SAN DIEGO, May 9-11 — In the past three decades, there has been a dramatic increase in opportunities for U.S. students to study, live, and work in Chinese-speaking countries. At the 2019 National Chinese Language Conference, held in San Diego, California from May 9-11, educators, students, and practitioners discussed the impact on linguistic skill and cultural familiarity that study abroad experiences have on students, as well as the opportunities such experiences afford participating students. Panelists discussed the evolution of study abroad programs and participant profiles as the larger field of Chinese language education has grown. They also explored how participating in study abroad programs creates not only academic but also professional and personal growth opportunities for students. Speakers include Kamila Carter, Holly Chang, Robert Davis, Carrie Feyerabend, Mark Lenhart, and Baojun Zhang.