. (W) (53060606) 西摩路会堂 (欧黑尔.雪切尔犹太会堂), 陕西北路500号近北京西路

Fitness and Beauty Apsara Spa 457 Shaanxi Rd. (N) near Beijing Rd. (W) (6258 5580) 馨园水疗, 陕西北路457号近北京西路 Chi, The Spa 33 Fucheng Rd. near Dongchang Rd. (6882 8888 ext. 460) 气’水疗中心, 富城路33号近东昌路 Clark Hatch Fitness Center 78 Xingguo Rd. near Jiangsu Rd. (6212 9998 Ext. 3300) 克拉克海奇健身中心, 兴国路78号近江苏路 Diva Life Nail & Beauty Lounge 88 Keyuan Rd. near Longdong Ave. (2898 6078) 美甲沙龙, 科苑路88号近龙东大道

Jinqiao Megafit Sports Club 600 Lantian Rd. near Jinqiao Carrefour (5030 8118) 金桥美格菲运动俱乐部, 蓝天路600 号近金桥家乐褔 Lujiazui Golf Club 501 Yincheng Zhong Rd. near Huanyuanshiqiao Rd. 上海陆家嘴高尔夫俱乐部, 银城中路501号近花园石桥路 Megafit Fitness 208 Baise Rd. near Longwu Rd. (5435 6399) 美格菲健身, 百色路208号1楼近龙吴路 Physical Fitness 1111 Zhaojiabang Rd. near Hengshan Rd. (64268282) 舒适堡健身, 肇嘉浜路1111号近衡山路

Diva Life Nail Lounge 266 Ruijin Er Rd near Taikang Rd. (5465 7291) 上海天后美甲沙发吧, 瑞金二路266 号近泰康路

Shanghai Golf Club 3765 Jiahang Highway near Shuangliu Rd. (5995 0111) 上海高尔夫俱乐部, 嘉行公路3765号近双浏路

Dragonfly Changyi 29-31 Changyi Rd. near Jimo Rd. (5878 4755) 悠庭昌邑, 昌邑路29 - 31号近即墨路

Shanghai International Golf Country Club 961 Yingzhu Lu, Zhujiajiao, Qingpu (5972 8111) 国际高尔夫球乡村俱乐部, 朱家角镇盈朱路961号

Dragonfly Hongmei 3911 Hongmei Rd. near Hongxu Rd. (6242 4328) 悠庭虹梅, 虹梅路3911弄5号近虹许路 Dragonfly Retreat 206 Xinle Rd. near Donghu Rd. (5403 9982) 悠庭保健会所, 新乐路206号近东湖路

Shanghai Stadium Rock-Climbing 666 Tianyaoqiao Rd. near Lingling Rd. (6426 5178) 上海体育场攀岩中心, 天钥桥路 666号 Tomson Pudong Golf Club 1 Longdong Highway (5833 8888) 汤臣高尔夫俱乐部, 龙东大道1号

Hong-En Church 455 Hongfeng Rd. near Mingyue Rd. (50307556) 鸿恩堂, 红枫路455号近明月路

Dragonfly Shanghai Racquet Club & Apartments 555 Jinfeng Rd. near Baole Rd. (2201 0899, 2201 0866) 悠庭西庭网球俱乐部, 金丰路近宝乐路

Jingxing Lu Mosque 302 Jingxing Rd. near Pingliang Rd. (6541 3199) 景星路清真寺, 景星路302弄117号近平凉路

Eternity Fitness Retreat 2 Yuyao Rd. near Xikang Rd. (6215 1619) 泳泰健身, 余姚路2号近西康路

Longhua Temple 2853 Longhua Rd. near Longwu Rd. (64570570) 龙华寺, 龙华路2853号近龙吴路

Frangipani Nail Bar 3305 Hongmei Rd. near Chengjiaqiao Rd. (5422 2984) 花中美语, 虹梅路3305号近程家桥支路

Sacred Heart Of Jesus Catholic Church 151 Hongfeng Rd. near Biyun Rd. 天主教中华殉道圣人堂, 红枫路151 号近名月路

