Wheaton Provides Culturual Experience for Chinese Students [VIDEO]

While learning foreign languages in a classroom is an important part of education, there's nothing like being submersed in the culture itself.

Twenty-four high school students and two of their teachers have traveled from China as part of the Center for Global Education Summer English Language program on the college campus, which began Friday, July 15 and runs through Thursday, Aug. 4. This is only the second year the program has been in place.

 “This program is designed to help students who aren’t U.S. citizens come for three weeks, study English and learn about the U.S. culture,” said Alfredo Varela, dean of the Center for Global Education.

 This year, the involvement of Norton Public Schools has been increased by establishing a Global Ambassadors program for students. Approximately 30 student volunteers have been participating in many of the group activities so that the Chinese students will have the experience of meeting American peers, and vice versa. In fact, Norton students have the opportunity to learn the Chinese language as well.

 “This program grew out a single event conducted at last year's Summer English program when we realized the intercultural connections and exchanges were great learning experiences for both our visiting students from China and our local high school students,” said Valerie Desmond, administrative coordinator for Center for Global Education. Desmond also noted that all this would not be possible without Jill Ostrowski, associate director and international student advisor for Center for Global Education coordinated the event.

 In addition to classroom time, students have gone on trips, visited area colleges and had a barbecue at Camp Finberg. One of their latest events was the “Amazing Race,” based on the television show of the same name. Chinese students and Norton Global Ambassadors had to work together to overcome several challenges while racing around the Wheaton College campus such as unrolling frozen tee-shirts, eating cupcakes with no hands, learning the Canadian National Anthem in French and more. This helped to promote problem solving and communication.

 “I have to give Mr. Dewar from Norton High amazing credit for putting this activity together and working with us at Wheaton to really make it a real intercultural learning experience,” Desmond said.