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HUNTINGTON UNIV MAGAZINE

Huntington helps open up new frontier in China

FOR RELEASE September 20, 2007

The Huntington University group that traveled to China

HUNTINGTON, IN—Dr. Luke Fetters sits in a circle surrounded by colleagues and friends during an open discussion at the Zhuhai City School in China. Everyone in the group is joking and having a good time when a young Chinese woman asks a serious question, “If God would grant you three wishes, what would you ask for?”

Fetters ponders the question carefully. These people are probably referring to God as a genie and not God as the Holy Spirit, he thinks. As an associate professor of ministry and missions, he has told his students when given the opportunity, there is a time to talk about your faith with permission. So, he proceeded to answer the question.

“I would want health for my family, that my soul would live forever, and that I could exist in China and the United States at the same time,” Fetters said.

After Fetters responded, his answers and his ideas about reality and the purpose of life were discussed amongst the group. Then, after much thought, one of the Chinese teachers said, “There is no god, so I don’t think about such things. I just work hard each day.”

Ever since the recent economic boom, the people of China have worked hard to create job security. There also has been a demand for foreign educators to teach English. To broaden the education field, the Education Bureau of Zhuhai City and the People’s Republic of China contracted with the United Brethren International Education Program and Huntington University to provide training in teaching English as a second language.

Erin Caley, Ada, Seeya, Jenaya Bonner, Jo-Jo and Kimberly Hart spend some free time together in China. Ada, Seeya and Jo-Jo were Chinese English teachers at the teacher training event.

In the summer of 2007, Huntington University sent a group of five faculty members, two alumni, and five students on a three-week teacher training event at the Zhuhai City School. Per the contract, China provided $18,000 for the training, covering approximately half of the team’s expenses.

The group from Huntington University formed two teams, the Teacher Trainers and the Nesters. For the first week, the Teacher Trainers, or the faculty, worked with the 80 teachers on the theory and practice of teaching English as a second language. During weeks two and three, the Teacher Trainers observed each teacher teach twice in classrooms of Chinese students. The Nesters, or the native English speaking team, were there for the second and third week. They led English games and activities with the campers and participated in free talk sessions with the teachers.

students from Zhuhai City School

“When I was reading a book during storytelling, one of the primary students, Tom, thought it was really funny that there was a picture of boys in underwear running to school,” said Kimberly Hart, a junior missions and family & children’s ministries double major from Monroe, Ind.

The classrooms at Zhunhai City Schools have 50 to 60 students, making it difficult for the teachers to have adequate supplies and time to work with the students. The teachers also move from classroom to classroom so they can only teach with what they can carry.

“It was hard for the Nesters the first two days of camp because no one spoke English very fluently, and we became frustrated easily,” said Hart. “We had to learn how to speak slowly and be more patient.”

Outside of the classroom the group gained a feel for the culture through the food and staying with the teachers in their homes. They found that the people of China were very hospitable and enjoyed making visitors feel comfortable.

“When most groups go on mission trips, you are together all the time and form a special bond with your American friends on the trip, but instead we formed a close bond with the Asian people we were staying with,” said Fetters. “To me it is more important to create a relationship with someone you will not be able to see everyday, but you can remain close to them and realize they are just like you.”

Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S.News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest. Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington University is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in northeast Indiana. The University is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).

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