Expanding horizons: New scholarship can take you to China

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By Sara Maleki

The college offers study abroad experiences in 31 different countries, and will be offering 10 fully funded study abroad scholarships to China this fall.
Students will have the opportunity to study at the college’s partner college, Northwestern Polytechnical University, in China’s ancient capital of Xi’an.

The scholarship will cover textbooks, tuition and registration, dormitory fees (excluding water and electricity) and also provide approximately a $250 monthly stipend for living and educational expenses.

“Students just have to pay airfare, application fees for the visa, the physical exam and spending money,” said Janette Jasperson, coordinator of International Education.

To qualify for the scholarship, students must have a GPA of at least 2.5 and have completed at least one semester at the college. Furthermore, students do not need to take a Chinese language class before departure.

“Generally, for students going to China we do require one semester of Chinese language college level classes […] we are waiving that for this program,” said Barbara Wilson, administrative assistant of International Education. “It’s easier to learn a language when you’re surrounded by it. Osmosis is a factor – it helps you learn that language faster.”

Without this scholarship, Wilson estimates the total cost of studying in China (not specifically in Xi’an) for one semester would be approximately $12,000. With the scholarship to Xi’an, pre-departure costs – depending on airfare costs and acquisition of a passport – would be about $3000 to $4000. Food expenses and spending money could add an additional $100 per week.

As part of a 20-year-long exchange program between the college and its partner school, visiting professors from Northwestern Polytechnical University have come to the college to teach Chinese for one academic year. This year, Professor Tan Kang came to teach Elementary Chinese levels one and two.

“[Xi’an] is one of the top three educational cities […] there is the chance to communicate with students from all over the world,” Kang said. “In terms of higher education, food, history, scenic spots, [it] is one of the top choices in China to visit or live.”

China is becoming increasingly relevant as one of the top economic powerhouses in the world.

“The news is full of information about China,” Wilson said. “So many American businesses are trying to get in to the Chinese market. [There is a] long tradition of history in poetry, philosophy, religion, fine arts.”

Living in a new country with unfamiliar language, culture and customs can be intimidating, but Kang said excessive fear is unnecessary because his people are warm-hearted and helpful.

“No matter what your major is, you can really benefit from a semester in China,” Jasperson said.

For more information about these scholarships, JCCC to the Max, which provides academic support presentations and various workshops, will hold sessions in COM 319 in the first week of March to allow students to gain more information and ask questions.

The sessions will be held on today, March 4, from 12-12:50 p.m., Tuesday, March 5 from 11:45-12:45 p.m., Wednesday, March 6 from 1-2 p.m. and Thursday, March 7 from 1-1:50pm.

Scholarship applications to study in China in the fall 2013 semester are due March 31 to the International Education office located in COM 220 and successful students will be notified by April 10.

Contact Sara Maleki, reporting correspondent, at smaleki@jccc.edu.

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