Hongqiao Golf Club 555 Hongxu Rd. near Hongsong Rd. (6421 5522) 上海虹桥高尔夫俱乐部, 虹许路555 号近红松路

Health

St. Ignatius Cathedral 158 Puxi Rd. near Caoxi Bei Rd. (6438 2595) 徐家汇大教堂, 蒲西路158号近漕溪北路

International Tennis Center Club 516 Hengshan Rd. near Wuxing Rd. (6415 5588 Ext. 82) 上海国际网球中心俱乐部, 衡山路 516号近吴兴路

American-Sino OB/GYN Service Huashan Hospital, 12 Wulumuqi Rd. (M) near Zhenning Rd. (6249 3246) 美华妇产服务, 乌鲁木齐中路12号华山医院近镇宁路

Toni & Guy Hairdressing 99 Huaihai Zhong Rd. near Longmen Rd. (5351 3606) 汤尼英盖, 淮海中路99号近龙门路 Wide Tera Gym International 1018 Changning Rd. near Kaixuan Rd. (5238 2222) 一兆韦德, 长宁路1018号近凯旋路 Will’s Gym 5 Yinxiao Rd. near Huamu Rd. (5045 6257) 上海威尔士健身中心, 银霄路5号近花木路

Journal of The British International School

Children’s Hospital Of Fudan University 399 Wanyuan Rd near Gudai Rd. (64931990) 复旦大学附属儿科医院, 万源路399 号近顾戴路 East International Medical Center 551 Pudong Rd. (S) near Pudong Ave. (5879 9999) 上海东方国际医院, 浦东南路551号近浦东大道 Huashan Hospital 12 Wulumuqi Rd. (M) near Changle Rd. (6248 9999 Ext 2500) 华山医院, 乌鲁木齐中路近长乐路 International Peace Maternity & Child Health 910 Hengshan Rd. near Zhaojiabang Rd. (6407 4887 Ext 1105) 国际和平妇幼保健医院, 衡山路910 号近肇嘉浜路 ParkwayHealth Medical & Dental Centers 51 Hongfeng Rd. Jinqiao near Xinqiao Rd. (6445 5999) 瑞新医疗, 金桥红枫路51号近新桥路 ParkwayHealth 788 Hongxu Rd. near Huaguang Rd. (6445 5999) 瑞新国际医疗, 虹许路788号近华光路 PAW Veterinary Surgeons 722 Xinhua Rd. near Kaixuan Rd. (5254 0611) 上海汪汪宠物医院, 新华路722弄15 号近凯旋路 Ruijin Hospital 197 Ruijin Rd. near Shaoxing Rd. (6437 0045 Ext. 668101) 瑞金医院, 瑞金二路197号近绍兴路 SinoUnited Health 300 Hongfeng Rd. near Biyun Rd. (5030 7810) 盛和红枫康复门诊, 红枫路300弄16 号近碧云路 Sun-Tec Medical Center 2281 Hongqiao Rd. near Jianhe Rd (5175 0505) 上海申德医院, 虹桥路2281号近剑河路 United Animal Hospital 3333 Qixin Rd. near Wuzhong Rd. (5485 9099) 上海联谊动物医疗诊所, 七莘路3333 号近吴中路 United Family Clinic 555 Jinfeng Rd. near Beiqing Highway (2201 0995) 上海市和美家诊所, 金丰路555弄近北青公路

