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MALBOROUGH, Massachusetts: A Massachusetts school that will open this fall promises Chinese students a stepping stone between their high schools at home and universities in the US. The Massachusetts International Academy (MAIA) is offering an American education during a year-long intensive and immersive program in English language and American culture.
“People are looking for an alternative way to get an education and we are focusing on providing them with that opportunity,” said Daniel Xu, executive vice president of the Cermax Corporation, which also manages the Academy.
And the $35,000 tuition price tag is not daunting potential students. The first class was expected to be 40 students, however, demand was so strong that it was increased to between 60 and 80 students, though final numbers are still being tallied.
“We were very surprised,” Xu said. “But maybe we should have anticipated this.”
An alternative for students
China has about 28 million 18-year-olds competing for 5 million open university slots, according to Xu. That leaves millions of students wanting a university education, but unable to attend. And when they can’t find one at home, they often head to the US.
The academy is the brainchild of Chinese Education and Research Network (CERNET), China’s first nationwide education and research computer network. The project is funded by the government and directed through the Ministry of Education. Cermax is a United States subsidiary of CERNET.
Xu said the close ties between Massachusetts’ universities and colleges, such as the University of Massachusetts and China’s post-secondary schools, including Tsinghua and Shandong universities, prompted the creation of the academy. And the need to expand educational opportunities within China was underscored by the speed with which CERNET purchased the vacant 240,000-square-foot former corporate training facility in Marlborough.
“The purchase took less than a month, and they paid about $9 million for the facility,” Xu said.
The facility offers full amenities ranging from an indoor pool to manicured grounds. Xu said there were enough rooms to expand the student body to 220 or 230 over the next few years. The academy will also be home to about 40 students from Framingham State College, an informal academy partner. The Framingham students using the academy campus will serve as an additional part of the education, allowing more opportunities for language and culture experience.
With the first semester just around the corner, academy executives are focusing on hiring staff, screening students and fine-tuning the educational curriculum.
“We want to provide the students with a seamless transition from high school to university,” said MAIA academic director Brenda Finn.
A cultural edge
One of the tenets of the Massachusetts International Academy is that to learn a language, a student must also learn a culture.
Finn and Xu said several Chinese schools offered similar “bridge” programs, but that these often failed to adequately prepare students for life and language in the US.
“These programs are very good, but outside the classroom the students speak Mandarin with each other, read Chinese newspapers and speak Mandarin at home,” said Xu. “When they come to the United States for university they find they have a lot of work before they can grasp what is going on, and that makes the experience harder.”
Finn said the program is structured into two half-year modules. The first half will stress hard academic language classes in the mornings focusing on reading, writing, oral skills and comprehension. These classes will be taught by American instructors from UMass and other outside schools.
The afternoons will be supervised study periods and time to complete assignments, while the evenings will offer guest lecturers. The weekends will provide excursions to local universities and cultural activities.
“The educational world has evolved,” Finn said. “It’s not one-size-fits-all anymore. But education and learning is the ultimate goal of any good system of education, public or private, and we want to position our students for success in whatever they choose to do.”
Lin Li, 20, who is enrolled in Southern New Hampshire University’s (SNHU) three-year honors business program, said she would likely have taken advantage of the Academy had it been available when she enrolled.
“The setting (of the program) is important,” Li said. “Some programs at universities teach language skills, but it’s learning within a Chinese community. To really learn, the students have to be encouraged to step out of their comfort zone.”
When Li first arrived at SNHU more than a year ago, she said it was a challenge to think like an American and learn the finer points of the language, while at the same time trying to excel at her classes.
Students attending the Academy are given with a provisional acceptance at UMass, and have filled out the requisite forms and met requisite needs prior to enrolling at MAIA. Xu said if Academy students then meet the language standards set by the university, they can begin their first year of study immediately after completing their courses at MAIA .
“(The Academy program) will be very attractive to high school students in China because many feel they don’t have that gateway,” Li said. “This could be a shortcut for the high school students.”
Education American style
Another appealing aspect for Chinese students is the difference in educational culture in the US, which allows for greater collaboration with professors.
“Here, I can question my professors and challenge what they say,” Li said. “You can’t do that often in China, and that critical thinking part is good for me personally.”
Finn said potential students must meet strict enrollment standards including maintaining an equivalent of a 3.0 grade point average or higher while in high school in China. Applicants must also show a more than rudimentary understanding of English in an application essay
Stan Wanucha, director of international and English programs for the UMass Division of Corporate, Continuing and Distance Education, said the school is looking to hire highly skilled teachers and currently reviewing a pool of candidates.
“Learning a language is a challenging process,” Wanucha said. “We want (a teacher) who is lively, experienced, and with an interactive teaching style. We want to get students to think in their target language.”
During the second half of the academic year, the curriculum will maintain the morning academics but the afternoons and evenings will expand to include classes at UMass, Framingham or other area schools. These basic courses will serve as an introduction to college life and can be used toward the student’s academic degree at a later date.
“Essentially the student is taking a four-year degree in five years, and the Academy is the first year,” Finn said, adding that students can choose classes that are closest to their intended major, though most will likely choose introductory and foundation courses.
Mixed in the school year will be visits by the students to local secondary schools with Mandarin classes as well as the opportunity to socialize with American students in the area.
“This is not just teaching language,” Finn said. “We’re teaching language through content and we want to give our students the best chance to succeed.”
