Student Voices: Summer Programs in China

Six students recently returned from various USC Summer programs in China share their experiences.

USC offers a variety of summer overseas study opportunities for students who wish to learn more about China, improve their Chinese language skills, continue their research on Chinese studies, or gain valuable field experience where they can apply what they've learned at USC. Find out from six students that attended six different programs about their summer programs and how their time in China enhanced their overall USC experience.

Speakers: 

Elly Wong – East Asian Languages and Cultures' Chinese Summer Program in Beijing
Elly Wong is a senior double majoring in International Relations and Public Relations. She is a Trustee Scholar and highly involved in the Annenberg School for Communication as an ambassador. After graduation, she plans to to pursue a career in international law.
The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures offers a 4-week and an 8-week intensive Chinese language program in Beijing. Cultural visits and excursions are also incorporated into the program. Students have an opportunity to extend their stay in Beijing by participating in various available internships.

James Roussos – School of Architecture's American Academy in China
James Roussos has a Bachelors of Science in Architecture from Georgia Institute of Technology. He is a Masters candidate at USC's School of Architecture. He studied for a year in Paris, France in a study abroad in conjunction with Georgia Tech and L'Ecole de La Villette.
The American Academy in China offers three courses of studies involving two workshops in Beijing and Shanghai and a travel enrichment course to examine the architecture and urbanism against a rich array of cultural and historical contexts between four distinctly different cities in mainland China: Beijing, Xi'an, Ordos, and Shanghai.

Lulu Hansen – School of Cinema's USC/CUC Global Exchange Program
Lulu Hansen studied visual arts and comparative literature at Brown University and is completing her MFA in Film and Television Production at USC's School of Cinematic Arts.
The Global Exchange Program between USC's School of Cinematic Arts and the Communication University of China brings together pairs of students to make brief documentaries on Los Angeles and Beijing as global cities. With guidance from faculty members from both Universities, each pair (one from USC, the other from CUC) must negotiate cultural differences both in front of and behind the camera.

Jaimee Yellin – School of Social Work's "Eastern Approach to Successful Aging in China"
Jaimee Yellin is a second-year graduate student in the School of Social Work. Jaime's concentration is Families and Children with a Sub-concentration in Pupil Personnel Services.  In addition, he is interested in the mind-body-spirit connection and the use of alternative therapies.
Students explore issues faced by an aging population and experience how China is coping in a positive way. Utilizing China as a case study, the program provides intensive discussion and exposure to Chinese culture, helping students expand their knowledge of the country's political, economic, social and cultural forces, as well as gain a new perspective on healthy aging that may help them work with elderly populations in the United States. In addition to studying social gerontology theories, the learning process includes daily interactions with Chinese students, faculty and community groups.

Annie Gillman – East Asian Studies Center's Global East Asia China in Shanghai
Annie Gillman is a senior majoring in Political Science with a minor in Business. After graduation she hopes to pursue graduate education in political science and international relations, focusing on the Pacific Rim.
The East Asian Studies Center's "Global East Asia" summer international program offers USC undergraduate students an opportunity to study abroad in China, Japan or Korea for a 4-5 week summer course. The program offers students an opportunity to study with USC faculty members in an East Asian country, and a service learning opportunity to use their experiences abroad to create materials for publication in one of USC's East Asia online magazines upon return.

Kris De Pedro – School of Education's APRISE Study Tour to Beijing and Shanghai
Kris De Pedro holds a BA in Anthropology with honors from Columbia University and an Ed.M in education policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. His research interests are school violence policies and prevention, teacher education, and institutionalized racism in education.
APRISE, Rossier's Asia Pacific Rim International Study Experience, was initiated to ensure that all Rossier students and faculty have the opportunity to participate in key international experiences focused on the Pacific Rim that enhance their capabilities as future educational leaders and scholars. USC Rossier School of Education actively partners with several key universities in Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.