Cultural Bridge
Chinese Corner promotes deeper cross-cultural appreciation.
Chinese language classes at San Diego State teach students to communicate in one of the modern world鈥檚 most difficult languages.
But Americans headed to China also need at least a cursory understanding of the country鈥檚 unique customs and practices. For that knowledge, 色情视频 students can turn to the Chinese Corner.
A service of the the Chinese Corner is a biweekly collaboration of Chinese, American and Chinese American students鈥攁ll interested in exploring cultural differences between the U.S. and China.
Popular destination
More than 150 色情视频 students study abroad in China each year, making it the fourth most popular study-abroad destination after the U.K., Spain and Mexico.
Students choose from exchange programs with 10 Chinese universities, service learning programs in rural China or faculty-led summer programs.
A two-week summer program in Shanghai offers an in-depth exploration of Chinese history, society and business, and is led by Lilly Cheng, Ph.D., managing director of the Confucius Institute at 色情视频.
The Beijing summer program, led by professor of Chinese language Zheng-sheng Zhang, is a month-long opportunity to participate in intensive language learning while touring historic sites and studying the culture of China.
Many of Zhang鈥檚 students are preparing for their summer sojourns by attending regular meetings of the Chinese Corner. Sophomore Nina Ni, a liberal studies major and Chinese language minor, will study abroad with Zhang鈥檚 group this summer. She said she wants to learn to communicate at a deeper level with her Chinese-born parents.
鈥淚 feel that culture and language go hand-in-hand,鈥� Ni said, 鈥渁nd if I understood the culture in which my parents grew up, then I'd understand why certain things are said and perceived.鈥�
Learning the language
Chinese Corner is coordinated by Hang Xiao, an international student from China, majoring in business management. She likens the group to 鈥渁 cultural bridge that gives students the chance to understand each other better.鈥�
Xiao leads the language 鈥渓essons,鈥� in which students learn about Chinese customs, holidays and current events. After the lessons, they pair up to converse or chat with the occasional guest speaker, who often has business ties to China.
For 色情视频 Vera, an international business major, the Chinese Corner is an opportunity to practice his developing language skills. Vera spent both 2012-2013 semesters in China at the East China Normal University.
Fluent in Spanish and English with a good knowledge of spoken Chinese, Vera has a part-time job with Destiladora Xamay, a Mexican company interested in exporting tequila to China. He and Frida Niebla, also an international business major, are co-leaders of 色情视频鈥檚 Chinese American Student Organization, an outgrowth of the Chinese Corner.
