As the summer break approaches, many Chinese parents are making plans to send their children overseas-but no longer just as tourists or language students.
随着暑假日益临近,国内许多家长正制定将子女送往国外的计划,不过不再是仅仅作为游客或语言学习者。
The latest trend is to introduce young people to novel experiences at summer camps run by professional organizations, according to a report on overseas study tours by Ctrip, a major Chinese travel agency.
国内主要旅行机构携程发布的游学报告显示,最新趋势是参加专业机构运营的夏令营,让年轻人体验各种新奇的事物。
In addition, those taking part are getting younger. The age range of the children enrolled this year is 8 to 15, three years younger than in 2014, the report said.
此外,这些参与者正变得更加年轻化。报告指出,报名的孩子的年龄范围为8-15岁,这一数字比起2014年要小了3岁。
Zhang Jie, head of overseas study tours for Ctrip, said parents today want their children to learn new things.
携程机构负责海外游学的张杰表示,现在的父母们想让他们的孩子学到新的东西。
"Before, study tours were basically focused on two aspects: trips to renowned universities or middle schools, or language skills. It was more like preparation for studying overseas," she said. "However, when it comes to camps, it's totally different."
她说:“以前,海外游学基本上是聚焦在两方面:一个是去著名的大学或中学,另一个则是语言技巧。这更像是在为海外留学做准备。不过现在的这种夏令营则是完全不同的。”
Sun Kai, director of international admissions at Sappo School, a private school in New York's Long Island, said parents hope short-term overseas study will give their children new experiences and help them to build knowledge of the unknown.
纽约长岛私立学校赛博中学的国际招生负责人孙凯表示,家长希望短期的游学能带给孩子新的体验,帮助他们扩充关于未知事物的知识。
"More Chinese parents have chosen camps for their children because school is class-based and cannot cover lots of activities," he said. "Professional summer camps can teach pottery, ballet, piano, violin and martial arts."
孙凯表示:“更多的中国家长为子女选择训练营,因为学校以课程为基础,无法涵盖多种多样的活动;而专业的夏令营能教授制陶、芭蕾舞、钢琴、小提琴和武术。”