LCDS students love to stay busy over the summer, and rising Seniors Jack B., Tarah C., and Assata F. are no exception. They are continuing their passion for studying Chinese by engaging in study abroad programs. Jack and Tarah will be traveling to Hsinchu, Taiwan and Assata will be traveling to Shanghai, China.
Jack and Tarah have been awarded the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarship. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, this competitive program is designed to provide opportunities for the next generation of American linguistics and foreign diplomats.
Out of thousands of applicants nationwide, Jack and Tarah were selected to spend six weeks in an immersive experience in Hsinchu, Taiwan, where they will engage in intensive Chinese language study. They are the 8th and 9th scholars from LCDS to receive this honor in the last decade that LCDS has participated.
“It’s a government program that empowers youth interested in foreign relations,” Jack explained to The Fourth Estate. “The main idea is to recruit for roles in the State Department.”
The application process was no small feat. Tarah described it as being similar to a college application. Students were required to go through rounds of interviews, write essays and letters to their potential host families, submit teacher recommendations, and activities lists.
While there, Jack and Tarah will attend four hours of language study every weekday at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) and live in dormitories on campus with 28 other US students. Weekends will be spent with host families, where they will immerse themselves into the local culture and language through various activities and experiences.
Assata F. will be participating in a similar program in Shanghai, China through the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). She was awarded a full merit-based scholarship to spend 5 weeks attending intensive language courses and engaging in cultural exploration.
The application process for Assata was very similar to that of Jack and Tarah, involving personal essays about motives for attending this trip, high school transcripts, and finances.
Assata hopes that beyond academics, the trip will lead to the growth of her individuality as well. “I wanted to challenge myself by doing something on my own before college,” she said. “I thought that it would be a good experience…to live in a foreign country by myself.”
Similar to Jack and Tarah, Assata will be living with a host family while attending daily classes. When not in class, she is excited to participate in scheduled activities for the scholars and to have free time to explore the city.
All three students recently attended the school-led trip to China last summer, and are planning to bring some of their knowledge of that experience to apply to this one, as well as cultivate their love for Chinese food, culture, beauty, and life. They want to better develop their proficiency in Chinese as well, ranging from goals of fluency to showing off in AP Chinese next school year.
They all shared similar experiences in China that made them want to come back. Jack mentioned how much he enjoyed “meeting different people” and is excited to do the same this summer. “After the previous school trip to China, I realized how much I loved the culture,” Tarah explained. “I wanted to experience it more and get a better sense of the day-to-day life in a society that’s completely different from ours.” Assata noted how much she loved the food and enjoyed being in China with her friends.
The students also spoke to some of the notable cultural differences that they are anticipating going back to China and Taiwan. Jack talked about “how much cleaner and more presentable China is compared to the US,” and explained that he has to be careful with how direct he speaks to people in Taiwan, as they use ‘softer’ and more indirect language.
Tarah pointed out the more relaxed, slower pace of life in China, anticipating the same for Taiwan. She noticed that everyone seemed happier, less stressed and burdened by work, and very respectful.
Assata spoke about similar things, specifically the quieter day-to-day lives that Chinese people lead. After her first trip to China, she now feels more knowledgeable about cultural norms, including how to dress in a more “conservative” and “flowy” style.
“I am incredibly proud of these students for stepping out of the classroom and into an immersive cultural experience,” Chinese teacher Mrs. Haddad told The Fourth Estate. “Their dedication to mastering the Chinese language in such a bold, real-world way is truly inspiring.”
