July 14, 2008

Chinese students to learn about American culture during exchange

Twenty-six students are coming from four of Purdue's top Chinese partner institutions -- Tsinghua University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Ningbo University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Riall W. Nolan, associate provost and dean of international programs, is overseeing the program, which is being offered for the first time.

"This innovative program will give the students a chance to learn about the complexity of the American culture through interaction with students, staff, faculty and the community and field trips throughout the area," Nolan said. "The visiting students get a lot of their information about American life through movies, television shows and books.

"They probably also have probably heard that Purdue has a good reputation but know little else. We hope that students will come away from the program with a deeper understanding of real life in the United States and a good look at what Purdue and the Greater Lafayette area has to offer."

The three-week program will cover a wide variety of topics, including the economic system, politics, legal system, recreational activities, health care, industry, education, religion, agriculture, popular culture, mass communication, fine arts, family life, food and nonprofit organizations. Many Purdue professors and community leaders have agreed to be involved, either through lectures, information sessions, activities or tours.

Nolan said most days will be split into two parts, with the mornings spent learning about American life through lectures and information sessions and the afternoons reserved for field trips to different places in the community and state. The program also will include informal activities for the participants, such as swimming, a visit to a theme park, team building exercises, a pizza party, dancing lessons and shopping trips.

He said inspiration for the summer program came from the four Chinese universities, which Purdue has been developing relationships with as part of International Programs' Asian Initiative. The initiative was started in 2005 to serve as a link and resource between Purdue and its overseas partners in India and China. Currently, China ranks third after India and South Korea in international student enrollment at Purdue, Nolan said.

While Purdue and the partnering universities have participated in student, research and faculty exchanges, this is the first time Chinese students have traveled to Purdue to participate in non-academic program, Nolan said.

Two Chinese university administrators will accompany the student group, which will stay in a Purdue residence hall. The program participants are paying all travel costs and will cover their expenses while in the United States.

The participants include a mix of men and women, and undergraduate and graduate students. Nolan said each of the students knows at least some English, and organizers will mix the strong English speakers with some of the ones with less understanding. Nolan said some of the program organizers and Purdue students who have volunteered to spend time with the group also speak Chinese.

"Along with the language challenges, the students may be surprised at how different things are in the United States," he said. "There are so many differences between the two countries, including laws, food, religion, cultural norms and the way the government is set up. The students may find it difficult to make sense of it all, but I hope that they learn a lot from the experience and leave with a good impression of day-to-day life here.

"They will certainly go back to China and never think about the United States in the same way again."

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Sources: Riall Nolan, associate provost and dean of international programs, (765) 494-9708, rwnolan@purdue.edu

Elaine Bland, director of global engagement, (765) 494-9399, peb@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Journalists are invited to cover the Purdue University Summer Program in American Life and Culture. To make arrangements or find out a schedule of events, contact Elaine Bland at (765) 494-9399, peb@purdue.edu  or Christy Jones at (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

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