Issue 4 + FAMILY MATTERS 91

LISTINGS Kids Activities Aquaria 21 451 Daduhe Rd. near Jinshajiang Rd. (6223 5280) 上海长风海洋世界, 大渡河路 451 号近金沙江路 Auto Museum 7565 Anting Boyuan Rd. near Moyu Rd. (S) (6955 0055) 上海汽车博物馆, 安亭博园路7565号近墨玉南路 Children’s Technology Workshop 199 Fangdian Rd. near Yinchun Rd. (5033 3053) 儿童科技营, 芳甸路199弄46-47B 近迎春路 Circus World 2266 Gonghexin Rd. near Guangzhong Rd. (6652 7750) 上海马戏城, 共和新路2266号近广中路 Dino Beach 78 Xinzhen Rd. near Gudai Rd. (6478 3333) 热带风暴, 新镇路78号近顾戴路 Disc Kart Indoor Karting 809 Zaoyang Rd. near Jinshajiang Rd. Subway Station (6222 2880) 迪士卡赛车馆, 枣阳路809号近地铁3 号线金沙江路站 Dramatic Arts Center 288 Anfu Rd. near Wukang Rd. (5465 6200) 上海话剧艺术中心, 安福路288号近武康路 Eday Town 5001 Dushi Rd. near Chunshen Rd. (400 820 5066) 星期八小镇, 都市路5001号近春申路 Fuxing Park 2 Gaolan Rd. near Nanchang Rd. (5386 1069) 复兴公园, 皋兰路2号近南昌路 Guyi Garden 218 Huyi Highway (5912 2225) 古漪园, 沪宜公路218号 IMAX 3D Cinemas 2000 Century Ave. near Dingxiang Rd. (6862 2000 ext.30712) 上海科技馆3D电影院, 世纪大道 2000号近丁香路

Jinjiang Amusement Park 201 Hongmei Rd. near Humin Highway (5420 4956) 锦江乐园, 虹梅路201号近沪闵路 Kids’ Golf 88 Xianxia Xi Rd. near Jianhe Rd. (5217 2075) 上海新中少儿高尔夫培训有限公司, 仙霞西路88号近剑河路 Kidtown Hongmei Rd. near Chengjiaqiao Rd. (6405 5188) 可童探索城, 虹梅路3211号4楼近程家桥支路 Kodak Cinemaworld 1111 Zhaojiabang Rd. near Tianyaoqiao Rd. (6426 8181) 柯达超级电影世界, 肇家浜路1111号近天钥桥路 MoCA People’s Park, 231 Nanjing Rd. (W) (6327 9900) 上海当代艺术馆, 南京西路231号人民公园7号门 Municipal History Museum 1 Century Avenue near Oriental Pearl Tower (5879 1888) 上海城市历史发展陈列馆, 世纪大道1号近东方明珠 Natural Wild Insect Kingdom 1 Fenghe Rd. near Binjiang Ave. (5840 5921) 大自然野生昆虫馆, 丰和路1号近滨江大道 Paradise Warner Cinema City 1 Hongqiao Rd. near Huashan Rd. (6407 6622) 永华电影城, 虹桥路1号近华山路 Planet Laser Tag Hongkou Stadium, 444 Dongjiangwan Rd. (5560 0658) 上海普兰尼镭射, 东江湾路444号虹口足球场 Ruby’s Party 3333-A Hongmei Rd. near Huaguang Rd (6401 6323) 乐贝派对，虹梅路3333-A号近华光路 Science and Technology Museum 2000 Century Ave. near Jinxiu Rd. (6862 2000) 上海科技馆, 世纪大道2000号近锦绣路

Jialiang K-9 Kennel and Equestrian Club 1858 Sanlu Highway near Zhahang Highway (6411 0049) 佳良马术俱乐部, 三鲁公路1858号近杜航公路

Shanghai Art Museum 325 Nanjing Rd. (W) near Xinchang Rd. (6327 2829) 上海美术馆, 南京西路325号近新昌路

Jinmao Concert Hall 88 Century Ave. near Lujiazui Rd. (E) (5047 2612) 金茂音乐厅, 世纪大道88号近陆家嘴东路

Shanghai Arts And Crafts Museum 79 Fenyang Rd. near Taiyuan Rd. (6437 2509) 上海工艺美术博物馆, 汾阳路79号近太原路

