耀中国际学校的体育教学之道 - 2014年10月17日

THIS month, sports enthusiasts around the world come together in celebration and camaraderie to watch the sensational, international games of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, held only one fleeting month every four years. Although soccer is the “buzz of the month,” sports remain a critical component in students’ daily lives in schools year round. From recess to PE class, to high school athletics divisions, sports are a huge part of childhood, particularly in the school community. And while sports are important for children’s physical development, when structured the right way, sports programs, especially in an international setting, also help children develop lifelong skills, including positive values, and global communication skills.

In addition to providing overall health, wellness, and sporting opportunities for students, the physical education program at Yew Chung International School of Shanghai (YCIS) aims to serve as an arena for students to also develop important character traits. In fact, the sports program ties to the school’s unique “Character Education” program, which helps build a foundation for lifelong positive values. Through the Character Education program, students are taught to be perseverant, kind, diligent, and more through a wide range of activities, including class work, club projects, and of course, sports. Participating in sports not only provides students with physical exercise, but also helps them appreciate camaraderie and a competitive spirit.

According to Josh Pike, head of Physical Education at YCIS’s Century Park campus, “Our students demonstrate incredible athleticism, and, equally important, always display good sportsmanship by showing respect for the referees, the coaches, their teammates, and their opponents, on and off the field, court, and track.”

One Year 9 student from Japan, Mariko, is a shining example of YCIS’s sports program in action. As a rising soccer star in Shanghai, her skills allow her to play in the Shanghai International Schools Activities Conference (SISAC) league at a level well above her age group. Mariko’s love for the game and positive attitude inspired her to share her appreciation for the camaraderie she experienced in the sports program at YCIS with the entire school community. When the soccer season ended this school year, she organized a student versus staff soccer game, planning the entire event, including coordinating with the teacher and student players, working with the school’s support staff to handle all logistics, and promoting the game, which drew a large crowd of attendees. The competition was a great bonding experience for students and staff, and it was a natural new activity in a school with such a strong school spirit.

Cathal Grimes, a teacher at YCIS’s Century Park campus, coaches Mariko in the sport. He says, “She does all the things you’d expect from a top-notch athlete, from welcoming the other teams, to shaking hands with the players, to always offering encouragement to her teammates. She’s also humble, despite her talent, and when she plays with others, she actually helps them become better soccer players. Her genuinely positive approach to teamwork and sportsmanship, and her eagerness to share this with her classmates, who also hold this as extremely important, will be hugely beneficial for all of their futures!”

In addition, the extensively international environment at YCIS makes the sports community quite unique. Similar to the World Cup, every day at YCIS is a celebration of multiculturalism. Currently, over 50 nationalities are represented on the school’s campuses, outshining the 32 different countries represented in this year’s World Cup by more than a few. And with students immersed in the school’s bilingual, co-cultural program, designed to build their English and Chinese language skills, and appreciation for and understanding of diversity, students also develop the ability to communicate well with people from around the world, which is a lifelong skill.

For Mariko, her language studies at YCIS have been an advantage on and off the field, and she notes, “Right now, I’m learning both English and Chinese, and I’m happy to be able to communicate with my teammates from other countries. I believe playing on an international school team has allowed me to develop new cultural awareness and appreciation, which is a very special chance for me.”

Another Year 12 student at YCIS’s Gubei campus, Kris, has improved his communication skills by playing on the school’s Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS) league team. He explains, “Being part of a football team with players from all different countries has really improved our communication skills, not only during games, but also during the school day. Just by communicating together during practices and games, we learn about each other and our different nationalities, and we have an amazing team chemistry. This definitely contributed to our team winning first place at ACAMIS for the first time in history. Playing football at YCIS has helped me become more comfortable communicating with other classmates, too. I’m not a very talkative guy, but now I have become close to new friends because it’s easy to bond with people from all around the world by playing sports together.”

So will we see Mariko or Kris in a future World Cup? Time will tell, but their futures look bright. We do know that no matter where they end up, they will take away something even more meaningful than a trophy or medal: skills that are a foundation for success in university and beyond, and a winning attitude to face all of life’s future endeavors.