People's perceptions of the world around them can vary greatly from person to person. This becomes self-evident when people come from different cultural backgrounds and parts of the world, or at least that is what students at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics learned through the School’s Global Understanding Program.

 

This spring, students in NCSSM Instructor Hong Li's Intermediate Chinese class have been engaging in a virtual exchange with students at the Hangzhou Foreign Language School in Zhejiang, China. This exchange has fostered great debate and discussion. It has debunked myths and stereotypes about both Chinese and American culture, and lent understanding amongst students half a world away.

 

In an increasingly global world, faculty and staff at NCSSM recognize the need to provide opportunities for students to connect with their peers outside of the United States. This initiative has allowed them to do just that. Once a week students here and at the Hangzhou School connect via videoconferencing and talk about issues related to environmental ethics, individuality and personal freedoms, academic expectations, understanding of each other's cultures, and government. These conversations and accompanying presentations both educate students and open a virtual space for dialogue and important conversations that may not ever have occurred otherwise.

 

The Global Understanding Program is modeled on a similar program conducted at NCSSM’s sister institution, East Carolina University (ECU). This program was started by ECU faculty members Dr. Rosina Chia and Dr. Elmer Poe, and looks to create a comfortable setting where students will feel free to share ideas, thoughts, opinions and impressions. ECU provides four to five weeks of international interaction and participates with more than 40 international institutions in 24 countries worldwide. Each student enrolled in the course is paired with an international student that they engage with on a one-on-one basis throughout the course. The Global Understanding Program at ECU provides a great alternative for those students who would like to gain global exposure without studying abroad.

 

Dr. Li and Dean of the NCSSM Humanities Department, Elizabeth Moose, worked hand in hand with Mr. Shakle Xia and Mr. Leo Gong, HFLS Deputy Principals and instructors of English, as well as Ms. Grace Xie and Mr. Xiaoming Bao, also English instructors, to design the course and exchange.  By asking the students challenging and thought-provoking questions, the instructors were able to establish a familiarity amongst the students that allowed them to approach questions such as "What does the pursuit of happiness mean to you?" It is that familiarity that allowed Bo Kane '13 to speak to his Chinese peers in a new way:

 

"I've spent time in China before and had the opportunity to speak with Chinese citizens about global issues and issues in China. Many times I was met with their country's and government's view and not necessarily their personal view. This course gave me the chance to have an open conversation and hear their independent thoughts. Through our conversation we were able to talk about the differences between our cultures and insights such as how as Americans we are to them more individualistic while they focus on collectivism and community."

 

His classmate Randi Gibbs '13  agrees, adding that there were also perceptions that they had of each other's culture that were false or better understood through discussion:

 

"We had a presentation and discussion about student life where they portrayed American's as partiers who are not necessarily as serious about their studies. We told them that they were wrong. In the same way I thought they were not as passionate about what they study as we are, but in talking to one of my Chinese peers I found she was incredibly passionate and motivated because she wanted to afford herself the opportunity to come to school in the States," Randi said.

 

Though many of the differences between the NCSSM students and the Hangzhou students were obvious, it was the open environment that was created and the ability to talk about even the unexpected that stuck out with the students.

 

"It was cool getting to bluntly hear someone I do not know tell their story; the whole experience was both eye opening and enlightening," said Jay Buchanan '13.

 

Elizabeth Tsui '13 added, "I loved seeing their candor. There were even points where they pushed me outside of my comfort zone, and I wasn't sure I wanted to dive into the question they had posed."

 

Ms. Moose hopes that this will be the first step in a growing and long lasting partnership:

 

"Members of the Hangzhou School have already come to NCSSM for a visit, and I hope they will continue to come in the years ahead."