Aaron Balivet '08 and Emily Tang '08 were two of 12 students selected nationally to participate in the first Associated Colleges in China (ACC) Field Studies Program in China this summer. It was funded by a U.S. Education Department Fulbright Hayes Group Project Abroad program grant awarded to Professor of Chinese Hong Gang Jin. The seven-week program was designed for students who had previous study abroad experience, so that students could build on existing language skills and apply them outside the classroom. It consisted of two parts: intensive language study and traveling through the country teaching Chinese students and attending education conferences with Chinese teachers and school principals.
The Associated Colleges in China (ACC) is a rigorous study abroad consortium founded by Jin, administered by Hamilton College and hosted by Capital University of Economics and Business (CUEB) in Beijing.
The first three weeks of the program were spent in Beijing strengthening Chinese-language skills, emphasizing formal language, understanding regional dialects, spoken translation and preparing classes for Chinese students and presentations for Chinese teachers. "Each day we would read a new article in Chinese about education, watch a TV program, and take classes to study appropriate formal language for discussion," Balivet said. "Twice a week, we attended lectures in Chinese given by specialists in education and translation, and once a week we talked with Chinese people from other areas in China to practice understanding regional accents."
The students also prepared classes to teach to Chinese students. "The classes weren't all English language classes; some of us taught science, math, music, art, health or other classes you would expect to take in an American elementary or middle school," Balivet explained, " the only difference was that they were taught in Chinese." In addition, each student prepared a presentation on an aspect of the American education system, such as standardized testing and racial minorities in the education system.
Balivet said the second three weeks were spent traveling around the provinces of Gansu, Shandong and Anhui. "At each of these places, we had the opportunity to do some sightseeing and interact with locals to better understand their culture. In Gansu and Shandong, we taught the classes that we had prepared in Beijing," he said. "The students were very curious about our style of teaching and our culture, and were very eager to learn."
For the final week the students returned to Beijing and reported results to fellow students abroad and Chinese teachers. The final part of the program will be completed this fall, when Balivet and Tang present their experiences to the Hamilton community.
The Associated Colleges in China (ACC) is a rigorous study abroad consortium founded by Jin, administered by Hamilton College and hosted by Capital University of Economics and Business (CUEB) in Beijing.
The first three weeks of the program were spent in Beijing strengthening Chinese-language skills, emphasizing formal language, understanding regional dialects, spoken translation and preparing classes for Chinese students and presentations for Chinese teachers. "Each day we would read a new article in Chinese about education, watch a TV program, and take classes to study appropriate formal language for discussion," Balivet said. "Twice a week, we attended lectures in Chinese given by specialists in education and translation, and once a week we talked with Chinese people from other areas in China to practice understanding regional accents."
The students also prepared classes to teach to Chinese students. "The classes weren't all English language classes; some of us taught science, math, music, art, health or other classes you would expect to take in an American elementary or middle school," Balivet explained, " the only difference was that they were taught in Chinese." In addition, each student prepared a presentation on an aspect of the American education system, such as standardized testing and racial minorities in the education system.
Balivet said the second three weeks were spent traveling around the provinces of Gansu, Shandong and Anhui. "At each of these places, we had the opportunity to do some sightseeing and interact with locals to better understand their culture. In Gansu and Shandong, we taught the classes that we had prepared in Beijing," he said. "The students were very curious about our style of teaching and our culture, and were very eager to learn."
For the final week the students returned to Beijing and reported results to fellow students abroad and Chinese teachers. The final part of the program will be completed this fall, when Balivet and Tang present their experiences to the Hamilton community.
