Turning Lessons into Practice

At Full Belly Farm, Tianjiao Yang discovered that even a slice of watermelon can enrich the soil. “Feeding the sheep showed me how the farm improves its fertilizer,” said the student from China, who participated in UC Davis’ Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Design program. Site visits like this turn classroom concepts into real-world understanding—one visit at a time. 

Learning Beyond the Classroom 

At UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education - International, site visits are a cornerstone of our programs. We intentionally pair coursework with site visits, guest lectures and tours so students can see how ideas play out in real contexts and talk directly with professionals in various industries. This opportunity to use English with professionals in real-world settings builds technical vocabulary and fluency faster than classroom-only practice. Hands-on visits also increase student engagement and content knowledge. 

“This summer, each of our short-term, content-based programs offered international students hands-on learning beyond the classroom, with visits across the Davis area’s agriculturally rich and diverse businesses,” said Kristina Carrizosa, a program specialist with International and Access Programs. “Through these visits, our students experienced the local culture and economy up close and embraced campus life while building community and practicing English.” 

Inside a Family Winery: Where Science Meets Entrepreneurship 

Turkovich Family Wines—a small, family-owned business committed to sustainability and innovative winemaking—hosted students from the English for Science and Technology and the Entrepreneurship and International Business programs. Prior to the site visit, Luciana Turkovich spoke to students as both a scientist and entrepreneur, giving program participants a glimpse into the world of winemaking and running a business. 

During the visit, students observed business practices up close and took part in the winemaking process, including crushing grapes from the recent harvest. This interaction with hosts from Turkovich Family Wines helped students practice intercultural communication and understand American professional norms alongside language growth. 

Sustainability in Practice: What Learning Looks Like in the Field 

As one of the world’s top schools for agriculture, UC Davis is uniquely positioned to equip students with the education and skills to advance sustainable farming practices. In the Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Design program, students take part in site visits that give them the opportunity to tour ag facilities and observe campus farm work for real-world learning that can’t be replicated in a classroom. 

Along with a visit to Turkovich Family Wines to learn more about sustainable winemaking, students also toured Full Belly Farm—a certified organic farm—for a firsthand look at harvesting, drying fruits and sustainable farming practices. They also visited the UC Davis Student Farm and met with student farmers to learn more about techniques used on campus. 

For Tianjiao, these site visits were some of her favorite moments from the program. Learning about the history of agriculture and the techniques used in California was eye-opening, but seeing classroom lessons put into practice, especially those not found in China, was particularly meaningful. 

Culture in Context: Film, History and Campus Life 

For students in our Communication and Culture Program, site visits offered a deeper dive into American culture. With a private movie screening at the popular Varsity Theatre in downtown Davis, students shared a memorable experience with authentic English language immersion. They also learned how to access the city bus during a field trip to the popular attraction Old Town Sacramento—a historic destination highlighting California’s Gold Rush era. Students not only soaked up California history but also discovered how to explore the area on their own. Back on campus, students immersed themselves in student life with games at the MU—a favorite hangout spot for UC Davis students. 

Real Learning, Lasting Impact 

Site visits like these turn ideas into experience. What began with a slice of watermelon at a local farm became a lesson in organic farming, language and community. Site visits offer students learning that extends beyond the classroom and follows them into their next chapter—leaving them with stronger English, clearer career goals and new connections.