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Chinese Students, Teachers Visit Mid-State Schools

mtsunews.com

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT)  --  Schools in Murfreesboro are hosting 21 Chinese elementary and middle school students this week. It’s part of an exchange program initiated by Middle Tennessee State University.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee has pushed hard in recent years for mid-state institutions to form partnerships in China. He initially orchestrated university level exchanges involving students and professors. The Confucius Institute opened on the MTSU campus in 2009.

Last summer a group of mid-state grade school students and educators visited China. This summer, teachers and students from China are returning the favor.

Murfreesboro kindergarten teacher Teresa McCarthy is coordinating this week’s visit. She was also among the educators who traveled to China last year, and says she was impressed with how Chinese schools specialize in various areas of study.

“There was one classroom dedicated to just learning about how to build race cars and another class that was dedicated to world history. I really like how they focused in on certain curriculum.”

McCarthy says the Chinese grade school students will be given a tour of local schools and taught something about life in Middle Tennessee. The visiting students head back home on Saturday.