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The department of English has established Miami University’s first international certificate program in partnership with Shanxi Normal University (SNU) in Western China. Under this agreement, selected English majors in Shanxi’s English department will come to Miami, beginning in fall of 2010, for one academic year to earn a certificate in English literary and cultural studies.
According to program designers, SNU students will gain a much stronger understanding of American culture, and all-around training in linguistics, writing and literature in a Western learning environment.
“The agreement with Shanxi Normal University is an important step forward in the internationalization of our campus and development of relations with universities in China,” Provost Jeffrey Herbst said. “Shanxi’s choice of Miami to develop a certificate in English literary and cultural studies demonstrates our progressive international orientation and the English department’s excellent work in new global curricular initiatives.”
A major benefit of the program for domestic students will be the exposure to new ways of thinking and cross-cultural perspectives in the upper level English classes, which have been predominantly composed of American students.
“I had a German class with international exchange students last year and it was a great experience,” said senior English major Kori Austera. “We approached texts coming from different language perspectives, and everyone expanded their intellectual horizons. I think it’s great that the Shanxi-Miami program will bring an added dimension of cultural exchange to our classes in the English department.”
Fifteen students from Shanxi are expected to participate in the first year.
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