UMD students to China

The function of this weblog is twofold: (1) to report about the course to general viewers (part 1), and (2) to maintain communication among program participants (part 2).

Part 1

On June 16, 2008, the first UMD study abroad group focusing on both Chinese language and culture will begin their first day of class at Nankai University in Tianjin, China. Tianjin, a coastal city about 40 minutes southeast of Beijing, is the third largest city in China and home to one of the oldest universities and richest cultural centers in the country.

A group of nine students selected through interviews will participate in this 3-credit summer course. In addition to studying Mandarin Chinese, students will also enroll in classes examining the following questions:
1. How has China accumulated sufficient wealth in fewer than 20 years to reach the highest foreign currency reserves in the world?
2. How do the social morals differ between Eastern and Western societies?
3. What are Confucian principles? How do modern lives in China reflect these principles?

Part 2

Welcome to the course weblog, a site for and by members of the 2008 "UMD in China" study abroad program!

Thanks to Joe Paulson for assistance in setup and design. Below, I've detailed some requirements about how this site should be used.

You are expected, but not limited, to post your entries on Mondays and Thursdays during our stay in China. Use your blog to store your pictures and report on your class experiences and outside observations. Entries can focus on notable events, exchanges or even vocabulary that you feel deserves to be shared with the class.

Please write with three goals in mind. First, you are keeping an electronic journal available for your family, friends and anyone else who visits this site. Second, you are writing reports that are being graded while providing me with feedback about the course. Third, you will gain experience writing (and typing) in Chinese, and I would like to offer this site as a forum for language review or discussion.

I look forward to our time in China together. 欢迎参加这个课程 ! Welcome to the Course!

With warmest wishes,
Dr. Phoenix Liu