Lauren Staehr teaches English in Shenzhen summer camps

2015 Jul 24

Concordia University, Nebraska students are teaching English and American culture to students in grades kindergarten through eighth at Buena Vista Concordia International School during two three-week camps this summer, scheduled for June 22-July 10 and July 13-31. The school is located in Shenzhen, China, and is the first school in mainland China sponsored by the The Lutheran Church--Hong Kong Synod.

Student participants include:

Lauren Staehr, a senior from Grand Island, Neb.

"It is a daunting task to develop ESL teaching ideas and build curriculum and then travel halfway around the world to teach children for six hours a day who do not know much, or any, English," said trip leader Vicki Anderson, associate professor of education at Concordia. "This type of experience requires a desire to lead with a servant's heart in all we do."

Students are leading intensive English classes and English-focused science modules along with time for recreation, crafts, music and drama. Every Friday the camps hold a "Family Friday" event where parents can follow their children through camp stations to see what they have been learning.

Concordia students in the second camp, which will be co-led by Anderson and Concordia's Assistant Professor of Communication Erica Lamm, also organize sports clinics in volleyball, American football and basketball.

The camps give Concordia students the opportunity to share the Easter and Christmas stories with the children as part of curriculum related to American culture and holidays.

"The children we serve--children of wealthy and influential businessmen for the most part--who will one day take their place in government and prominent business roles, are able to hear and see how our words and actions are modeled after The Servant," said Anderson. "It is a unique opportunity."