暑期出國體驗式遊學產品漸成新寵

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.

隨着暑假日益臨近，國內許多家長正制定將子女送往國外的計劃，不過不再是僅僅作爲遊客或語言學習者。

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.

國內主要旅行機構攜程發佈的遊學報告顯示，最新趨勢是參加專業機構運營的夏令營，讓年輕人體驗各種新奇的事物。

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,這些參與者正變得更加年輕化。報告指出，報名的孩子的年齡範圍爲8-15歲，這一數字比起2014年要小了3歲。

Zhang Jie, head of overseas study tours for Ctrip, said parents today want their children to learn new things.

攜程機構負責海外遊學的張傑表示，現在的父母們想讓他們的孩子學到新的東西。

"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."

她說：“以前，海外遊學基本上是聚焦在兩方面：一個是去著名的大學或中學，另一個則是語言技巧。這更像是在爲海外留學做準備。不過現在的這種夏令營則是完全不同的。”

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.

紐約長島私立學校賽博中學的國際招生負責人孫凱表示，家長希望短期的遊學能帶給孩子新的體驗，幫助他們擴充關於未知事物的知識。

"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."

孫凱表示：“更多的中國家長爲子女選擇訓練營，因爲學校以課程爲基礎，無法涵蓋多種多樣的活動；而專業的夏令營能教授製陶、芭蕾舞、鋼琴、小提琴和武術。”