This course provides participants with an opportunity for direct contact with Chinese society today--- its culture, its people, and its economy. We will combine instruction on campus with a field trip to China.
Professor Mimi Yang, a panelist during the workshop “American Culture and Society”, spoke on the subject of globalism and multiculturalism to diplomats and educators at the American Center for Educational Exchange at the US. Embassy in Beijing this summer.
The trip is coordinated with the cooperation of Kenosha's sister county Huairou, thirty miles northeast of Beijing. Beautiful, haunting Huairou, nestled near the Great Wall itself, will be the headquarters during our stay in China.
After a week on campus, we will visit a few major cities in China, representing diverse aspects of the country: Beijing, Xian and Shanghai.
Carthage students traveled to China during a J-term study trip and interviewed for summer internships with South Ocean International Schools. Seated: Carthage Professor Mimi Yang; Ronald Ball and his daughter Julia,’05. Standing ( from left): Michael Hu, director of South Ocean International teachers; John Grueter and his daughter Kana,’06; Glen Murray, ’07; Mark Petaold,’06; Carthage Professor Robert Schlack; and James Zhang, special assistant to CEO of South Ocean International Schools.
While on campus, students will select a theme and develop a hypothesis to be researched on-site in China. Typical themes may be drawn from the many diverse areas of the humanities, e.g., history, art, philosophy, religion or the social sciences,e.g., economics, business, sociology, and or education.
Jennifer Rave, ’06, demonstrated her newly learned skills to instructors during a Chinese calligraphy class in Huairou over J-term.
To help students with their project topics, the instructors will give an introduction to China, providing texts, visual material, and cultural artifacts. Students will select a theme according to their personal, intellectual, academic and professional interests. In China, they will explore these ideas with professionals, academics and students.
Caitlin Penington, ’05, and her students take a break from class
The course also provides an opportunity for those who are taking Chinese at Carthageto practice their language skills. Most importantly, it is designed to cultivate students' ability to build up cross-cultural understanding and knowledge and interact wih people whose language and customs are unfamiliar to many Americans;
Chinese students show their affection for Ben Johnston-Urey,’06, who spent the summer teaching at South Ocean International School in Lianyungang.
it especiallyencourages students to acquire the skills necessary to relate, communicate and thrive outside the US.