Cristina Miralles/Staff Writer
Many Chinese students have trouble adjusting to the English language and according to Yuyang Hou, a sophomore accounting major,these students are struggling to make it through their courses due to the language barrier.
Hou, along with the help of President of Chinese Hospitality Management Student Association Fang Shu, has developed a new program to assist Chinese students with assimilation called “Say Nihao to Hello.”
“Most Chinese students are shy,” said Shu. “This program is not only for them to enhance their oral English and communication skills, but also an opportunity to increase their confidence. Other benefits like making friends and learning American culture are also received by our students from this program.”
Hou came up with this idea when he met several Chinese hospitality students who worried about the way they spoke English. So Hou and Shu sat together and discussed their ideas. Hou said he would teach these students for free.
Hou and Shu had to conduct a survey showing that students were interested. Once the survey was completed, they took their idea to Chaplin School of Hospitality Tourism Management Dean Mike Hampton, who approved the program.
According to Shu, the first class on Oct. 14 was a success and it will be held every Friday at 4 p.m. in HTM 235.
Hou said that the program mainly focuses on helping the Chinese students with their communication skills and that is exactly what he will be teaching. Hou will come up with interesting topics and class discussions where the students can interact with one another and have fun while learning how to speak English.
The program has just begun, but Shu has high expectations for the program’s future. Right now, Shu says that his main goal is to get more non-English speakers into the program and get them involved.
“[My] long-term goal is to make this program one of the best at FIU,” Shu said. “In the future, I also want some English speakers to join us and create a more authentic environment for students to talk English. I will also consider hiring more volunteers who want to work with Yuyang.”
As of right now, the program remains free to students and does not require any University funds. Shu and Hou send their flyers through email and with the help of the school, they are able to print a few. According to Shu, as the program grows he wants to get funds from different student organizations that are willing to work with them, and several off campus sponsors.
They hope to encourage more students to join.
“I am confident that ‘Say Nihao to Hello’ will be one of the most successful programs at FIU this semester,” said Shu. “Thanks to Yuyang’s professional teaching skills and friendly personality, the support of [CSHTM] and our Dean Hampton, we are able to use the school’s nice classroom. CHMSA will definitely put more effort [into] advertising and student involvement, and let this program continue every semester.”
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