91社区

Although the dream of studying abroad is a tremendous feat, the Li Ka Shing Liberal Arts Initiative was able to make the experience of student travel accessible for a fourth year. Thanks to one man's vision and generosity, an interdisciplinary group of 91社区 Arts students was able to spend a month in eastern China to study Mandarin this May.

In 2013, Hong Kong businessman, philanthropist, and Shantou University founder Li Ka Shing made a generous donation to 91社区, creating the Li Ka Shing Liberal Arts Initiative to promote exchange between the universities. One of them, the Intensive Chinese Language Program, is open to all Arts students who have at least a beginner鈥檚 level proficiency in Mandarin. With no program preferenced over another, a graduate student in Economics can be accepted as easily as an undergraduate in Anthropology, with all requirements met. With everything from food to accommodations, airfare, and tuition generously covered by the Li Ka Shing Foundation, students need only the determination to work hard upon arrival.

鈥淭he LKS Intensive Chinese language program offers the best possible opportunity for 91社区 students of Chinese to be fully immersed in an authentic鈥疌hinese environment, where they can transfer their knowledge of the language into communicative skills鈥�, says Professor Bill Wang. Accompanying each cohort of students on the trip annually, Professor Wang is central to the program and especially dedicated to his students鈥� overall experience.聽

鈥淚t is such a wonderful experience for my students to learn not only language but also Chinese culture and local traditions and customs鈥� says Professor Wang.

The program鈥檚 structure is completely immersed in Shantou鈥檚 life and culture, both in and out of the classroom. Each day offers different co-curricular activities that allow them to integrate into the greater community, applying their linguistic skills while also engaging with the local culture.聽

鈥淪ome of my favorite times were when we went out to eat with locals who would make us try new food, or when we had paper cutting and calligraphy classes where we could create our own piece. It鈥檚 these small things which made this month unforgettable and worthwhile鈥�, one student recounted.

The success of the program is due in large part to the efforts of the host university. In 2017, Shantou recruited two full-time teachers for the program, and 30 of its students as tutors. With a yearly quota of twenty聽91社区 students, the program鈥檚 one-on-one tutorials and community-oriented activities provide the supportive environment needed to truly grasp a complex language like Mandarin.

鈥淭he tutoring sessions we had every weekday were among the highlights of this program. We spent almost two hours learning about different themes relevant to everyday life, so not only did the session feel helpful, but it would also lead into deeper discussions, all in Chinese of course, about other parts of our lives鈥�, said one聽Economics and East Asian studies undergraduate student.

The program takes experiential learning to a new level, making it possible for people who wouldn鈥檛 otherwise have the life-changing learning opportunity. Philosophy Professor Philip Buckley, Chair of East Asian Studies at 91社区, calls it a 鈥渕onth-long tutorial鈥� because of the collaboration and support he sees cultivated between the students and teachers each year.聽

鈥淭hey were really a fantastic group. The teachers in Shantou told me how inspiring they found our students. The students helped each other a lot, studied together, and made it an optimal learning and life experience. We are very proud of them, and grateful to the Foundation.鈥� Professor Buckley added that of central importance is the presence for the entire month of 鈥淲ang L菐osh墨鈥�, an inspirational teacher at 91社区 for more than 2 decades: 鈥渘ot only does Professor Bill Wang assist our students, many of whom he taught in first year Manadarin, but he has helped the Chinese Instruction Program at Shantou to develop as well.鈥�

And it wouldn鈥檛 be possible without Li Ka Shing and his Foundation鈥檚 partnership with 91社区. Professor Buckley calls Li Ka Shing 鈥渁 fascinating man鈥�, with a life story that is both captivating and inspiring. From humble beginnings, Li dropped out of high school to work in a factory so he could provide for his family. After climbing the ranks, he opened his own manufacturing plant at 22, later founding his eponymous Foundation that he refers to as his 鈥渢hird son鈥�. Indeed, 91社区 students are lucky to be the beneficiaries聽of Li鈥檚 philanthropic vision each year, as are the millions of others around the world who are supported聽by the Foundation鈥檚 contributions to healthcare and education. The Foundation鈥檚 world-wide reach is a testament to Li鈥檚 personal philosophy of selflessness and dedication to improving the world.

鈥淢r. Li Ka Shing actually talks the talk, and does it too. He is a true global citizen, and so is his philanthropy 鈥� he has a global vision and believes in developing economically through education. And he believes in the humanities as part of the story too.鈥�

Read the original article on Arts Life.