Dal Collegio del Mondo Unito di Duino (UWC) allo Zanon

Quynh Nga ci racconta il suo Vietnam e le opportunità che i United World Colleges possono offrire ai giovani studenti.

In accordo con le strategie di internazionalizzazione dei processi scolastici presenti nel Piano Triennale dell’Offerta Formativa (PTOF), in ottica di potenziamento delle attività attualmente in essere, l’istituto Zanon ha ospitato la studentessa Quynh Nga Nguyen del United World College of Adriatic - Collegio del Mondo Unito di Duino (https://www.uwcad.it/) da lunedì 16 dicembre a venerdì 20 dicembre.

Quynh Nga ha 16 anni, proviene dal Vietnam, dalla città di Bao Loc ed è arivata in Italia nell’agosto 2024 per trascorrere 2 anni di studio presso il Collegio del Mondo Unito. In occasione delle pausa didattica invernale, Quynh Nga è stata invitata come visitng student ed è stata ospitata in 18 classi tra 2, 3, 4 e 5, dei diversi indirizzi AFM, TUR, RIM e SIA. 

La studentessa ha presentato la storia, la cultura, la cucina tipica e le attrazioni principali del Vietnam. Grande interesse e stupore ha suscitato il sistema scolastico vietnamita: inizio delle lezioni mattutine alle ore 6:45 e durata fino alle 11:30, pausa pranzo di 2 ore e inizio lezioni pomeridiane alle ore 13:30 fino alle 16:30. Infine inizio lezioni serali dalle ore 19:30 alle 22:30, sia negli spazi della scuola che presso le abitazioni dei docenti dal lunedì al sabato compresi. 

Quynh Nga ha spiegato che gli studenti vietnamiti ambiscono a voti alti e si impegnano molto nello studio al fine di poter accedere alle migliori università con borse di studio e garantirsi un futuro nel mondo del lavoro. Infine la studentessa ha testimonianto grande autonomia da parte dei ragatti vietnamiti che fin dall’adolescenza imparano mediamente a cucinare e si spostano guidando mezzi a due ruote per il tragitto scuola casa.

Inoltre, Quynh Nga ha raccontato l’esperienza di vita e di studio presso il Collegio del Mondo Unito, UWC of Adriatic, raccontando come si svolge la giornata tipo di uno studente a Duino, le materie che studiano, i metodi di studio e dettagliando la qualifica del baccellierato internazionale. Quynh Nga ha descritto i suoi compagni di corso: studenti di età compresa tra i 16 e i 19 anni provenineti da 80 paesi diversi, compersi territori tormentati dalla guerra e da spietati conflitti. La studentessa ha spiegato ai nostri studenti come candidarsi alle selezioni annuali in Italia e ha raccontato della possibilità riservata a tutti gli studenti di vivere esperienze più brevi quali i UWC Short Courses.

Tutte le lezioni si sono svolte in inglese. Quynh Nga studia italiano da quando è arrivata in Italia ed ha provato a cimentarsi in brevi conversazioni con i nostri studenti.

I ragazzi e le ragazze dello Zanon si sono dimostrati attenti ascoltatori e curiosi interlocutori, hanno saputo accogliere la nostra ospite al meglio, interagendo con lei e invitandola anche in attività extrascolastiche. Nuove amicizie si sono create e sono state coltivate grazie anche alle belle giornate di sole e alle vacanze natalizie.

Si allegano alcune immagini degli incontri a scuola e delle rielaborazioni e riflessioni personali di alcuni studenti che hanno incontrato Quynh Nga.

Un sentito ringraziamento da parte di Quynh Nga a tutta la comunità scolastica per l’accoglienza ricevuta.

Discovering UWC with Quynh Nga

Quynh Nga, a Vietnamese student, gave a fascinating presentation about the United World College. UWC is a group of 18 schools all over the world where students from different countries come together to learn. The idea behind these schools is to promote peace and understanding by bringing young people from diverse cultures to live and study as a community. Quynh Nga explained that UWC schools are very special. They don’t just teach regular subjects, they focus on teamwork, leadership, and helping others. Students also participate in activities like sports, music, and cultural events, which make learning fun. What I really liked was how students share their traditions and ideas, creating a community that values respect and understanding. It sounds like a place where you can really grow and make a difference. I really enjoyed this lesson because it showed how education can connect people from all over the world.

LORENZO B. 2F AFM

 

Discovering Vietnam with Quynh Nga

Quynh Nga, a Vietnamese student from the United World College (UWC), gave an interesting presentation about Vietnam, her home country. She introduced us to beautiful aspects of her culture, traditions, and daily life.

School life in Vietnam is very different. Students have to wear a uniform, and school is often hard and stressful, with extra evening classes at teachers' homes to prepare for university admission exams.

