Impressions of Bethlehem College, Tauranga陶朗加「伯利恒中学」记行
Insights into school life at Bethlehem College
伯利恒中学的校园生活体察
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In 2007, English teacher Ruth Liu of Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls' High School was sponsored by Studio Classroom and the New Zealand Trade Development Centre to visit New Zealand. Ruth spent six weeks experiencing life with two different New Zealand families as well as visiting two different schools. This is the second article in a five-part series about Ruth's experiences.
Bethlehem College, Tauranga
Set on a rural 46-hectare site ten minutes from Tauranga, Bethlehem College is a state integrated (private school with government funding) Christian coeducational school with over 2,000 students. A preschool, primary school, secondary school and teacher-training institute are all on the same campus.
Diary
I was impressed with how Bethlehem College supports international students in their studies and their lives. When they first arrive at the school, all international students take prep classes. These classes include all the subjects that students will take in mainstream classes. In these prep classes, teachers systematically introduce background knowledge and English terms and phrases for each subject. To check students' comprehension, students are asked to perform experiments, do presentations, finish projects and even follow recipes to make New Zealand food. The students' time in this program varies according to their English ability.
All international students live with homestay families. Bethlehem College works hard to ensure the quality of the homes by investigating and then interviewing each family before signing a contract with them. The coordinator also visits every family twice a year and talks to the homestay students regularly.
The international student office also helps international students and their parents with money management. After receiving money from the students' parents, the coordinator settles the tuition bill and gives the students pocket money weekly.

    二００七年，「台北市立中山女子高级中学」的英文老师刘明明在《空中英语教室》和「纽西兰贸易发展中心」的赞助下走访了纽西兰。刘老师和两个纽西兰家庭同住了六周，体验生活外，还参观了两所学校本刊将分五次连载刘老师的游历，以下是第二篇游记。
陶朗加伯利恒中学
伯利恒中学位在距陶朗加十分钟车程的乡间，占地四十六公顷，是一所整合的（有政府资助的私立学校）男女合校基督教学校，学生人数超过两千名。幼稚园、小学、中学和教师研习单位全在同一个校园里。
日记
我对伯利恒中学给予国际学生就学与生活上的协助感到印象深刻。所有国际学生初到学校时，都会先上预备课程。这些课程包含了主流课程会上到的所有科目。在预备课程中，老师会针对每项科目，有系统地介绍该科目的背景知识和英文用语与片语。为了解学生的理解程度，老师会要求学生进行实验、做课堂报告、完成专案作业，甚至按照食谱烹调纽西兰料理。学生修习预备课程的时间会因个别英语程度而异。
    所有国际学生都住在寄宿家庭。伯利恒中学致力於确保寄宿家庭的品质，在签约前都会先进行调查，接着再做个别家庭访问。承办人每年会探视每个寄宿家庭两次，并定期访谈寄宿学生。
国际学生办公室也会协助国际学生与家长做金钱管理。收到家长的款项後，承办人会将钱拿来支付学费，并每周拨给学生零用钱。

Word Bank
mainstream (adj)主流的
It is hard to decide if a child with special needs should attend a mainstream school.
systematically (adv)有系统地
Helen systematically cleaned her room beginning with the windows.
comprehension (n)理解；理解力
John is improving his English comprehension by reading English books 15 minutes every day.
pocket money (n)零用钱
Mary uses her pocket money to buy books because she loves to read.

More Information
prep (adj)预备的
homestay (n)(到国外游学或旅游时)寄宿他人住所

Chat Room
settle可以指定居，安定下来，也可表示结账
settle the bill：付账
settle for something：退而求其次
settle down：安顿下来；安静下来

mainstream
(adj)主流的；(n)主要趋势，主流
1 mainstream press
主流媒体
2 Even though this band's style is very popular, it still isn't considered mainstream.
虽然这个乐团的风格相当受到欢迎，但仍被认为是主流。

comprehension
1 He has no comprehension of the seriousness of his financial problems.
他不了解他的财务问题有多严重。
2 Her reaction to this incident is beyond my comprehension.
她对这件事情的反应超出了我能理解的范围。
3 an English listening-comprehension test
英文的听力测验

pocket money
父母给的零用钱；额外的零花钱
1 Nicky gets five dollars pocket money every week.
Nicky每星期有5元美金的零用钱。
2 Chelsea got a port-time job to earn some pocket money.
Chelsea找了份兼差想赚点零花钱。

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I really like the way courses are arranged at Bethlehem College. The older the students get, the more freedom they have to choose classes. Starting with year seven, students take not only core subjects but also compulsory rotational subjects. So, for six weeks at a time, they add a class like information technology or art or Maori, etc. In this way, students experience a wide range of courses while not having to deal with too many subjects at once.
The College offers many educational and cultural activities as well. Twice a term, Bethlehem College has a mufti (casual clothes) day when students don't have to wear their uniforms. The purpose is to raise money for charity ─ so students who wear muftis are expected to donate money to charity. When I was there, the primary school kids raised NZD$1,500 for a little boy's operation! Needless to say, the students were thrilled.
Sports, inter-house debates, speech competitions, dramas, assemblies and much more are part of student life. But most importantly, the school constantly encourages students to think of others and to make a difference in others' lives.

    我非常喜欢伯利恒中学安排课程的方式。学生的年纪愈长，选择课程的自由也愈大。从七年级开始，学生不只要上核心科目，也要上必修的轮替科目。因此，以六周为一期，学生可以上如资讯科技、艺术或毛利语等课，依照这种方式，学生可以广泛涉猎不同课程，不用一下子应付太多科目。
    该校也办很多教育与文化活动。每学期，伯利恒中学会有两天「莫夫替」（便服日），学生可以不用穿制服。活动目的是帮慈善团体募款--学生穿莫夫替就必须捐款给慈善团体。我在那里看到小学生替一个男童募得一千五百纽币的手术费！想也知道，学生都兴奋极了。
    学生的生活也少不了体育活动、小家辩论赛、演讲比赛、话剧、学生聚会及其他各类活动，但最重要的是，该校不断鼓励学生多为别人着想及影响他人的生命。

Word Bank
rotational (adj)轮流的；循环的
I have a rotational schedule, so I work different hours every week.
charity (n)慈善团体
This charity provides free food to people who can't afford to buy it.
operation (n)手术
The operation on Sandy's broken leg lasted three hours.
thrilled (adj)非常兴奋的；乐不可支的
Harry was thrilled when he found out he was the winner of the speech contest.

More Information
core subject (n)核心科目
Maori (n)毛利语

Chat Room
core subjects：核心科目，重要的必修课目
core也可指水果的果心，当动词用to core an apple（把苹果当中的核挖掉）
core values：核心价值观，大家普遍认同的最基本的信仰
hard-core：一个组织或运动中意志最坚定的成员
to the core：彻底的，如Beth is American to the core.（Beth是个道道地地的美国人。）
rotten to the core：烂透了

compulsory
强制性的，义务性的，必修的
1 PE is a compulsory subject at most schools.
体育课在多数的学校中都是必修课。
2 Military service is compulsory for all male citizens in some country.
有些国家所有男性公民都要服兵役。

rotational
1 The organization developed a three-month rotational training program.
这个机构发展出为期三个月的循环式训练课程。
2 They work on a rotational basis.
他们的工作是轮班制的。

thrilled
因为某事感到兴奋或开心用with；+to do说明因为做某事而很开心
1 She was thrilled with the extra bonus.
她为额外的奖金而雀跃不已。
2 We're so thrilled to see you.
我们很开心看到你。