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by STEPHANIE STRAUBEL
Intern News Reporter
The number of Americans studying abroad in China increased by 25 percent this year, according to the “Open Doors 2008” report by the Institute on International Education.
In 2006-07, 11,064 Americans studied in China, according to Open Doors.
The 48 students studying Chinese at Appalachian State University this fall have several opportunities for studying overseas.
The U.S. Department
of State and the Council of American Research Centers are sponsoring
“Critical Language” scholarships for students proficient in a myriad of
languages, including Chinese, Punjabi, Turkish and Azerbaijani.
The
Office of International Education and Development at Appalachian is
also hosting trips for 25 to 30 students studying Chinese, as well as a
nation-wide scholarship offered by Princeton University, Chinese
professor Grace H. Lin said.
“In
Boone, the social-linguistic context isn’t sufficient enough for a
student,” Lin said. “Students can only come to the classroom to learn;
studying abroad can complement this deficit.”
Immersing
oneself in Chinese culture is indispensible to learning the language;
students with interests and disciplines in business, politics,
education and culture are all major players in traveling and working in
the nation, Lin said.
South
Korean media donned the symbiosis between the Chinese and American
economies “Chimerica,” highlighting the importance of “economic
communities,” according to chinanews.com.
“China is becoming a more and more important figure on the world stage,” Lin said.
China is
currently the fifth most popular destination of students who study
abroad, following Britain, Italy, Spain and France, according to the
study, and some speculate this increase is due to the hype generated by
the 2008 Summer Olympics hosted in Beijing.
Many students hesitate to approach this culture because of the difficulties associated with learning Chinese.
Lin said learning every language is equally difficult.
“Once you start, learning Chinese becomes a part of your life and you start enjoying it,” Lin said.
Cultural unfamiliarity is another factor in hesitation to visit China and other Asian countries.
The
benefits outweigh the nuances, Executive Director of the Office of
International Education and Development Robert A. White said.
Americans are too steeped in “western Greco-roman-historical stuff,” White said. “If you go to Europe you get ‘X.’
If you go to China, you get ‘X+,’” White said.
There
are many reasons why students would benefit from visiting the nation,
White said. There are references all over the media about the 21st
century being the Chinese century and doing business with China is very
rewarding, he said.
Lin
expects interest in Chinese at Appalachian will increase, and spring
enrollment in her language courses is already greater than in the fall.
Studying
abroad and identifying with China is an invaluable endeavor being
pursued by many, and should be considered by “anyone who has the
gumption to learn Chinese,” White said.
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