Schools going global

And it’s not just for business. That is precisely what is happening at two archdiocesan high schools, St. Brendan in Miami and Chaminade Madonna in Hollywood, where students and staff have opened their hearts, homes and classrooms to students from Spain, Italy and the People’s Republic of China.

Chaminade Madonna College Prep, operated by the Marianist order, is in the inaugural year of its international student program, with the staff investing a great deal of time before making the move.

“We were approached by The Cambridge Institute of International Education last fall, and after a great deal of due diligence and establishing the groundwork, we have welcomed the first five students from China,” said Richard Pulido, senior director of advancement. “I worked with our principal, Teresita Wardlow, to interview 20 potential student candidates who had scored very well on their English proficiency exam, via Skype, to determine which students would be a good fit with our family-spirited environment here.”

The Cambridge Institute, headquartered in Burlington, Mass., partners with more than 140 private high schools throughout the United States to increase the international profile of American educational institutions, improve educational outcomes of international students in the United States and promote cultural exchange among global youth.

“We made an appeal to alumni, alumni parents, faculty and staff to serve as host families for these students,” said Chaminade-Madonna’s president, Marianist Father Larry Doersching. “Our international student program complements our school’s mission of fostering a family-like community comprised of individuals from diverse backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures. In addition, the program offers our international students an opportunity to receive a quality, Catholic education in the United States, opening up immense possibilities for their futures.”

The cultural exchange is a powerful experience that manifests itself in daily interactions that gradually broaden the perspectives of all students, host families, faculty and staff.

“One of the young men comes to my office daily just to say hello and call me Father,” said Father Doersching with a chuckle.

“This program is a perfect fit for our school, which has a motto of Toward a Better World,” said Wardlow. “As international as we are, we are accustomed to South American, Hispaniola and island cultures. Having students here from China is outside the box. They knew they would be studying theology and attending Mass, which is their first experience with Christianity. Their fellow students, without realizing what they are doing, are explaining the basics of their faith, which is very exciting to see.”

And how are the five students adjusting?

“I want to improve my English and make new friends,” said Nan Tang. “I have had a barbeque with my host family and I am on the swim team with my host sister. I am learning a lot from her.”

“I want to know the American culture and do well in my studies,” said Xianglu Han. “I want to study finance at the top American college of NYU.”

“I too want to improve my English and get into a good American university,” said Kunyi Jin. “And I am in the Dance Club which I love.”

“My favorite thing about the United States so far is girls and basketball,” said Weishun Lin. “And I really want to improve my math. I love pre-calculus and I am in the honors class.”

“I am learning about a different culture,” said Dingwen Zhang. “My sister traveled here with me, and she cooked one of our dishes, dumplings, for my host family. It was fun and I enjoy American food, too. I want to please my father who is expecting me to do well, and improve my English and communications.”

“At the end of the day, they are still teenagers asking teenage questions,” said Wardlow. “They have seen the Atlantic Ocean for the first time, they are excited to be here and we see kids hanging out together. The program will take its own life.”

This is the sixth year of the International Student Exchange Program at the archdiocesan-run St. Brendan High School, which takes a different approach.

“In 2006, the Archdiocese of Miami signed agreements with two schools, Colegio Internacional Newman in Madrid, Spain, and Fondazione-Liceo Sacro Curore in Milan, Italy,” said Jose Rodelgo-Bueno, St. Brendan’s principal. “We worked with Bishop (Felipe) Estevez, who was the godfather of the program, helping to find and screen families that would host the students. Back then, the exchange students were at a variety of schools. Now they are all at St. Brendan.”

This year the students are six girls, all sophomores, from Spain who are staying with host families that have siblings of a similar age.

“The combination of strong academics, a family environment and caring teachers provides a supportive atmosphere where our exchange students can live their language, culture and faith,” said Rodelgo-Bueno. “They are right at home in our co-educational facility.”

The co-director of the program is Miriam Smith. “We have been a host family for four years,” she said. “It provides an ongoing cultural education for us. We have established ongoing relationships with the international families so that we know when we travel to Spain or Italy, we have people who know us, care for us and help us to discover more about their countries.”

Martina Bonvini, one of the Italian students who graduated from St. Brendan two years ago, came back recently to visit her friends.

“I graduated from St. Brendan and then did my final year of high school in Milan, as our high school programs are five years,” she said. “I had a beautiful experience as a student here. Italians think the United States is the best place on earth. I had the chance to see this with my own eyes. My favorite thing about this country is the people who supported me, helped me after leaving family and friends in Italy and made me feel very welcome and loved. I learned so much!”

“My host family took me to the Seaquarium which was wonderful,” said Mercedes Sanchez, one of the sophomores from Spain. “I am learning from very helpful teachers, and we all have iPads! It is very exciting.”

“In Spain, you stay in the same classroom and the teachers move,” said Maria Suárez del Villar. “Here it is the opposite so we get to meet more people.”

“I like teaching Americans about our culture,” said Irene Madroñal. “My goal is to improve my English.”

“My favorite food so far is popcorn chicken,” said Clara Rodriguez, adding that “the houses are so different than in Spain. Here, you have yards. In Spain, we have apartments.”

“This is my first new family,” said Laura de las Heras. “They are helping me improve my English and I am helping them improve their Spanish.”

“I can’t be any better,” said Natalia de la Puente. “Miami is such a popular place for us. Wow, it is such an amazing experience and a dream come true. I am meeting new people and I love tacos and quesadillas.”

In addition to the students, St. Brendan also has an exchange teacher.

“I have been here for four weeks,” said Alberto De Simoni, co-director of the program and an Italian literature teacher at Fondazione-Liceo Sacro Curore in Milan. “Dr. Rodelgo-Bueno invited me to come and teach Italian at St. Brendan, so here I am. It is a God-incidence. I am teaching and learning, and I am very grateful.”