Despite its limitations, Chinese students say a special business program at Missouri State University has provided them with a valuable American experience.
MSU's China Executive MBA program offers easier access to an American university, through which they can experience American education and get to know the U.S. culture and its people the way tourists cannot while improving their English, the students say.
"It has changed the way I think," said Shi Yao, who worked in financial consulting in Beijing,
"There are really great teachers who can stimulate your ability to think creatively."
Kong Jing of Beijing said, "Generally speaking, I've learned a lot. ... The professors are always well prepared. They want you to apply theories in real life. They ask open-ended questions to get different views from students."
The benefits extend beyond education.
After a year, Shi said he became a better cook, a typical achievement for Chinese students in the United States, and that he got to visit more than a dozen U.S. cities.
With excitement, he recounted a dangerous car climb in the Rocky Mountains. "Now, I've learned how to travel long distances by myself," Shi said.
Likewise, Kong said she had visited 10 or so cities before her summer graduation.
Through travel, she came to know the country is less homogenous than she had thought, Kong said.
Fang Xuying, a former employee of CNOOC, China's largest producer of offshore crude oil and natural gas, said he seized every moment and every possibility to explore America outside the classroom. He said he visited nearly 40 states.
"I only needed B's to graduate," Fang said. "I controlled my grades -- I did just enough work to get B's and I spent the rest of my time to understand this country.
"I wanted to know how this country is different," Fang said. "I wanted to know what makes this country so advanced."
His schedule was taxing, but Fang said had a lot to do in a year.
"I wanted to improve my English. I kept meeting new people," said Fang, who attended free community English classes, went hunting and visited many churches in Springfield.
He found Americans to be religious. "It's a good thing they have faith," Fang said.
Fang, who worked as a college teacher briefly in China, was impressed with his American professors.
"Each professor has a different syllabus -- that's really remarkable," Fang said. "They were strict. They were serious about academic integrity -- you cannot cheat, you cannot be dishonest."
Ruan Shiman, a public health worker from Shandong, graduated from the program last year. She said she found Americans friendly.
"Most Chinese people thought American didn't put family in a very important position as Chinese do," she wrote in an email to the News-Leader. "But as the time [went], we knew American regard family as the most important thing in their life and have the same value as Chinese people, although they didn't [live] with their parent."
For Kong, one surprise was to discover the religious side of America.
"I was really shocked to see how many Americans go to church, how much they value their faith," Kong said.
Wang Han, who graduated from the program in 2009, said he has kept in touch with friends he made in Springfield, especially his host family.
"The academic program itself did not change my viewpoint of the United States, but I came to know more about the country through living there for a year, especially my weekly visit to Park Crest Baptist Church," Wang said.
Living in the States has improved his English and ability to listen, and the experience abroad boosted his self-confidence, Wang said.
He has been recommending the MSU program to his Chinese friends.
"I selfishly want more people to visit Springfield," Wang said. "I would recommend them to live with a host family and go to church every week."
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