Furman in Asia

In August, Furman launched a new program through which four '05 graduates were given the opportunity to travel to Suzhou, China, where they will live and teach English for one year. Facilitated by a recent donation to the Asian Studies department, the upstart program is designed specifically for just-graduated students who wish to work abroad and/or insert a "gap year" between undergraduate study and post-Furman life. Furman Teachers are provided with an apartment, an ample monthly salary, and a relatively unburdensome work schedule.
Such arrangements allow for maximal extracurricular enrichment, i.e.
traveling, studying Chinese, generally experiencing Chinese culture, and so on. Thus, while teaching work constitutes the primary obligation for the FU Teacher, a high premium is also placed on cultural immersion.

-Russel Lee '05

FU Teachers:

Russell Lee majored in history and philosophy while at Furman. He has saturated himself within the social community in Suzhou. A regular at several ex-pat hangouts, Rusty enjoys shooting pool, playing Texas Hold 'Em, and generally having a good time. He also cites teaching in China as being one of the most educational experiences of his life; through working with students in such a unique environment, he has learned a great deal about language, education, and friendship. Upon leaving Suzhou, Rusty plans to attend either Penn Law School, Vermont Law School, or the University of Buffalo.

Elizabeth O'Grady majored in political science while at Furman.
Having already spent semesters abroad in both Europe and Russia, Liz jumped at the chance to experience yet another different culture. She has recently maximized her language-learning opportunities by signing up to audit (full-time) an Introductory Chinese course at Soochow University. Additionally, Liz continues to enjoy one-to-one teaching experiences. Throughout February and March she regularly tutored a lawyer who has since departed to the United States in hopes of studying international property law. Liz will remain in Suzhou for an additional year so that she might improve her command of the Chinese language. She'll likely attend graduate or law school in the fall of 2007.

Jessie Phillips majored in art and history while at Furman. She has attempted in earnest to utilize the full spectrum of opportunities that lay before those living in Suzhou. Ever the traveler, Jessie continually organizes trips to both other cities and inter-Suzhou destinations alike. In addition, she has expanded her educational responsibilities to include middle-school teaching and one-on-one lessons. Despite such a hectic schedule, Jessie manages to attend a weekly brush painting class, which not only satisfies her erstwhile hunger for all things creative, but also provides an opportunity to experience a unique aspect of Chinese history and culture. Upon leaving Suzhou, Jessie plans to find a job back in the U.S.

Daniel Schneider majored in history and philosophy while at Furman.
Dan's experiences in Suzhou have taken on all shapes and sizes. With respect to teaching, he continues to search for new and innovative ways to make ESL enjoyable. He has covered such materials as comic books and horror movies in his classes. This semester, he's built his curriculum around the well-know television series, "Lost". The characters provide a variety of accents, exposure to which helps improve students' listening abilities; "Lost" also discusses a wide range of substantial issues, which facilitate fruitful in-class discussions. Outside of the classroom, Dan spends much of his time playing football (soccer). He is a member of a regular 18-person squad that plays a proper game each week. After returning home, Dan hopes to become a Virginia State Trooper.