Lakers hosting three foreign exchange students

Pictured above are Maria (left) and Danii (right) with their host mom, Stephanie Segroves, who is a teacher at Lakers. Pictured below the article is Angel, who is staying with the Michael and Mary Tait family near Elkton.

 

This year, Laker High School is hosting three foreign exchange students through the International Student Exchange (ISE). Two are living with the Segroves family, right next door to the secondary school, and one is staying with the Tait family near Elkton.

Nguyen Vii Dan Tuong, also known as Danii, 17, is from Vietnam.  She decided to become a foreign exchange student so she could learn more about the education, people and daily life in the U.S. She also wanted to improve her English.

Danii is enjoying the Laker life.

“I really like the teachers here. They are patient and friendly and they explain things well,” she said.

She is a member of the Laker Dance Team and is having a lot of fun, she said.

At her school in Vietnam, there are no teams or clubs. She also is not able to choose which classes she takes. The school day is from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Her schedule is different each day, she said.

While here in Michigan, Danii would like to travel around the state. She’d also like to try a new sport – ice skating.

Maria Eduorda Costa Oliveira, 16, is from Brazil. She decided to become a foreign exchange student because she likes to enjoy new experiences and she wanted to improve her English. She wants to see how people live in the U.S. and she would like to try some new foods.

In Brazil, Maria plays soccer and basketball, and would like to get involved in those teams at Lakers. She also is interested in getting involved in the Rotary Interact Club at Laker High School.

At her school in Brazil, Maria’s school day is from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Students stay in the same classroom all day, and the teachers rotate.

Maria is happy to be at Laker High School.

“The teachers here are really nice,” she said.

Yi-Chen Chen, also known as Angel, 16, is from Taiwan. She decided to become a foreign exchange student because her friend participated in the program and she really enjoyed it.

“I thought it would be really cool. It’s something new to try,” Angel said.

Angel is living on the Tait farm, and this is the first time Angel has ever been on a farm.

“It’s very quiet,” she said.

In Taiwan, her school day is from 7:40 a.m. to 5 p.m. She said she’s allowed to choose some of her classes.

“We’re in school from September through February, and we have a break in March,” she said. “Our summer break is in July and August.”

She said at her school, the students do all of the cleaning. They get it done during breaks throughout the school day.

Angel is happy she doesn’t have to do any school cleaning while a student at Lakers. She’s enjoying many aspects of Laker High, including her Spanish class with Mrs. Stephanie Segroves.

“I like the lunches here,” she added. “It’s also cool to have lockers and to change classrooms each hour.”

At her school in Taiwan, the students stay in the same classroom and the teachers rotate.

Angel plays the saxophone and the piano and she likes to paint. At Lakers, she’s involved in the FFA. She plans to play on the tennis team in the spring.

While in the U.S., Angel hopes to visit New York.