Shanghai Discovery Children’s Museum 61 Songyuan Rd (6278 3127) 上海儿童博物馆, 宋园路61号近虹桥路 Shanghai Film Art Center 160 Xinhua Rd. near Xinhua Rd. (6280 4088) 上海影城, 新华路160号近番禺路 Shanghai Grand Stage 1111 Caoxi Bei Rd. near Tianyaoqiao Rd. (6438 5200) (上海大舞台) 漕溪北路1111号近天钥桥路 Shanghai Grand Theater 201 Renmin Ave near Huangpi Rd. (N) (6372 3500) 上海博物馆, 人民大道201号近黄陂北路 Shanghai International Circuit 2000 Yining Rd. (6956 9999) 上海国际赛车场, 伊宁路2000号 Shanghai Municipal History Museum 1 Century Ave. near Oriental Pearl Tower (5879 1888 ext 80449) 上海城市历史发展陈列馆, 世纪大道1号近东方明珠 Shanghai Ocean Aquarium 1388 Lujiazui Ring Rd. near Oriental Pearl Tower (5877 9988) 上海海洋水族馆, 陆家嘴环路1388号近东方明珠 Shanghai Wild Animal Park 178 Nanliu Highway near Xiayan Highway (6118 0000) 上海野生动物园, 南汇南六公路178 号近下盐公路 Shanghai Zendai Museum of Modern Art 199 Fangdian Rd. near Yanggao Rd. (C) (5033 9801) 证大现代艺术馆, 芳甸路199弄28号近杨高中路 Super Rink 168 Lujiazui Rd. (W) near Fucheng Rd. (5047 1711) 司凯特正大真冰滑冰场, 陆家嘴西路168号近富城路 Think Town 1118 Changshou Rd. near Wanhangdu Rd. (5238 3208) 宝贝科学探索坊, 长寿路1118号近万航渡路 Yinqixing Indoor Skiing Site 1835 Qixin Rd. near Gudai Rd. (6478 8666) 银七星室内滑雪场, 七莘路1835号近顾戴路

92 FAMILY MATTERS + Issue 4 Journal of The British International School

Restaurants and Bars

1001 Nights 4 Hengshan Rd. near Wulumuqi Rd. (6473 1178) 一千零一夜, 衡山路4号近乌鲁木齐路 Azul Viva 18 Dongping Rd. near Wulumuqi Rd. (6433 1172) 西班牙餐厅, 东平路18号近乌鲁木齐路 Baby Bamboo 3338 Hongmei Rd. near Yan’an Rd. (W) (6465 9099) 大竹子咖啡吧, 虹梅路3338弄近延安西路 Bergamo Italian Restaurant & Bar 1212 Biyun Rd. near Hongfeng Rd. (3382 1068) 贝加莫意大利餐厅酒吧, 碧云路1212号近红枫路 Big Bamboo 777 Biyun Rd. near Lan’an Rd. (5030 4228) 大竹子, 碧云路777号近蓝桉路 Blarney Stone 5 Dongping Rd. near Yueyang Rd. (6415 7496) 岩烧, 东平路5号A近岳阳路 Blue Frog 633 Biyun Rd. near Pudong Carrefour (5030 6426) 蓝蛙, 碧云路633号近浦东家乐福 Boxing Cat 453 Jinfeng Rd. near Baole Rd. (6221 9661) 拳击猫啤酒屋, 金丰路453号近保乐路 Casa Mia 221 Shimen Er Rd. near Xinzha Rd. (6271 9881) Casa Mia, 石门二路221号近新闸路 Chiang Mai Thai Cuisine 1019 Kangding Rd. near Yangping Rd. (5228 1588) 清迈泰国餐厅, 康定路1019号近延平路 Cloud 9 88 Century Ave. near Lujiazui Rd. (E) (5049 1234 Ext.8787) 九重天, 世纪大道88号近陆家嘴东路 Cotton’s 132 Anting Rd. near Jianguo Rd. (W) (6433 7995) 棉花, 安亭路132号近建国西路 Di Shui Dong 626 Xianxia Rd. near Shuicheng Rd. (3207 0213) 滴水洞饭店, 仙霞路626号近水城路

LISTINGS Dublin Exchange 101 Yincheng Dong Rd. near Lujiazui Rd. (6841 2052) 都不林, 银城东路101号近陆家嘴路

Jendow 2787 Longhua Rd. near Tianyaoqiao Rd. (6457 2299, 6457 7821) 人道素菜, 龙华路2787号近天钥桥路

