??????????????? Sheng Gao Daniel Tsai The Diplomat ????? McAndrews?Edwards ? Sorenson?2021????? 10 ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Sharma (2021) ???2022 ? 2 ???????????????? ?? RAD II ??? Weingarten (2021) ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????? McAndrews?Edwards ? Sorenson (2021) ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????????????? Nancy Warkentin ? David Celli? ?????? Nancy Warkentin ?? 2021 ??????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????? ???????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????? (David Celli) ??????????????????2021????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????? ????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????? The Distress of Canadian International Students Entering China for Offline Classes Sheng Gao Daniel Tsai McAndrews, Edwards and Sorenson (2021), the author of the article at The Diplomat, underline that the number of foreign students studying in China keeps increasing within the recent 10 years, but the pandemic led to closed borders and online learning. Yet, there is hope: Sharma (2021) from University World News predicts return of foreign students to offline study in China after February 2022. According to Weingarten (2021) from RADII China, such a policy is based on concern of safety amid the pandemic. Nonetheless, students start feeling alienated from the holistic learning process and lose quality of study and life. One of the most significant advantages of offline studying is presence of cultural experience and live interaction with others. McAndrews, Edwards and Sorenson (2021), claim that prohibition to enter the country for foreign students triggers international tension in general and endangers relations and understanding between the USA and China in particular, which implies that the issue acquires political and global meaning. There are other drawbacks in such a situation for foreign students who are willing to go to China to receive high-quality knowledge and skills. For instance, there are different time zones which makes it hard for citizens of some other countries to align with the studies timely and effectively. There is also an issue of lack in terms of effective schedule and time management in such a case. Two interviews with students who experience online learning at their hometowns instead of going to China illustrate the aforementioned issues. These students are Nancy Warkentin and David Celli. Nancy Warkentin, a Canadian international student, had plans for studying media at Zhejiang University in China in 2021. However, China imposed restrictions on access to the country which expanded on foreign students as well. Nancy had to stay at home and learn through online classes. The student expresses absolute understanding of the reasons of such a situation because of the pandemic and the need to prevent its further expansion, but remains deeply disappointed by the whole situation as an aspiring learner. Nancy underlines: I miss a usual schedule of studying hours I used to have earlier. Moreover, the student also recognizes a challenge, the most commonly mentioned in this regard, namely, the necessity to study at home, which is harder and more demanding for Nancy than regular university hours during offline learning process. Nancy also stated that she was still looking forward to the open borders and the opportunity to study abroad coming true. Such an approach to learning process gives students more perspectives and advantages in the long run, such as learning the culture, feeling the local life and understanding local people better as well as having experience of interactions with people with different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. David Celli, a Canadian international student, also had plans to expand academic competence in China. David wanted to go to Shanghai Jiaotong University in China in 2021, but impact of the epidemic affected his plans and he stayed in Toronto to take online classes and thus continue his education. David does not understand the logic and reasons of the policy China has imposed on all the foreign learners as far as Chinese students are allowed to come to Canada for learning purposes, whereas he and his peers are not allowed to enter China for the same purpose. Hence, students do not see any consistency in such a policy and, therefore, feel even more uncomfortable with the need of online classes instead of the quality of study they have planned to receive this year. David underlined emotionally: Well, the epidemic in China has been effectively controlled for quite a while, so international students should not be kept out. The student also added that he experienced serious health-related issues, such as a destructive schedule of online classes that impacted his health. He had to stay up late at night to join classes because of time difference, and so he had to sleep during the day. Such a schedule affected his family and social life: he failed to make new friends or sustain previous relations, and had to meet his family only during the night, which was also a problem since they had different schedules. At the same time, David lacks different outdoor activities, and this impacts his heath condition and emotional state negatively. Hence, the whole situation is quite disturbing and complicated, but the expected return of foreign students to China in the end of winter is a sign of progress and positive solution. (Article: 749 Words) References McAndrews, E. (2021, September 16). 19 months into the pandemic, China is still shutting out US students. The Diplomat. Retrieved December 6, 2021, from https://thediplomat.com/2021/09/19-months-into-the-pandemic-china-is-still-shutting-out-us-students/. Sharma, Y. (2021). International students may begin to return from February. University World News. Retrieved December 6, 2021, from https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20211118090024890. Weingarten, E. (2021, September 30). Students around the world desperate to finish studies in China. RADII China. Retrieved December 6, 2021, from https://radiichina.com/students-around-the-world-desperate-to-finish-studies-in-china/. |
