On Thursday, Oli, Elliot, Jake and Thomas from our Year 10 Mandarin class travelled to the Chinese Embassy in London to deliver a speech to diplomats and dignitaries about their trip to Tianjin, China, last July.

The day began with a train journey into Paddington, followed by lunch at HaiDiLao hotpot restaurant, where the boys enjoyed a fantastic range of exotic delicacies (including brain and intestine!) which they cooked in bubbling broths of tomato and Sichuan chilli. Jake was particularly taken with the spicy bamboo!

After watching the famous kung-fu noodles being made in front of us, and Oli being treated to an embarrassing birthday flash mob by the restaurant staff (his birthday isn't until January!), we headed for a quick bubble tea and waffle in Chinatown before making our way to the Embassy.

At the Embassy, I delivered a speech to mark a decade of the Mandarin Excellence Programme, highlighting its transformative impact on students at St Birinus. In particular, I reflected on the importance of the Year 9 China trip in fostering camaraderie, friendships and a real sense of belonging among our Mandarin students.

Nine other schools were also represented at the event, each speaking on behalf of a different host city from last summer's MEP trip. Before long, it was time for our four boys to take to the stage to share their experiences of Tianjin. They spoke with tremendous confidence and certainly did the school proud.

Following the speeches, a buffet dinner provided an excellent opportunity for the boys to mingle with students from other schools and share their experiences of China.

Despite all the food already consumed, the boys were somehow still hungry, prompting an impromptu third (or was it fourth?) meal of the day at McDonald's, followed by a wander through the evening bustle of Chinatown before catching the train back to Didcot.

Events like these are about so much more than language learning. They give our students the confidence to stand up and speak Mandarin in extraordinary settings, build friendships beyond their own school, and play their own small part in strengthening cultural understanding and positive relations between the UK and China.

What an opportunity to have at secondary school, and what wonderful ambassadors for St Birinus Oli, Elliot, Jake and Thomas proved to be!

Phil Mahoney
Head of Mandarin