Eastern Seafood Port 33 Fushan Rd. near Dongfang Rd. (6888 2318) 东方海港, 福山路33号近东方路

Jujube Tree 848 Huangjincheng Rd. near Shuicheng Rd. (S) (6275 1798) 枣子树, 黄金城道848号近水城南路

El Wajh 1800 Jinke Rd. near Longdong Rd. (5027 8261) 摩洛哥餐厅, 金科路1800号近龙东路

Kakadu 8 Jianguo Rd. near Chongqing Rd. (5468 0118) 卡卡图, 建国中路8号近重庆路

Enoteca 58 Taicang Rd. near Ji’nan Rd. (5306 3400) Enoteca, 太仓路58号近济南路

Kobachi 88 Century Ave. near Yincheng Rd. (W) (5047 1234 ext. 8907) 日珍餐厅, 世纪大道88号金贸君悦56 楼近银城西路

Fuga 2967 Lujiazui Rd. (W) near Oriental Pearl Tower (5877 6187) 枫雅, 陆家嘴西路2967号近东方明珠 Greek Taverna 199 Fangdian Rd. near Dingxiang Rd. (5033 7500) 希腊餐厅, 芳甸路199弄41号近丁香路 Gui Hua Lou 33 Fucheng Rd. near Huayuanshiqiao Rd. (5888 3697) 桂花楼, 富城路33号近花园石桥路 Haiku By Hatsune 28B Taojiang Rd. near Hengshan Rd. (6445 0021) 隐泉の语, 锦严路309号近锦绣路 Hofbraeuhaus Shanghai 309 Jinyan Rd. near Jinxiu Rd. (6163 3699) 豪夫堡, 锦严路309号近锦绣路 Hongmei Entertainment Street 3338 Hongmei Rd. near Yan’an Rd. (W) (6465 6996) 虹梅休闲步行街, 虹梅路3338近延安西路 Hooters 168 Lujiazui Rd. (W) near Fucheng Rd. (5049 0199) 美国猫头鹰餐厅, 陆家嘴西路168号近富城路 House of Flour 635 Bibo Rd. near Chunxiao Rd. (5080 6230) 毂屋, 碧波路635号近春晓路 Indian Kitchen 600 Lantian Rd. near Biyun Rd. (5030 2005) 印度小厨, 蓝天路600号近碧云路 Jade on 36 33 Fucheng Rd. near Lujiazui Rd. (W) (6882 3636) 翡翠36楼, 富城路33号近陆家嘴西路 Jean Georges 3 Zhongshan Rd. 1 (E) near Guangdong Rd. (6321 7733) 陆唯轩, 中山东一路3号近广东路

La Verbena 2967 Lujiazui Rd. Binjiang Ave. (N) (5878 9837) 露华娜餐厅, 陆家嘴路2967号滨江大道北端店面E Laris 3 Zhongshan 1 Rd. (E) near Guangdong Rd. (6321 7733) 陆唯轩, 中山东一路3号4楼近广东路 Las Tapas 259 Hongfeng Rd. near Biyun Rd. (3382 1686) 乐泰餐饮, 红枫路259号近碧云路 Le Bouchon 1455 Wuding Rd. (W) near Jiangsu Rd. (6225 7088) 勃逊, 武定西路1455号近江苏路 Little Face 30 Donghu Rd. near Xinle Rd. (6466 4328) 印泰餐饮, 东湖路30号近新乐路 Little Sheep Hot Pot 1033 Yan’an Rd. (W) near Wuyi Rd. (6234 1717) 小肥羊火锅, 延安西路1033号近武夷路 Lost Heaven 38 Gaoyou Rd. near Fuxing Rd. (W) (6433 5126) 花马天堂云南餐厅, 高邮路38号近复兴西路 M on the Bund 5 Zhongshan 1 Rd. (E) near Guangdong Rd. (6350 9988) 米氏西餐厅, 中山东一路外滩5号7 楼近广东路 Malone’s 3 Pudong Ave. near Pudong Rd. (S) (6886 1309) 马龙, 浦东大道3号雅诗阁公寓1楼近浦东南路 Moonsha 5 Zhongshan 1 Rd. (E) near Guangdong Rd. (6323 1117) 月影, 中山东一路外滩5号3楼近广东路

