BJBIE Welcomes Our First Pathway Program Students

October 5, 2011 09:58:03

 


September 30, 2011:Beida Jade Bird International Education (BJBIE) welcomed its first delegation of Pathway Program students to Greenville College in Greenville, IL (http://www.greenville.edu). This is an exciting first-step in BJBIE’s initiative to develop Overseas Education Centers across the United States, which will address the growing demand for American education by Chinese students and parents. Greenville College has been an excellent partner through its continued support of this initiative and the warm welcome our students have received.
 
Classes will begin at the end of October and in preparation, BJBIE and Greenville College have developed an extensive orientation program with the goals of settlingstudents on campus, giving students the opportunity to meet and begin a relationship with their host families, and time to explore their new city. Our first group of four Pathway Program students come from Beijing, ShanXi (five hours west of Beijing), and AnHui (five hours west of Shanghai). These students are eager to begin Greenville’s Intensive English Program, which will help them further develop their English language proficiency, become accustomed to American life and culture, and transition into campus-life with American students.
 
Pathway Program students received their first taste of campus life as soon as they landed at the airport – waiting for the students was a group of Greenville students and administrators with signs and open arms. Greenville College’s Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Norman Hall, Resident Director David Yan, and a group of students (including the Student Union President) welcomed our four students to the U.S. and Greenville College, helped them with their bags, and posed for some great pictures.
               


 


                                                               
During orientation, students will be busy with academic and cultural programs intended to ease the transition into American culture and university-level coursework. Students have already been treated to athletic games on campus, a tour of campus and the neighboring town, and a camping trip and barbeque. This week, students will tour the sites and museums of St. Louis and Indianapolis, participate in more on-campus activities, and welcome autumn with a half-day trip to the beautiful Carlyle Lake.
 
BJBIE will continue to support our students and our partner institutions throughout this program, and we are excited to have our first group in the U.S. A second group of Chinese students are preparing to join those students in Greenville, and we will be updating their arrival and progress on our Twitter and Facebook Group pages – Check it out!