Chinese students get lessons on US at Adelson campus

The Chinese students had not been in America for 24 hours, and already they were being forced to fend for themselves.

The 10 students were each given five $1 bills to order a snack from Starbucks or McDonald's, without help from their American counterparts. It was part of a two-week immersion program, USA Ready Study, hosted by the Adelson Educational Campus, 9700 W. Hillpointe Road.

"It's shock treatment," said Paul Schiffman, head of school for the Adelson Educational Campus. "We decided not to confuse them with change yet; that's happening ... at The Venetian."

Schiffman said he did inform the merchants beforehand that they would be coming.

The Chinese students started their education July 11 and were scheduled to leave for California on July 25 to continue it another week. They were scheduled to travel to Los Angeles and San Francisco to tour college campuses and take in popular attractions.

The international students were placed for two weeks with host families in the Las Vegas Valley whose kids attend Adelson, a private Jewish school serving kindergarten through 12th grade.

Kay Lau is one of USA Ready Study's advisory board members and the organizer of this inaugural summer program. She said some of these students will probably want to come to the United States for high school or college. One student will be attending Adelson in the upcoming school year.

"(Lau) came up with this program as a great way to test the waters ... without committing to sending your child off to a new country for an entire year," Davida Sims, Adelson's director of development, said.

The program cost Chinese families about $6,700 for students 10 to 19 years old. The 10- to 16-year-olds came for the first two weeks of the program and were joined by seven older kids for the California portion.

Laura Bruni, Adelson's director of international studies, was one of three instructors involved. The Chinese students spent three hours in classrooms at the Adelson campus in the morning and went on field trips in the afternoons. They visited Mount Charleston, Hoover Dam, the Ethel M Chocolates Factory in Henderson, the Springs Preserve, the Strip and more. The also went bowling and played miniature golf, a first for many of them.

Bruni taught American history, holidays and traditions.

"One of the fun (lessons) is the history of fast food and fast-food franchises," Bruni said. "So much of our fast-food industry has gone over to China."

Bruni said some of the students have an understanding of English and some know only a few words.

But that is OK, Sims said.

"It's not about English 101," she said. "It's grocery stores, restaurants, food."

A funny moment in any language came during Bruni's first lesson July 12. She was explaining American manners and etiquette when her cellphone rang. Everyone in the class had a laugh.

Adelson 10th-grader Avia Kraft and her family hosted 14-year-old Yuchen "Rosie" Han, who successfully ordered a banana smoothie at Starbucks on her first day.

"(Rosie) is really smart," Avia said. "I've been to different countries and seen exchange programs, but you don't see them paying attention like Rosie did. I got the sense that where she came from, education was really valued. If you're willing to send your child to a different country, that's really impressive."

For more information about the USA Ready Study program, visit usareadystudy.com.

Contact View education reporter Jeff Mosier at jmosier@viewnews.com or 224-5524.