People's Republic of China Program

Summer 2010

Other upcoming GET programs:

Puerto Rico 2008

South Africa 2009

Click here to read about GET’s most recent teacher exchange in China.

With a population of over 1.3 billion people, China creates an interesting political, social, and environmental study. China is rapidly emerging in to international markets and political community and provides a dynamic context for studying environmental education. Due to the recent pushes for environmental conservation and education, China is a useful place to study environmental education while simultaneously connecting with educators from China. Below is some information on this program.

Requirements:

You must be a formal K-12 educator to participate in GET programs. The online course is a pre-requisite for the travel portion. All online courses are delivered in English. The travel course is also delivered in English, but GET attempts to have as much of the program activities translated into the native language as possible. The most commonly spoken language in China is Mandarin.

GET's China course includes three components:

Part One: An online component worth 1 credit taken prior to traveling to China. During this course you will become acquainted with China's landscapes, culture and history. This course is available to all K-12 educators. This online course is being offered separately this fall! Click here for more information.

Part Two: Discover the Environmental Education advances in Beijing, visit green schools in the arid northwestern region of Xinjiang, and explore the sub-tropical southern areas of Yunnan. Participate in workshops and excursions while networking with educators internationally.

Part Three: Participate in workshops and excursions while networking with educators internationally.

Program Details:

When: Three weeks during the summer of 2010. Please check back for details.

Graduate Credits: 3 credits (1 from pre-travel online course, 2 while in China).

Program Benefits: 3 graduate credits, in-country airfare, food, lodging, entrance fees, and transportation.
Program Costs: To be determined. Airfare from the US to China is not included in the costs.
Application: 10 educators (must work within a formal K-12 school) from the USA and 10 educators from China will be selected for participation on a first-come, first-served basis. Check back for an application.

Fast Facts About China:

(Information provided by CIA World Factbook www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html )

Capital: Beijing
Status: Communist State
Area: 3.7 million square miles (almost as large as the USA)
Population: 1,313,973,713 (July 2006 est.)
Life Expectancy: 72.58 years (2006 est.)
Languages: Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages
Religions: Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Christian 3%-4%, Muslim 1%-2%
Climate: Extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north
Currency: Yuan ($1 US = 7.9694 Yuan in August 2006)
GDP per Capita: $6,800 (2005 est.)

Background on China:

(Information provided by CIA World Factbook www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html )
For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under Mao Zedong established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring China’s sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, his successor Deng Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight.
 

News Brief:

Renewable Energy Use in China

In April of 2005, GET traveled across the Pacific ocean to explore program options in China. The common day use of renewable energy and attention to energy conservation quickly became apparent. In the city of Kunming, located in the Yunnan province in south western China, solar water heaters cover the roof tops. Solar water heaters are placed on top of buildings and use the sun to heat water as it passes under the panels. Once the water is heated, it is stored water containers. This form of heating water saves electricity costs and substantially reduces the consumption of natural resources.

     Click  to enlarge

Located in the north western part of the country, the Xinjiang province holds the largest wind farm in China. Although wind energy potential lies in the northeast, northwest and along the east coast, it still only makes up .11 per cent of China's energy. Things are looking up for the commercial industry, which is estimated to start high volume production of wind turbines. Approximately 70 per cent of wind turbines are expected to be made in China by 2006. Shanghai has already started to build two wind facilities that have a combined energy output of 21 megawatts! The use of wind energy may seem slim right now, but the European Wind Energy Association, Greenpeace and the China Renewable Industry Association estimate      Click to Enlarge

that China's wind energy preserves could exceed all current power generation.

The use of compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs) is standard across China. Chandeliers in hotel lobbies, and every day places have chosen to use CFLs over the standard incandescent light bulb. CFLs use 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and can last up to ten times longer. Simple daily lifestyle choices, like using CFLs over incandescent bulbs, is one of the many things we can learn from the Chinese!

Source: China: Renewable Energy Eyed, Click here for full article.