A History of Calvin Connections to China
By Phil Holtrop '55

Selles himself has finished his doctorate at Vanderbilt University in American church history, with an accent on the CRC mission activities in China . Like the Herzbergs and Dan Bays , he speaks Chinese fluently and is a recognized China expert. The fall Semester in China program fits well in the whole pattern of burgeoning China interests at Calvin. It explores China 's "unique cultural, spiritual, and social context." In the fall of 2004, thirteen students were enrolled in this unusual educational experience. Their handbook gives the intent of the program: They "not only engage in learning through traditional academic lectures but also through interaction with students from Capital Normal University [in Beijing ] and by excursions through China ." The China semester is one of ten semester-long off-campus programs offered currently at Calvin. It highlights "the unique position of China as a world power, a center of learning and culture for centuries, and a Communist country moving towards a market economy.."

One-third of the students' credit in this program-but two-thirds of their time-consists of an intensive Chinese language course. It runs the whole length of the semester and requires 14-16 hours per week in the classroom, depending on the language level of each student. It also requires one session a week with a native Chinese student tutor. The three other courses divide the semester into three segments. The first two of these are six weeks in length and the last one is two weeks. The first course is a broad introduction to traditional Chinese civilization, while the second looks at modern Chinese history and culture, and the third analyzes some dramatic changes in China and a number of current problems. Students attend classes three times a week in ninety-minute sessions. At least once a week they take field trips in and around the city of Beijing or to more distant parts of China . The tutoring dimension enables them to "put a face on their China experience." The Calvin students also have opportunities to worship in registered Chinese or international churches.

Living on the Capitol Normal campus in the university section of Beijing, these students have access to university life, social and sports events, the Chinese National Library, and many contacts with student colleagues from China and other countries. In looking at the full sweep of this program, Bays has commented that-combined with the courses available on campus-it is "at least equal to the China programs of many large American universities." Some recent Calvin students have also been able to map out their own internships or independent studies in China. With profound appreciation, Bays notes that many of these opportunities have been made possible because of a sizeable grant from the Freeman Foundation.

Other Calvin personnel have recently had unusual teaching opportunities in China-sometimes through the contacts of Kurt. For example, Henry Baron lectured last year at Capitol Normal on "the Bible as literature." Religion professor Wan Lee lectured this past semester on "how to read the Bible." Emily Brink ('62)-on both the college and seminary staffs-has lectured on Christian songs, hymns, and liturgy at a Beijing "Three Self" church that has a reputation for being "rather Reformed."

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