MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — For seven Middle Tennessee State University students, learning about Chinese history, culture and society extended far beyond the classroom this summer.

Led by Jun Da, professor of linguistics and Chinese in the Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, students spent more than two weeks in Hangzhou and Shanghai as part of MTSU’s faculty-led Study Abroad Program. The experience combined classroom instruction with visits to historical landmarks, museums, technology companies, local communities and universities, giving students firsthand insight into Chinese culture, history and daily life.

The program, held May 18 through June 3, centered on the three-credit course Introduction to Chinese Culture. Open to students from any major, the course fulfills requirements for both the Chinese minor and the interdisciplinary minor in Asian Studies while introducing participants to Chinese history, philosophy, religion, society and contemporary development.

Program takes students ‘beyond classroom learning’

“The Study Abroad Program allowed students to move beyond classroom learning by experiencing Chinese society and culture directly,” Da said. “Through lectures, cultural activities, company visits, community engagement and interactions with local students, they explored Chinese history, philosophy, religion, society, technology and contemporary development.”

Students visited museums and historical sites, toured technology companies, participated in traditional arts workshops, experienced daily life through a homestay program and built relationships with students from Hangzhou Normal University through a buddy exchange program. The itinerary introduced students to both China’s cultural heritage and its rapid technological development.

For history major Benjamin Wiggins of Lewisburg, the trip fulfilled a lifelong goal.

“China is a place I have always wanted to go,” Wiggins said. “It’s a country that many people, despite having never visited, have strong opinions on, and I wanted to get to see how it was with my own two eyes.”

One experience that stayed with Wiggins had nothing to do with a classroom or cultural site.

While one member of the group struggled to purchase a subway ticket, a local woman who spoke little English stepped in to help. When the ticketing app wouldn’t work, she purchased the student’s ticket herself and guided the group to the correct station before continuing on her own trip.

“I’ll never forget that moment,” Wiggins said.

The experience also pushed Wiggins outside his comfort zone.

“I felt very scared to do anything like order food in the cafeteria,” he said. “But ultimately I got over my fear after doing it once or twice. I have never felt more like an outsider in my life.”

Art history major Emma Turner of Murfreesboro said the experience strengthened both her academic interests and her desire to continue studying Chinese.

Experiences open doors to new cultures

“I now have the goal of becoming fluent in Chinese and certainly want to visit again,” Turner said. “My major is in art history, and I would love to further study the evolution of modern art in China today.”

She also formed friendships she expects to last long after the trip.

“Because we had all chosen to come on the trip, I ended up making lifelong friends,” Turner said.

Reflecting on the experience, Turner said one lesson stood out.

“China was completely different in many ways culturally,” Turner said, “but also people were fundamentally the same. Everywhere, people value kindness, time with those they love and improving the world around them.”

Those relationships were an intentional part of the program.

“Students were paired with students from Hangzhou Normal University, allowing them to build friendships and exchange perspectives throughout the program,” Da said. “These interactions helped students develop a deeper understanding of contemporary Chinese society.”

Those connections are one example of the broader goals behind faculty-led study abroad experiences.

“Study abroad allows you to grow personally, become more independent and gain confidence in unfamiliar situations,” Da said. “Programs like this also strengthen your communication skills, cultural awareness and adaptability, qualities that employers value in many careers.”

Da plans to offer the study abroad program again in summer 2027. Along with Introduction to Chinese Culture, he hopes to add FL 1000: Intersections of Language and Culture, a course taught in English that would expand participation opportunities for students from a variety of academic disciplines.

— Mike Davis ([email protected])