Abysmal global literacy of US college students
Updated: 2016-10-21 07:39
By Chen Weihua(China Daily)
|
|||||||||
The results are particularly worrisome since such a low global literacy is in US schools, and most respondents are Americans, citizens of the world's only super-power, which likes to police the world.
It would be interesting to see the results if a similar test was conducted among the 535 voting members of the US Congress, who like to point fingers at the rest of the world in frequent hearings about global, regional and China-related issues.
One reason for such low global literacy could be the fact that TV networks in the US include very little international news despite the fact that many global hot spot issues are directly linked to US foreign policy.
The National Committee on US-China Relations held its annual China Town Hall event on Tuesday evening, featuring keynote speaker Henry Kissinger. The event included local programs in 85 venues across the US to educate people about key issues in US-China relations.
As I observed in the Confucius Institute US Center in Washington, such events would help improve people's global literacy about China.
While the more than 310,000 Chinese students enrolling in US universities are a source of education about China, only 5 percent of a total of 304,467 US students studying abroad during the 2013/14 academic year went to China, trailing the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and France.
There is no doubt that US has much to do to educate its young generation about the world.
The author is deputy editor of China Daily USA. chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com
Related Stories
How much do we know about US college students? 2015-09-23 17:00
Chinese students focus on US college entrance exam 2012-11-17 08:05
Building healthy rhetoric in China-US ties 2016-09-30 07:40
Chinese premier calls for more efforts to promote China-US economic ties 2016-09-20 10:48
More China-US collaboration vital for region 2016-09-03 07:50
US think tanks must help promote better China-US relations 2016-08-27 08:18
Today's Top News
Lawmakers stage walkout to protest anti-China acts
Syrian army declares 3-day truce in Aleppo
BBC report on Terracotta Warriors refuted
Iraqi forces recapture more villages around Mosul
Greeks rally against labor reforms
Iraqi forces fighting all out to free Mosul from IS
Chinese pupils flock to UK independent schools
Britain's May, faced with turmoil, agrees to a debate
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Hollywood snaps up rock star's dog film |
Chinese people welcome dispossessed |
The can-do generation to the fore |
Riding the wave |
Leisure giants buoy cruise market |
She followed her heart |