In Vietnam, traditions play an important role. Students wear traditional dress on special occasions, and food is an essential part of the culture—ramen is a favorite. Some meals are even eaten on the ground, reflecting the country's customs. Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam which was once a French colony, and a railway passes right by a local restaurant, adding a unique touch to the city's atmosphere.

I really enjoyed this lesson because it allowed me to learn more about a country so rich in history and traditions. Quynh Nga made everything very interesting.

SOFIA C. 2F AFM

 

From Hanoi to the World: Quynh Nga's UWC Adventure

Quynh Nga, a very cheerful student from Hanoi, Vietnam, started a life-changing journey to the United World College (UWC). Leaving behind the familiar streets of her hometown, she stepped into a multicultural community of diverse cultures and perspectives. The UWC experience was a huge opportunity for new discoveries, from the challenging academic program to the thrilling opportunities for global engagement. She got the chance to learn about different traditions, from the intricate details of Vietnamese cuisine to the interesting but tiring stories of her old school in Vietnam. The UWC's emphasis on service learning ignited a passion within her, leading her to volunteer and participate in environmental initiatives.

Through these experiences, Quynh Nga found herself transformed. She learned to navigate unfamiliar cultures, like the Italian one, and to appreciate the beauty of human connection. The UWC became a second home, a place where she could explore her potential and discover her true voice.

This class was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the stories of students like Quynh Nga. I loved learning about different cultures and seeing how education can create a truly global community. The research and writing process allowed me to appreciate the power of individual experiences to shape our understanding of the world.

NICOLA G. 2B AFM

 

Discovering Vietnam and Life at UWC

Quynh Nga, a Vietnamese student from the United World College (UWC), gave an interesting presentation about her life and culture. Vietnam, with its capital Hanoi, has a rich history as a former French colony. The food is amazing, with traditional dishes like Pho and Ramen. In Vietnam, people often eat on the ground for special occasions, and traditional clothing is worn during important events.

School life in Vietnam is quite stressful. Students wear uniforms and attend evening classes at teachers’ homes to prepare for university admission exams. Quynh Nga also talked about UWC, where students from 80 different countries study together. They attend classes from 8 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. and participate in activities like sports, music, and volunteering. UWC students celebrate their cultures by wearing traditional clothes and sharing food from home.

I really enjoyed this class because I learned a lot about Vietnam and the UWC. Quynh Nga’s stories made me appreciate her culture and the diversity of UWC. It was a fun and inspiring experience!

MATTIA M. 2B AFM

 

In The Life Of A Vietnamese Teenager

Before our winter break a Vietnamese student, Quynh Nga, joined our class to talk about her experiences in the UWC and her life in Vietnam. 

I really liked the way that she talked about her country because you could tell from her face that she was very happy and proud. 

She talked about her culture, school, and the variety of food.

She told us that girls wear their traditional dress, called “ao dai” at school, on Mondays, and then she said that she rides her motorbike to school every day and has to wear a uniform. I was really shocked about their school life, it seemed very stressful and hard, they even go to their teachers’ houses after school ... I could never do that.

Then she talked about the variety of Vietnamese food, which is influenced by neighbouring countries like China, Japan, Thailand, and India. 

She showed us some of the most famous dishes like pho, noodles, ramen, curry rice with chicken and a traditional sandwich. Vietnamese families usually eat on the floor.

I really liked this class because it was very different from the others. I wish that we could do more lessons like this because it allows us to learn about different cultures and countries.

ALESSIA C. 2F AFM

 

The United world colleges

In our last English class, we were lucky enough to meet a special guest, Quynh Nga. She’s 16 years old and wanted to tell us about her school experience and being in an environment where you don’t know people and their language.

The United World Colleges (UWC) is a global educational organisation that aims to make education a force to unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. UWC offers a unique educational experience, focusing on international understanding, academic excellence, and social responsibility. The system consists of 18 schools and colleges across four continents. The UWC experience is immersive and transformative, with students living in a culturally diverse environment while pursuing academic challenges. The overarching mission of UWC is to “make education a force to unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.” It aims to bring together young people from different countries and backgrounds to promote cross-cultural understanding and social action.

I found Quynh Nga’s presentation quite fascinating and very useful for opening up someone’s horizon. She talked about the fact that all expenses are paid for and the student will be placed in a healthy environment to grow mentally. There’s no surprise that those who participate in such life-changing experiences tend to be very open-minded. I think it’s something to grasp because such opportunities don't come around all the time. The college offers many extracurricular activities and it provides a dormitory for students. The students can choose which subjects to study and when it comes to testing they have a month in which they are tested on everything they’ve learnt. Not only that but it’s also in a different country so the students have the opportunity to apprehend a new language.

This is an amazing experience and I hope that those who find it interesting participate in it.

AMANDA M. 3B RIM