Summary:
Lauren Konopacz on the benefits of studying abroad and in China in particular. (04/04/2008)
Notes:
- "Self" is simply "set of beliefs and assumptions about life that are the products of such as social group, economic class, family background and national culture. Foreign experience allows students to recognize these assumptions in both their host culture and their own." Re-examining assumptions of own lives and assumptions of society belonging to.
- "Globalization has rendered today's world absolutely in need of people with cultural experience other than their own."
- "Just as an art history student must forgo their textbook to go to the museum in order to best experience a work of art, a student of culture or language must forgo their text book to go abroad in order to best experience that culture or language."
Facts and Figures:
- US Senate Resolution 308, 11 Nov 2005: lists several reasons why international experience is important for both the students and the US as a whole;
- eg. "federal agencies, educational institutions and corporations in the United States are suffering from a shortage of professionals with international knowledge and foreign skills";
- eg. study abroad programs "empower students to better understand themselves and others through a comparison of cultural values and ways of life."
- China receiving 5.3% of US exports; 21% of its exports go to US, equal to 15.9% of total US imports; US is China's top export partner
- China's average yearly GDP growth: relatively steady 10-11%
