News

Chinese Students Join SLUH

Four students arrived from the Nanjing Foreign Language School this week to spend the semester at St. Louis University High.

The exchange program started 14 years ago with Nanjing Foreign Language School and began with two exchange students (one male and one female). Two years ago the number increased to four students.

The students are chosen for the program based on their scores on the entrance examination for senior high school. The top two male and top two female students earn the trip.

Nanjing and St. Louis were the first set of sister cities between the United States and China. Chinese teacher Ching-Ling Tai became active with the Nanjing Sister City Committee after former Mayor of St. Louis Jim Conway visited Nanjing and called for a cultural exchange; she now serves as vice-president. Tai began the sister school exchange program soon after.

Nanjing Foreign Language School is known as one of the best schools in China and was chosen as the exchange school.

The main aim of the program is for the exchange students to increase their knowledge of the English language and to learn about American culture.

The greatest transition for the students was the “all boys” student body, according to Shi “Bill” Xiao.

The four students will be staying with their host families until March 22, at which time they will join their second set of families. They will remain with the families until May 30.

by John Sachs '11
Prep News