My name is Xuanxuan (Kari) Li. I am a senior at University of Washington, double majoring in psychology and early childhood and family studies. I am very honored to be selected as one of the Corbett Exchange Fellows as well as a Killam Fellow. This opportunity enables me to carry out my independent research project to investigate the differences between Chinese–English bilingual education programs in Vancouver and the Seattle area. I hope to present my findings at the Undergraduate Research Symposium at UW in 2019.
I am originally from China. My Chinese heritage always inspires me to promote cross-cultural interactions and learning. My experiences of volunteering in the Chinese–English bilingual program and Chinese–English dual language program in the greater Seattle area motivate me to learn about the development of bilingualism in educational settings. Moreover, Vancouver is an international city known for its diverse cultural communities, particularly the Chinese-speaking community. I have never failed to find authentic Chinese food in the metro Vancouver area.
My current psychology project research, which focuses on understanding the cognitive differences between monolingual and bilingual speakers, will enhance my understanding of bilingualism and empower me to conduct my independent research in Vancouver. The University of British Columbia is a one of most prestigious universities in Canada with strong psychology programs. I look forward to taking psychology courses and maybe getting involved in a research lab there. Ultimately, I hope I can find my niche graduate program at UBC.
The Corbett British Columbia-Washington International Exchange Program Fund provides an opportunity for undergraduate students at the University of Washington to spend two semesters at the University of British Columbia or University of Victoria; and for students from the University of British Columbia and University of Victoria to spend three quarters at the University of Washington.
The Killam Fellowship Program allows undergraduate students from Canada and the United States to participate in a program of binational residential exchange. This program, administered by Fulbright Canada, is supported by an endowment from the American Killam Trusts, Global Affairs Canada, and the Foundation for Educational Exchange between Canada and the United States of America (Fulbright Canada). It is an integral part of the Foundation’s multidimensional strategy to foster mutual understanding between Canada and the United States of America. The Canadian Studies Center is a partner institution with the Killam Foundation enabling up to two full academic year fellowships annually for UW students.