BYU-Idaho Students Study in China

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Story Published: Jan 5, 2007 at 6:50 PM MST

Story Updated: Jan 5, 2007 at 7:00 PM MST

By Nate Eaton

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A handful of students from BYU-Idaho will have the opportunity of a lifetime to study in China this summer.

They're going to a prestigious university in Beijing to learn Chinese.

BYU-Idaho is one of 22 schools, including Duke and Washington, that is participating in this unique program.

Last summer, students went for the first time to Beijing...and this summer, they're going again.

Cameron Porter, BYU-Idaho Student: "Very humbling and an eye opener. It was quite an experience."

That's how BYU-Idaho student Cameron Porter describes his experience last summer taking part in the universities study abroad program in China.

Cameron was one of 12 students who went to study for four weeks at Capitol Normal University in Beijing.

Scott Galer, BYU-Idaho Chinese Professor: "[It's a] fairly prestigious institution. They have a very large program for students who are interested in learning Chinese as a foreign language."

Between 400-600 students from around the world study Chinese at the university and now, for the second time, BYU-Idaho students will participate this summer.

Lei Shen, BYU-Idaho Chinese Professor: "We really think that it's very important for our students to get immersed in Chinese culture. The people there are the same at heart but their culture is different."

Students spend about four hours a day in class. The rest of the time is spent exploring the country.

Porter: "We had free time to study but you know any kid that has free time isn't going to study...especially in a foreign country. So we took the time to go and sight-see. My studying was talking to people."

In addition to learning the Chinese language, Cameron says this experience taught him a whole lot more.

Porter: "It opened my eyes to different cultures and how they live."

Cameron studied Chinese at BYU-Idaho for a year before he went overseas.

He says his language skilled doubled in that one month living in China.

He's studied international business and says those language skills help.

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