MURFREESBORO — While
school is still out for millions of Tennessee youngsters, learning continues
for 11 fortunate youths July 7-22 under the auspices of MTSU’s Confucius
Institute.
The students will attend the fourth annual 2014 Chinese
Bridge Summer Camp organized by the Confucius
Institute, which will take them to Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou in the
People’s Republic of China.
Rui Qian, a Chinese language instructor at the MTSU
institute, will chaperone the youngsters through a schedule of educational,
cultural and entertainment experiences.
“They will attend classes, but not all day because they are
young students and we want them to experience the local life,” Qian said.
Chinese language classes are part of the agenda, but Kung Fu
classes are also offered, as are optional cultural classes such as calligraphy
and painting.
Qian said the Great Wall of China and trips to some of the
country’s oldest villages are also on tap.
An exchange with students from a high school in Hangzhou is
slated as well as a visit to Hangzhou Normal University, with which MTSU has an
educational partnership. Language, cultural and other educational programs are
provided by Hangzhou Normal University.
“This is a beautiful opportunity and a dream come true,”
said Shaunna Barbee, mother of camper Antonio H. Barbee of Nashville,
Tennessee. “Antonio has always loved Asian culture, and he’s a rising black
belt in karate.”
The students applied for the limited number of positions by
submitting academic transcripts and recommendation letters from teachers to the
MTSU institute. Admission is based on academic performance, interest in Chinese
language and culture.
Students are responsible for their round-trip transportation
to China, a processing fee and a visa fee. The Confucius Institute covers all
expenses in China, including transportation, excursions, and room and board.
Attending this year’s camp are:
·
Antonio H. Barbee, in transition from Jordan High
School, Durham, N.C., recently moved to Nashville, Tennessee;
·
Benjamin Z. Bess and Glenn E. Scrivens II,
Oakland High School, Murfreesboro, Tennessee;
·
Leslie Hennings, Siegel High School,
Murfreesboro, Tennessee;
·
Adrian Daniel Spencer-Smith, Brentwood High
School, Brentwood, Tennessee;
·
Zoe Walker, Stewarts Creek High School, Smyrna,
Tennessee;
·
Hong Colleen Feng, Farragut Middle School,
Farragut, Tennessee;
·
Eric Wang and Amber Diaz, Farragut High School,
Farragut, Tennessee;
·
Rockell Hicks, Alvin York Institute, Jamestown,
Tennessee;
·
Kennady Allese Peek, The Webb School, Bell
Buckle, Tennessee.
The
mission of the Confucius Institute at MTSU is to enhance the understanding of
Chinese language and culture, facilitate engagement with China and create
opportunities for exchange and collaboration between communities in Tennessee
and China.
For more information, go to http://www.mtsu.edu/cimtsu/ or call
615-494-8696.
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