Troy School Experience Asia Project a huge success for children
Troy Messenger October 19 2008
Local students learn about Asian culture
By Jaine Treadwell (Contact) | Troy Messenger
Published Friday, September 19, 2008
Photo by Jaine Treadwell
Troy University student Zhao Wu Jun had students on the edge of their seats with a kung fu demonstration during the Experience Asia for Kids event.
Photo by Jaine Treadwell
Troy University students put on a dance with the dragon puppet during the Experience Asia for Kids event.
Disney World might imply that “It’s a Small World After All” but, for about 300 local fourth- and fifth-graders, it’s a big world and they got to experience it in a small way at “Experience Asia for Kids” on Thursday.
“Look at that fake lizard,” one boy said as the Japanese Dragon paraded on stage.
Students from Banks, Pike County, Troy and Luverne elementary schools participated in “Experience Asia for Kids,” which is a part of the ongoing “Experience Asia Festival” at Troy University Sept. 18-20.
“Experience Asia for Kids” included storytelling, a Kung Fu demonstration and a variety of arts activities but, perhaps, most importantly, it gave kids from South Alabama a chance to interact with international university students.
Deborah Davis, Troy University director of international student life, said the “Experience” was a win-win experience for both groups of students.
“This was a wonderful opportunity for our international students to interact with American students,” she said. “By working with young children, they learned more about what it’s like to be a part of life in America. Language is a big difference and they also had an opportunity to practice their English.
“As for the children, they learned a lot about the Asian culture. Experiences like this help us to learn to live together with respect. Everybody benefited from this experience. I don’t know what it will mean 20 years down the road but I would hope that it would help with international relations as our world becomes smaller every day.”
Dr. Maryjo Cochran, dean of the Troy University College of Communication and Fine Arts, said she was overwhelmed by the response of the fine arts and international students.
“We had about 50 volunteers who gave several hours of their time to ‘Experience Asia for Kids,’” Cochran said. “It was a wonderful experience for them. I think they had as much fun as the young students.”
Cochran said the collaboration between the international and Alabama students is a step in the right direction in Troy University’s international initiative.
Dawn Key, teacher at Pike County Elementary School, said “Experience Asia for Kids” was a unique experience for the students.
“This is the first time we have participate in an event like this and our students were very excited,” Key said. “And, I know they enjoyed it because they were so quiet during the storytelling. When students are quiet, you know they are listening and enjoying what they are hearing.”
Key said that, for many of the students, it was their first time interacting with international students.
“They recognized the students as Asian but they had never actually seen an Asian person,” she said. “This was a broadening experience for our students and they will benefit from it.”
The “Experience Asia Festival” will continue today with a performance by the Ronin Taiko Drummers at Troy Elementary School and with a public performance at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night at the Claudia Crosby Theater.
Tickets are $5 for children and students and $10 for adults. Tickets will be available at the door.
The Ronin Taiko Drummers are back by popular demand and are sponsored by the Troy University College of Communication and Fine Arts and the Confucius Institute.
Troy University’s Confucius Institute is now officially operating in full gear after receiving new funding from China.
Dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts Maryjo Cochran said this institute, which promotes the study of Chinese culture and language, was formally awarded in October 2007.
But, when the college received funding this October from the Chinese government, it became a fully operational institute with three new Chinese faculty members.
Iris Xu, who has worked in Canada for the past 20 years and was the director of a Confucius Institute, joined the university this September as the executive director of the institute in Troy.
The institute’s partner university, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology in China, also sent two other faculty members, Mr. Li and Mrs. Fan.
Li, who has expertise in art and design, will work with the art department as well as the Confucius Institute. Fan will teach Chinese and English.
Cochran said the faculty members from China are on a one-year contract from the partner school, and next year, they will either be renewed or replaced by different faculty from their institution.
“We provide housing and transportation, and their salaries are paid for by their university, so it’s not too expensive on either school,” Cochran said.
Cochran said she is not sure whether some Troy University faculty will be sent to teach in China in the future, but students will be able to participate in a Chinese immersion program overseas this summer.
The institute has already started its programs, by teaching Mandarin Chinese courses, and holding the Experience Asia project for local school children.
Cochran said the new faculty members have also started what they hope to be a weekly program for Chinese and American students to interact with one another.
“It’s where students meet informally and talk about Chinese issues and Chinese language,” Cochran said. “It’s a way for Chinese students to practice talking in English, and American students learning Chinese to practice talking in Chinese.”
Some of the institute’s plans for the future are to have programs for adopted children from China on Saturday mornings next spring.
“There is a large Asian population in Dothan of adopted Chinese children,” Cochran said. “It’s filling a need that has kind of been identified for us.”
Cochran said the institute, which is the only one in the state and the 25th in the country, will also reach out to Alabama to help integrate Chinese culture.
“One of the things we’re planning to do next year is to take 40 to 50 principals over to China to have them meet with Chinese educators,” Cochran said. “It’s a way to really open up the possibilities for international culture and Chinese exchange, not only for the students and faculty but for the business and general population of Alabama.”
