14 from Beijing university observe Valley media outlets

By DENISE DICK

denise_dick@vindy.com

youngstowN

They soaked up a different

culture, exchanged ideas and learned about journalism and broadcasting.

Twelve students and two faculty members from the Communications University of China in Beijing are staying at Youngstown State University for a five-week summer camp.

The students, all women and all of whom are studying English or broadcasting, are spending their days in class and visiting Mahoning Valley print and broadcast media outlets.

“Spending time with them, I’ve learned something every day,” said Tom Pittman, YSU journalism instructor and co-coordinator for the visit. “I’ve probably learned more from them than they have from me.”

The young women gave high marks to the Cafaro House, where they are staying two-to-a-room. At home, four students share a dormitory room.

Pittman said that Lilin Liu, dean at the Chinese university, approached YSU in mid-2009, proposing the summer-camp idea. Pittman, with help from YSU’s Center for International Studies, wrote a proposal, and the Chinese university said yes.

The Chinese begin learning English in first grade, and each student selects an English name.

Cheng Yao, 22, for example, goes by Jasmine.

For most of the students, and the two faculty members, this marks their first visit to the United States.

Jasmine, however, lived for two years in Austin, Texas, when she was in her early teens. Her father worked in that city. Before that, she lived for four years in England.

Their university includes about 10,000 students.

“It’s about the same size as YSU,” Jasmine said during a visit this week to The Vindicator.

There’s about a 7-to-1 ratio of females to males at the Chinese school, but there are male students in the English and broadcasting program, the students said.

“They didn’t want to come,” Jasmine said. “I think they were intimidated.”

The group visited Niagara Falls, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cedar Point and a Mahoning Valley Scrappers game. They’ll leave Aug. 7 and spend a week with Alyssa Lenhoff, director of YSU’s journalism program.

Lenhoff will accompany the students on a visit to the City University of New York and its Graduate School of Journalism.

The students then have trips to the East and West coasts planned, arranged through a travel agency.

Pittman said the hope is to work toward an exchange program between students and faculty at the two universities.