Overseas Learning Journey

Secondary 3 Cultural Immersion Trip to Ho Chi Minh City

A select group of Secondary 3 students had an exciting chance to visit Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam month.  During the 4 days 3 nights trip, there were many learning opportunities offered as they explored the old city via a City Tour. Among some of the places that sparked interest were the Reunification Palace, History Museum of Ho Chi Minh City, War Remnants Museum and The Central Post Office where students basked in the rich cultural heritage of the city and learnt more about their unique history.

However, the highlight of the day was the visit to the Agriculture Village where students participated in a farm-to-table dining experience where they prepared their own lunch, something new for all of them. The group also made time to visit and interact with children from the Masion Chance Orphanage and Nguyen Gia Thieu Secondary School. There, students not only exchanged performances to learn more about oneanother’s culture, but also spent time taking part in group activities together, including teaching common conversational English Language phrases to the children.

It was a meaningful and engaging overseas trip and an opportunity for our students to develop cross-cultural skills through interaction with local students.

Secondary 2 Cultural Immersion Programme to Johore and Malacca

The month of May was awaited with much anticipation and excitement by our Secondary Two students. For most of the cohort, it marked the first ever cross-border trip they would have with their teachers and classmates. The 2 Days and 1 Night cultural immersion trip to Johore and Malacca, provided the students with plenty of opportunities to learn about the historical background as well as cultural and agricultural practices of Johore and Malacca. During the trip, the students were given the chance to have close interactions with students from a partner school where they participated in cultural activities. This allowed students from both sides to understand and appreciate the cultural differences and diversity between Singapore and the Malaysian school curriculum and programmes.

During the trip, our students also visited a Johore farm (UK Farm) to understand modern agricultural practices and better appreciate how our food products are produced in the farm. In Malacca, students visited key cultural sites such as A’Famosa, Dutch Square as well as a Baba and Nonya museum to understand the historical and cultural evolution of Malacca, making their Secondary One History lessons come alive. It was definitely an unforgettable experience for our Secondary Two students.

Overseas Cultural Immersion Trip to Surabaya

A fun fact that not many visitors know about Surabaya is that its moniker is “city of heroes”. And this was indeed proven true when our Secondary 3 and 4 Regenites enjoyed a hero’s welcome and friendly hospitality during their visit to Indonesia’s second largest metropolis. This has definitely made our 4-day 3-night learning journey a memorable experience for our students which will be remembered fondly for years to come.

During the trip, our 15 students and 4 teachers were immersed in a cultural kaleidoscope. Through the visit to historical landmarks such as the Majapahit Hotel and Heroes Monument, the group was able to take a step back into history to understand Indonesia’s struggle for independence against the Dutch. The visit to the Cheng Ho Mosque, the Blue Mosque and Hong Tiek Hian Temple allowed our students to have a better understanding of the rich cultural and religious tapestry that made up Surabaya and Indonesia’s multicultural heritage.

The warmth of the city was only exceeded by the rapturous welcome from our partner schools, SMPN 4 Surabaya and SMPK St Vincentius. Both schools provided memorable insights into the Indonesian and East Javan cultures and ways of life. During the visit to SMPN 4 Surabaya, our students were meaningfully engaged in a series of cultural activities such as Karawitan, Remo Traditional Dance, traditional games and Batik Painting and had the opportunity of learning the Angklung during their visit to SMPK St Vincentius.

They also visited an orphanage and an Old Folks’ Home where students applied what they had learnt in their Community Youth Leadership Programme to plan a series of interaction activities to reach out to the elderly and the children in Surabaya to be a positive influence and agent of change.

Through the varied activities during the trip, our students immersed themselves and gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for the Indonesian culture. Most importantly, they learnt what it means to be a student agent and changemaker through their active planning for and participation in the trip.

Visit by Delegates from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China

On 22 July 2022, Regent Secondary School played host to a special group of delegates: Education Counselor Mr Kang Kai, Minister Counselor Mr Zhou Yu Yun, Second Secretary Mr Qiao Dan, and Mr Li Dian, Attache from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.