Munich Beer House 1138 Pudong Rd. (S) near Zhangyang Rd. (5878 7979) 莱宝啤酒屋, 浦东南路1138号上海湾广场118商铺近张扬路 New Age Veggie 168 Lujiazui Rd. (W) near Fucheng Rd. (5047 1880) 新素代, 陆家嘴西路168号正大广场5 楼20A/B近富城路 New Heights 3 Zhongshan 1 Rd. (E) near Guangdong Rd. (6321 0909) 新视角, 广东路17号 O’Malley’s 42 Taojiang Rd. near Hengshan Rd. (6474 4533) 欧玛莉餐厅, 桃江路42号近衡山路 Paulaner Brauhaus 2967 Lujiazui Rd. near Pudong Shangri-La Hotel (6888 3935) 宝莱纳, 陆家嘴路2967号近香格里拉大酒店 Quan Ju De 778 Dongfang Rd. near Zhangyang Rd. (6886 8966) 全聚德, 东方路788号3楼紫金山大酒店3楼近张扬路 Rendezvous 435 Jinfeng Rd. (5256 4353) 朗迪姆, 金丰路435 Sasha’s 11 Dongping Rd. near Hengshan Rd. (6474 6628) 萨莎, 东平路11号近衡山路 Shanghai Ren Jia Restaurant 789 Tianshan Rd. near Tianshan Loushanguan Rd. (6249 7978) 上海人家, 南京西路1600号 Simply Thai 600 Lantian Rd. near Biyun Rd. (5030 1690) 天泰餐厅, 蓝天路600号近碧云路 South Beauty 168 Lujiazui Rd. near Fucheng Rd. (5047 1917) 俏江南, 陆家嘴西路168号正大广场 10楼近富城路 South Memory 118 Weifang Rd. near Laoshan Rd. (E) (6876 5502) 望湘园, 潍坊路118号近崂山东路 Southern Barbarian 56 Maoming Rd. (S) near Changle Rd. (5157 5510) 南蛮子, 茂名南路56号近长乐路 Spicy Joint 601 Zhangyang Rd. near Nanquan Rd. (6470 2777) 辛湘汇, 张杨路601号5楼近南泉路

Journal of The British International School

Tairyo Teppanyaki 139 Ruijin Rd. 1 near Changle Rd. (5382 8818) 大渔, 瑞金一路139号近长乐路 The Bulldog Pub 1 Wulumuqi Rd. (S) near Dongping Rd. (6466 7878) 英国斗牛犬, 乌鲁木齐南路1号近东平路 The Bund Brewery 11 Hankou Rd. near Sichuan Rd. (64341318) 外滩啤酒总汇, 汉口路11号近四川路 The Cool Docks Food and Fashion Zhongshan Rd. (S) near Fuxing Rd. (E) 老码头, 中山南路近复兴东路 The Irishman’s Pub Lane 199 Fangdian Rd. at Thumb Plaza (5033 9163) 愉龙餐厅, 芳甸路199弄20号大拇指广场 The Monk 818 Gaojing Rd. near Huqingping Highway (5988 9983) 修道士酒吧, 高泾路818号近沪青平路 The Spot 331 Tongren Lu. near Beijing Xi Rd (6247 3579) 欧风咖啡馆, 铜仁路331号近北京西路 Xiao Nan Guo Restaurant 1 Weifang Rd. (W) near Pudong Rd. (S) (3208 9777) 小南国大酒店, 潍坊西路1弄18号近浦东南路 Yuyintang 1731 Yan’an Rd. (W) near Kaixuan Rd. (5237 8662) 育音堂, 延安西路1731号入口在凯旋路

