Fun, but 'lightweight'

Li Xiaoyue, a 42-year-old mother from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, sent her 14-year-old son, a ninth grader at a local bilingual school, to Sydney, Australia, in the summer for what was advertised as a "short-term school program". It was his first time trying studying abroad, but Li soon realized the program was more of a travel-based study tour than a genuine academic course.

"There were so many Chinese students — sometimes it felt like he was still in China. Most of the time, they were sightseeing and not really studying," said Li.

Her son attended basic English lessons in the mornings and joined excursions to landmarks and beaches in the afternoons.

"He said the fun part was seeing kangaroos and surfing for the first time," she said with a smile.

Li appreciated the chance he had to gain independence and use English naturally, but admitted it didn't fully meet her expectations. "I thought it would be more like a real school experience abroad, but it turned out to be more of a cultural trip," she said.

Still, she found some value in her son's experience.

"He became more confident speaking English and learned to take care of himself. It gave him a glimpse of life overseas, even if it was a bit lightweight," said Li.

"In the future, I will choose more carefully. When he's older and more mature, I'll invest in a program that truly supports his future studies, not just offers a fun experience."

According to the Annual Report on the Development of Chinese Students Studying Abroad (2024-25) by the Center for China and Globalization, there were 6.86 million international students worldwide in 2022, including 1.05 million from China, accounting for 15.3 percent of the global total.

The number of international students in the US reached a record 1.1 million, up 7 percent from the previous year, with China remaining the second-largest source, the Open Doors Report released by the Institute of International Education in 2024 showed.

From an educator's perspective, Zhu thinks the long-term impact of overseas study programs depends largely on students' educational environments and personal goals.

"For students already in international schools, attending short-term programs may serve as a valuable supplement rather than a necessity. But for students in local schools with limited overseas information, these experiences can be valuable for both exploration and preparation," she said.

Zhu added that students with clear academic goals should seek more targeted programs that fill learning gaps before entering university.

"The authentic, hands-on projects addressing real community or social issues often have a more meaningful and lasting impact than simply adding program names to a resume," said Zhu.

Contact the writer at sunnyu923@163.com