International Tech Giant Hires OSU Students to Promote Products at Consumer Electronics Show

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- January is the time when many of us are looking for the next big thing in TVs, computers, smart phones, music systems and other electronic gadgets. 

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140109/CL43992 )

But while you're wondering whether a 50-inch, Hi-Def, flat-screen is the right one for watching the Super Bowl, a small group of OSU students are among those in the world spotlight for what comes next at the annual international Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The Story: 
The 6 students (accompanied by 4 instructors) will be working as liaisons and interpreters for Haier (pronounced "Hire"), an international consumer electronics company, at the Consumer Electronics Show. 

The OSU students, who are studying for Masters degrees in Mandarin Chinese through
OSU's Advanced Chinese Program, are participating in the 2014 Trade show to get practice and experiences that will help them achieve the highest level of fluency possible before taking on
jobs for companies and government agencies wishing to do business with China. 

Haier, in turn, is looking to make major strides in expanding business beyond China and sees the OSU students as a means of better connecting with new customers.

With US exports to China growing 294% over the past decade, China's an important export market for the US. China bought nearly $109 billion worth of goods from the U.S. last year, according to a just-released report from the U.S.-China Business Council. Our future workforce needs to be able to speak their customers' language –– literally!  These students are at the forefront of this effort.  

(China now ranks as the U.S.' third-largest export market, with exports there growing 294 percent from 2003 to 2012. By comparison, U.S. exports to the rest of the world have grown only 111 percent in the same period.)

Connect with the Buckeyes in Vegas: 
We can offer live video or audio news feeds or help you connect with your affiliate Las Vegas station for video feeds and live or taped interviews. The team at the Consumer Electronics Show is working with a professional videographer from OSU and will be gathering both b-roll and good natural sound from the show.  

Dr. Galal Walker, head of the OSU Advanced Chinese Language Program, and some of the OSU students attending the show are available for interviews.

Contact: Amanda Amsel, 614-221-2885 x22, [email protected]

SOURCE The Ohio State University MidWest US-China Flagship Program