After a warm welcome by our Principal, HOD/MTL Mr Phang Yuh Koon shared more about our school’s implementation of the Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) syllabus with the delegates. To gain more insight into how CCE has impacted Regenites, our visitors engaged in a dialogue session with 25 Secondary Three students who were proud to share their school experiences. There was also a lively Q&A session on issues pertaining to CCE with our school’s Key Personnel.

At the end of the dialogue session, Mr Kang Kai was presented with a painting of our school to commemorate this very special day.

As CCA is an integral part of students’ holistic development and where many teachable moments in CCE may be gleaned, the delegates also embarked on a school tour which featured our vibrant Uniformed Group, Sports, and Performing Arts CCAs.

It was a truly fruitful visit, and we look forward to more enriching collaborations with the Chinese Embassy as well as immersion programmes with our twinning school in China!

2022年7月22日, 励正中学热烈欢迎来自中国驻新加坡大使馆的康凯教育参赞、周余云公使衔参赞, 乔丹二等秘书以及李典随员的到访。

我校校长迎接了贵宾们并致辞，母语部彭育坤主任向贵宾们分享了励正的品格道德与国民教育的教学与落实情况。为了进一步了解其内容, 贵宾们也与我校的25名中三年级的学生们进行了交流与互动。学生们踊跃发言，分享了有关品格道德与国民教育的学习经历和感受。此外，校方管理层团队与来宾们进行了问与答环节，就有关德育教学展开了深入和细致的讨论。

交流与讨论环节后，校长献上了一幅励正校园的画作给康凯教育参赞，以纪念这次会面。

课程辅助活动是塑造学生良好品格、促进学生全面发展的一个重要元素，来宾们也参观了我校的制服团体、体育和表演艺术团体等课程辅助活动，并大加赞赏。

此次会面在友好欢愉的气氛中进行，双方都获益良多。励正中学期待与中国驻新加坡大使馆有更多的协作与交流机会，并期待接下来的浸濡计划能够顺利开展并取得圆满成功！

Xiamen, China

5-9 November 2018

The learning journey to Xiamen allowed our students to work together and interact with youths from a different country. Not only did they get to experience the lifestyle of the Chinese in Xiamen, they also appreciated the history and culture of the places of interest visited.

Day 1: Visit to Lianhua Middle School

"At Lianhua Middle School, we learnt about the history of Xiamen, Min Nan proverbs and poetry. We had a great time interacting with the Chinese students as we performed songs & dances for one another and we exchanged gifts too.” – Eng Guo An 3-5

Day 2: Visit to Gulangyu Islet, Shuzhuang Garden and Pottery DIY

“I was impressed by how well Shuzhuang Garden is maintained and has both Eastern & Western elements to make it a scenic hit amongst tourists. As for our hands-on experience at pottery-making, I found the activity to be very therapeutic and relaxing. It taught us to be patient and to improve our level of concentration.” – Nadhirah 3-3

Day 3: Hakka Earth Building “The Legend of Minnan” Show

“Studying the architecture and history of Hakka earth building was truly an eye-opening experience for us. It is fascinating how the structure managed to defend its people from intruders. Later it was also a treat for our eyes to watch the ‘Legend of Minnan’ show. We were amazed by the 360-degree revolving stage and the use of 3-dimensional effects, with real actors and virtual scenes. ” – Manoj 3-1

Day 4: Jimei School Village, Tan Kah Kee Museum

“I truly admire Mr Tan Kah Kee for his contributions to education and the Chinese community. His great deeds have helped me understand how education can change the lives of people and we should treasure the opportunities we get to learn and explore. ” – Yi Ting 3-6

Kunming, China

11-15 November 2018

Our students were fascinated by the richness and vibrancy of the cultures in Kunming. This learning journey provided great opportunities to our students to learn from and work with youths from a diverse culture. The experience definitely helped them to grow in confidence and independence.

