Westonka Students Will Get a Taste of China this Summer

Information and photos provided by the Westonka School District

Now its fifth year, the Westonka Summer Institute (WSI) returns to China—adding a fourth city to the itinerary. 

“This year we’re excited to add Nanjing to our itinerary,"  WSI lead teacher Ann Baumann said. "Nanjing is another different part of China that will help the WSI participants see a more complete picture of the country. It's a major city in the Chinese business culture, so it will be another great comparison point for the students in their studies."

The Westonka Summer Institute is a credit-bearing, 13-day China immersion program. The half-credit course involves pre-departure coursework. Seminar classes will cover the global economy, Chinese history and culture and perspectives on China’s role in the world market. Prior to departure, students participate in international training with Best Buy. In China, students will have the opportunity to experience the life of an international employee while visiting Nanjing. 

In addition to Nanjing, this year’s participants will spend their 13 days of travel in Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai. They depart on June 12. Upon return to the U.S., the course wrap-up will include the submission and presentation of a final project, a program evaluation and multiple opportunities to share what they’ve learned with other students, community members and representatives from Best Buy/Five Star.  

John Haug, parent of two 2010 participants was most impressed “by the marketing concepts that the students learned, and their recognition of the differences in marketing methods here and overseas.” 

Through the WSI program students develop the skills needed to compete in the 21^st Century and get a jump start on success in the global workforce—working alongside some of Best Buy’s top managers who are responsible for the company’s success in the global marketplace. They will gain knowledge of non-Western European countries’ political and cultural histories, develop cross-cultural communication skills, and a good knowledge of geography—along with fluency with e-commerce and the Internet. 

Sarah Silverstein, a 2010 Mound Westonka High School graduate, says her experience was one she won't soon forget.

“Through the summer institute, I was able to tour some of the most amazing places on earth," Silverstein said. "I got to immerse myself in a new culture and do so in a fun and comfortable way.” 

In China, the students will have an opportunity to explore the world’s oldest major civilization dating back 3,500 years. They will gain a broader world view and be invited to step outside their comfort zone and practice cross-cultural communication skills. They will experience total immersion in the Chinese culture through language, customs, family life, food, architecture, history and commerce. In Beijing they will visit local high school for a day with local students. 

The educational environment of the Chinese students surprised MWHS senior Kyle Hoogeveen. 

“They work very hard and are very motivated to do well with their education," he said. "It was interesting to be able to see the future and motivates me to also do well because we'll be competing for the same jobs.” 

This year’s students will again visit Xi’an—one of the greatest archaeological finds of the century with 2,000-year-old terracotta warriors who were interred with the Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Other trip highlights are Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City, The Great Wall—one of the ten wonders of the world, the Summer Palace—the largest and best-preserved imperial garden, the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Museum, the Beijing Zoo—to see the Giant Pandas, the 2008 Olympic Village and Zhujiajiao—an ancient water town with a history of more than 1700 years.

“Through the corporate experiences, one of our sons realized his chosen field of study," parent Kim Haug said. "The final presentation in front of a corporate group, especially the question and answer session, was a real-life work experience.” 

Baumann says, “It completely altered many of the students’ views on everything from the role the U.S. plays in the world to environmentalism, right down to their personal responsibility to community, country, and the world at large.” 

The program is funded by a combination of grants and student participation fees. Sponsors include NPC Robotics and Best Buy.