CIEE China in a Global Context Program in Shanghai, China

  China

• Shanghai: 
Shanghai

Term: Academic Year, Fall, Spring 
Dates: Fall 15 weeks: late August-mid-December; Spring 15 weeks: after Lunar New Year-early-June; Academic Year 38 weeks: late August-early-June

Description: Students on the China in a Global Context program learn to develop functional communicative skills in Mandarin Chinese through small classes, tutors, and language clinics; understand contemporary issues and current geopolitical forces affecting China and China as a rising power in the world today; and apply skills learned in the classroom to understand the local culture through guided fieldwork and volunteer opportunities.

Academic Program
Established in 1998, the CIEE Study Center at East China Normal University is centrally located and close to Shanghai's large commercial areas. The China in a Global Context program is designed to provide participants with a deeper understanding of China as it emerges to take a more influential role in world affairs. Students are introduced to the language, colonial history, foreign policy, political development, and social issues that have either impeded or given rise to modern China. Language classes and related language clinics and tutoring sessions are taught in Mandarin Chinese, and area studies courses are taught in English by native and fluent non-native speakers.

Academic Culture
All core courses and area studies electives are taught in English and typically meet once per week for three hours. They may include required site visits in Shanghai, typically arranged on Fridays. Students typically attend required language classes for two hours per day, four afternoons per week, typically Monday though Thursday. These language courses are offered at eight levels. Students with fewer than four semesters of previous Chinese language study may choose to take accelerated language classes for four hours per day four mornings and afternoons per week. Students are placed into the appropriate level based on a language proficiency test.

Class sizes are very small and require active student participation. Most language classes have between four and eight students, although accelerated language courses and special courses for heritage learners may be smaller. Area studies courses typically do not exceed a maximum class size of 30 students.

Each day head language instructors introduce new content to each level, and then smaller groups are formed for assistant language instructors to focus on accuracy and consistency of pronunciation through daily drills and other exercises. Students are encouraged to participate actively and to speak only in Chinese whenever possible inside the language classroom building.

Highlights:

• Global studies program with English-language courses in international affairs, Chinese politics, economics, history, and society
  
• Comprehensive Mandarin language program for beginner to advanced students, including accelerated language option
  
• Language and Culture Practicum to bridges language and experiential learning
  
• Immersion with the local community by living with a Chinese roommate on campus or a Chinese family off campus

A weekend trip to cities in neighboring provinces, such as the ancient capital and lakeside city of Hangzhou, exposes students to locations outside of Shanghai.

A number of non-credit, optional classes are offered including Chinese martial arts, cooking, calligraphy, chess, music, and Shanghai dialect.

Weeklong Field Trip
The weeklong field trip to Beijing, political epicenter of China, may include lectures and site visits to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, UNESCO China, Urban Planning Center, and Cultural Heritage Protection Center, as well as discussions with prominent Chinese government strategists and U.S. diplomats, and visits to famous historical sites. These include hiking on the Great Wall, strolling through the last of the hutongs or old alleyways, and visiting architectural relics such as Forbidden City and the old Summer Palace. This field trip is intended to go beyond tourism and its goals are both educational and cultural.

Cultural Reimbursement Program
As a means of encouraging students to enrich their study abroad experience in Shanghai, CIEE reimburses students for their participation in local cultural activities, such as Chinese movie screenings, theater performances, traditional music concerts, and visits to local museums and historic sites.

Immersion
Non-Credit Internships and Volunteering
CIEE maintains relationships with a number of organizations and may be able to offer a limited number of non-credit internships and volunteer opportunities for qualified students. Past students taught English at a school for children of migrant laborers, assisted children with cerebral palsy at a rehabilitation center, or interned as copy editors for a local English-language periodical. Although positions are not guaranteed by CIEE, the Shanghai staff assists all students interested in pursuing these opportunities. Some positions may demand more time than is feasible with a full course load. Internships are limited in number.

Peer Language Tutors
Program participants are paired with students from East China Normal University for one-on-one Chinese language tutorials for two hours per week. Most tutors are undergraduate or graduate students who major in teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language.

Chinese Language Clinic
The Chinese Language Director manages an optional language clinic taught by head language instructors designed to assist students who need additional help.

Target Language Meals
CIEE head language teachers plan monthly Chines language-only group meals and other activities for their students, assistant language teachers, peer tutors, and resident staff. Students are required to speak only Chinese.

Cost in US$: Please check the CIEE website for current program pricing.

Experience Required: yes