Shopping A.P. Xinyang Fashion & Gifts Market 2000 Century Ave. inside Metro Line 2 Shanghai Science & Technology Museum Station (6854 2230) 中国亚太新阳, 世纪大道2000号地铁2号线上海科技馆站内 Amphora Hongqiao Shop 3219 Hongmei Road near Huaguang Rd. (51759156) 爱芬乐, 虹梅路3219号近华光路 Amphora Greek Grocery 429 Shaanxi Rd. (N) near Beijing Rd. (W) (5213 9066) 爱芬乐, 陕西北路429号近北京西路 B&Q Zhabei 3228 Gonghexin Rd. near Wenshui Rd. Metro (3603 0099) 百安居闸北店, 共和新路3228号地铁汶水路站

Issue 4 + FAMILY MATTERS 93

LISTINGS

Best Buy Electronics Mall 1065 Zhaojiabang Rd. near Tianyaoqiao Rd. (400 886 8800) 百思买, 肇嘉浜路1065号近天钥桥路 Brilliance West Shopping Mall 88 Xianxia Rd. (W) near Hami Rd. (5219 8000) 百联西郊购物中心, 仙霞西路88号近哈密路 Buy Now Electonics mall 588 Zhangyang Rd. near Pudong Rd. (S) (6160 9073) 百脑汇, 张扬路588号近浦东南路 Carrefour Biyun 555 Biyun Rd near Yunshan Rd (5030 4420) 家乐福金桥店, 碧云路555号近云山路

Decathlon Huamu 393 Yinxiao Rd. near Lanhua Rd. (5045 3888) 迪卡侬花木店, 银霄路393号近兰花路

Meiyuan Bird and Flower Market Lane 49 Fushan Rd. near Rushan Rd. (6876 6638) 梅园花鸟市场, 福山路49弄近乳山路

Dongtai Road Antique Market Dongtai Rd. near Ji’an Rd. 东台路古董市场, 东台路近吉安路

Metro Putuo 1425 Zhenbei Rd. near Meichuan Rd. (6265 8888) 麦德龙普陀店, 真北路1425号近梅川路

Fuyou Street Merchandise Mart 225 Fuyou Rd. near Anren Rd. (6374 5632) 福佑路小商品市场, 福佑路225号近安仁路

Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street Nanjing Rd. (E) 南京东路步行街, 南京东路

Shanghai Book Mall 456 Fuzhou Rd. near Guangdong Rd. (6391 4848) 上海图书城, 福州路465号近广东路 South Bund Fabric Market 399 Lujiabang Rd. near Zhongshan Rd. (S) (6377 7288) 南外滩轻纺面料市场, 陆家浜路399 号近中山南路 Super Brand Mall 168 Lujiazui Rd. (W) near Fucheng Rd. (6887 7888) 正大广场, 陆家嘴西路168号近富城路

Hola Home Furnishing Store 189 Zhengtong Rd. near Songhu Rd. (6511 1888) 特力屋, 政通路189号和乐家居广场1 楼近淞沪路

Oriental Department Store 8 Caoxi Bei Rd. near Zhaojiabang Rd. (6487 0000) 南京东路步行街, 南京东路

Carrefour Gubei 268 Shuicheng Rd. (N) near Yan’an Rd. (W) (6278 1944) 家乐福古北店, 水城南路268号近延安西路

Homemart 55 Yiminhe Rd. near Zhongshan Er Rd. (N) (6552 3300) 好美家, 伊敏河路55号近中山北二路

Outlets Shopping Center 2888 Huqingping Highway near Jiasong Zhong Rd. 奥特莱斯直销广场, 沪青平公路2888 号近嘉松中路

Carrefour Nanxiang 3168 Fengxiang Rd. near Baoxiang Rd. (3992 5252) 家乐福南翔店, 丰翔路3168号近宝翔路

Hong Kong Plaza 283 Huaihai Rd. (M) near Huangpi Rd. (S) 香港广场, 淮海中路283号近黄陂南路

Carrefour Xujing 1829 Huqingping Highway (6191 3330) 家乐福徐泾店, 沪青平公路1829号

Hongqiao Int’l Pearl City 3721 Hongmei Rd. near Yan’an Rd. (W) (6465 0000) 上海虹桥珍珠城, 虹梅路3721号近延安西路

