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CNN Live At Daybreak
New Oriental School Online Helps Students Prepare for American Universities
Aired November 26, 2001 - 06:56 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: American colleges and universities are used to working with students from other countries who want to enroll, but that's usually by phone, and that apparently is so in the 20th century.
As Beijing bureau chief Jaime Florcruz reports, there's a new link in town for aspiring students from China.
JAIME FLORCRUZ, CNN BEJING BUREAU CHIEF: Tyrum (ph) is on her way to class where it's not standing room only. She logs on to one of Beijing's most popular online courses in the comfort of her home.
TYRUM (ph): And it's perfect for me, the time and the location, everything, convenient.
FLORCRUZ: Ty is gearing up for a crucial law school entrance exam. Her goal, get high scores and pursue an advanced law degree in America.
Career-driven Chinese like her turn to New Oriental which preps them to pass English and other tests required by U.S. universities.
DUNCAN CLARK, INTERNET CONSULTANT: The reason that it's successful is it's linked very much to the ability to study overseas, the ability then to get a visa to go overseas, therefore the linkage to, you know, a better career, more financial prospects means people are more prepared to pay for this service.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, what do you want to study in the United States, sir?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Physical chemistry.
FLORCRUZ: As China opens further, English proficiency is a premium credential.
YU MINHONG, PRESIDENT, NEW ORIENTAL SCHOOL: We are embracing the world these days that choose (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Olympic Games who would come to China so -- and also the Doubletree (ph) is coming to China and more and more foreign entrepreneurs are investing their money into China. So we saying that if you understand English, you can find a better job and you'll get a higher salary.
FLORCRUZ: For as little as $50 to $100 in tuition, students may log on courses according to their needs.
QIAN YONGOIANG, CEO, NEW ORIENTAL SCHOOL ONLINE (through translator): You can choose your favorite teachers and favorite subjects. If you are strong in reading but weak in listening comprehension, you can skip the reading part.
FLORCRUZ: Some prefer the peer pressure in traditional classrooms.
LOU YING, OFFLINE STUDENT: When you are in the classroom with 600 people, you think that all people around you they are studying and you should study too so you will just pay attention to the teacher. But if you're alone at home, I think if it's me, I would just sit there and idling and...
FLORCRUZ: But e-students like the flexibility at their fingertips.
TYRUM (ph): I can stop at any time. I can just (UNINTELLIGIBLE) so when I lose it, then I can pick it up from there. Compared to traditional ones, I have to concentrate all the time whereas I miss something then I just miss something.
FLORCRUZ: She can log on and off when she pleases.
(on camera): New Oriental success has engendered competitors encouraged by online education's potential profits. So far the only limit is apparently the hardware. When New Oriental first went online, so many people tried to logon their server crashed.
Jaime Florcruz, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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