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WEST VALLEY CITY -- About two dozen Chinese students are attending classes at Monticello Academy this week. Their vice principal, Dou Yongge, said through an interpreter that her school in China and this charter school have a lot in common.
"We have so many of the same things. We are very young, with new ideas about education. Our students cannot only have their good grades, we also focus on the ability of the students," Dou said.
The students have also been talking about Utah's former governor, Ambassador Jon Huntsman Jr.
"I think the ambassador can give us a kind of stage to have this kind of sister cities or sister schools," Dou said.
This isn't the group's first visit to the United States, but it is their first visit to Utah.
Monticello director Mike Westover said he believes his school was picked because it has been focusing on teaching Chinese for years.
"There is so much that is going to happen in the near future between our two countries. So, it is critical that we are teaching our students now to communicate, so that when those opportunities arise, they are prepared," Westover said.
The director said this experience is proving very interesting and helpful for both sets of students.
"I think it's enough to give our students and our Chinese teacher, who is trying to teach them these things, to have much more relevance," he said.
Westover said the West Valley students hope to take a trip to China some day.
E-mail: mrichards@ksl.com