Day 1: Visiting Daguan Park, West Hill Scenic Spot

“I enjoyed taking the sky lift and watching the spectacular view from high above. I was very nervous initially but managed to overcome my fear of heights. Truly, no venture no gain.” – Cervone, 3-8

Day 2: School Visit To Kunming Xishan Experimental Middle School

“My most memorable experience was our interaction with the Kunming students. They told many interesting stories about the school to us. In fact, they share the same school values of Respect, Empathy, Determination and Integrity, just like our school.” – Anders 3-8

Day 3: Visiting Jiuxiang Karst Caves, Shilin (Stone Forest)

“The most interesting activity would be the visit to the Caves and Stone Forest. They were an eye-opener and we were definitely awed by the imposing structures. We were able to see that natural phenomenon of rock formations from millions of years ago. Learning from books and internet can never compare to the rich and authentic learning that we were lucky enough to experience!” – Keagan 3-5 and Ron Jin 3-8

Day 4: Visiting Yunnan Provincial Museum, Nationalities Village

“Learning about the different Yunnan minorities and their unique traditions really amazed me. Diverse groups of people have all been living in harmony for ages despite their cultural differences. This reminded me very much of Singapore as it is similar to the way we seek to understand and live as one big community regardless of race, language or religion. ” – Shannon 3-5

Chiang Mai, Thailand

5-9 November 2018

The learning journey to Chiang Mai was an enriching experience for our students as they gained insights into the impact of tourism and how natural conservation is an integral part of the lives of the Thai. Our students also returned with an appreciation for the educational opportunities they have in Singapore.

Day 1: School tour at Suanboonypatham Lamphun School, Cultural and Language Exchange with local Thai students

“I was inspired by the warm and friendly nature of the Thai students. They patiently taught us the Thai language and were equally enthusiastic about learning our language. This trip showed me that communication is possible despite language barriers so long as we are willing to try and help each other along the way.” – Weng Yuan 3-6

Day 2: Trekking at Doi Inthanon National Park, Enjoying Nature and Having Fun at Wachirathan Waterfall

“As a Geography student, the hike allowed me to experience first-hand the wonders of nature and ingrained in me the importance of environment conservation. This experience also helped to bond our group as we encouraged each other along the way and persevered to complete the trek.” – Hazirah 3-3

Day 3: Learning about Elephant Conservation and Making Poopoopaper, Visit to Long Neck Village and Umbrella Painting

“I was given the chance to take part in activities that I have never experienced in Singapore such as the making of “Poopoopaper” from elephant dung and painting umbrellas. At first, I was afraid that I would not be able to paint my umbrella beautifully. However, through the activity, I grew in confidence as I put in my best effort to complete each given task.” – Sarah 3-7

Day 4: Cultural Orientation Tour to Chedi Luang Temple, Three-King Monument and City Moat

“We were exposed to many aspects of the Thai culture which includes its traditional costumes, its language and the country’s charming history. I felt welcomed in all the places that we went to as we were always received with warmth and exuberance. This trip has been an enriching trip in terms of knowledge and experience.” – Asta 3-6

Surabaya, Indonesia

5-9 November 2018

Day 1: Visiting Submarine Museum, Places of Historical and Religious significance

“I was very intrigued by the beauty of the temple which was built next to the sea. The view was simply spectacular. I also had the chance to learn about the history and significance of a Chinese temple in an Indonesian community.” – Raine Ng 3-7

Day 2: School Visit to SMA Petra 1

“During the school visit, I made many new friends. I had the opportunity to learn the Indonesian mass dance and baking too. Perhaps when I return to Singapore I can bake Indonesian cookies for my family and friends.”– Syed Rusydi 3-6

Day 3: School Visit to SMK Negeri Surabaya, Catholic Vocational High School Mater Amabilis

“I felt very excited when we were given the challenge to do batik painting and fishing. We also had the opportunity to showcase our talent in cooking and present our dishes. Cooking with my team members was fun and it helped to build my self-confidence too.” – Ying Teng 3-8

Day 4: Activities at Pandaan International Cultural Centre (PICC)

“I enjoyed the trip to Pandaan International Cultural Centre because we had the chance to carry out activities that we normally don’t get to do in Singapore, like paddy harvesting. I had a memorable experience at PICC and was really mesmerized by the beautiful landscape that surrounded the centre.” – Johazrai, 3-7