Parkson Department Store 918 Huaihai Rd. (M) near Shaanxi Rd. (S) (6415 8818) 百盛, 淮海中路918号近陕西南路

Carrefour Zhongshan Park 1018 Changning Rd. near Kaixuan Rd. (6225 5656) 家乐福中山公园店, 长宁路1018号近凯旋路

IKEA Shanghai 126 Caoxi Rd. near Sanhui Rd. (5425 6060) 宜家, 漕溪路126号近三汇路

Pines The Market Place 322 Anfu Rd. near Wukang Rd. (6437 6375) 松园坊商场, 安福路322号近武康路

City Shop Hongmei 3211 Hongmei Rd. near Luchun Rd. (6215 0418) 城市超市虹梅店, 虹梅路3211号近陆春路

Jiuxing Tea Leaf Wholesale Market Bridge 6 Caobao Rd. near Hongxin Rd. (54865988) 九星茶叶市场, 漕宝路6号桥近虹莘路

Pines The Market Place 427 Jinfeng Rd. near Baole Rd. (5226 4137) 金松坊, 金丰路427号近宝乐路

Watsons 939-947 Huaihai Rd. (C) near Shaanxi Rd. (S) (6437 5250) 屈臣氏超市, 淮海中路939号巴黎春天近陕西南路

City Shop Riverside 33 Huayuanshiqiao Rd. near Fucheng Rd. (5047 8028) 城市超市滨江店, 花园石桥路33号近富城路近富城路

Life Hub @ Daning 1978 Gonghexin Rd. near Wenshui Rd. (6630 0077) 大宁国际商业广场, 共和新路1868 2008号近汶水路

Pines The Market Place 633 Biyun Rd. near Lan’an Rd. (5030 6971) 松园坊商场, 碧云路633号碧云体育休闲中心近蓝桉路

Yuyuan Garden Market 218 Anren Rd. inside Yuyuan Garden (6238 3251) 豫园市场, 安仁路218在豫园内

City Shop Zhudi 550 Jidi Rd. near Stratford (52261250) 城市超市诸翟店, 纪翟路550号近万科红郡西翼 Cloud Nine Shopping Mall 1018 Changning Rd. near Kaixuan Rd. (6115 5555) 龙之梦购物中心, 长宁路1018号近凯旋路

Lotus Supermarket 3521 Shangnan Rd. near Haiyang Rd. (6832 1188) 易初莲花超市, 上南路3521号近海阳路 M50 Art District 50 Moganshan Rd., Suzhou Creek M50艺术区, 莫干山路50号苏河

Pacific Department Store 333 Huaihai Rd. (M) near Huangpi Rd. (S) (5306 8888) 太平洋百货, 淮海中路333号近黄陂南路

Suzhou Creek Art Area Suzhou Creek near Datong Rd. 苏河艺术, 苏河艺术近大统路 Taobao Market 1-3/F, 580 Nanjing Rd. (W) near Chengdu Rd. (N) 凤翔礼品市场, 南京西路580号1-3楼近成都北路 Thumb Plaza 199 Fangdian Rd. near Yanggao Rd. (C) (5033 9899) 大拇指广场, 芳甸路199弄近杨高中路 Toys “R” Us 168 Lujiazui Rd. (W) near Fucheng Rd. (5047 1472) 玩具“反”斗城, 陆家嘴西路168号正大广场四楼36-37,41-43号近富城路 Wal-Mart 252-262 Linyi Rd. (N) near Longyang Rd. (5094 5881) 沃尔玛, 临沂北路252-262近龙阳路

Plaza 66 Square 1266 Nanjing Rd. (W) near Shaanxi Rd. (S) (6279 0910) 恒隆广场, 南京西路1266号近陕西北路 Raffles City 268 Xizang Rd. (W) near Fuzhou Rd. (6340 3600) 来福士广场, 西藏中路268号近福州路

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94 FAMILY MATTERS + Issue 4 Journal of The British International School

Journal of The British International School

Issue 4 + FAMILY MATTERS 95

the british international school

Shanghai, China

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