CIEE Intensive Chinese Language and Culture Program in Nanjing, China

  China

• All Other Areas in China: 
Nanjing

Term: Academic Year, Fall, Spring 
Dates: Fall 16 weeks: late August-mid-December; Spring 15-17 weeks: after Lunar New Year-mid-June; Academic Year 44 weeks: late August-mid-June

Description: The goals of the Intensive Chinese Language and Culture program are to increase students' language proficiency and cross-cultural competency through close interaction with community life in Nanjing. These goals are achieved through an integrated curriculum of intensive Chinese language training in small classes, a unique area studies course taught in Chinese and English, and an oral interview research project with direct guidance from individual language instructors.

Academic Program
Established in 1982, the CIEE Study Center at Nanjing University focuses on developing Mandarin Chinese communication skills and exploring contemporary Chinese society and culture. The program offers an integrated curriculum that links the language classes, the area studies course on contemporary China, a one-week Chengdu Module, and field trips in and around Nanjing. Three-day weekends, a one week mid-semester independent travel break and, for academic year students, a two-month winter break, all provide valuable opportunities for travel around China reinforcing classroom learning and provides natural settings to speak Chinese on a regular basis.

Students with superior writing and speaking skills may be able to enroll in special language coursework at Nanjing University's Institute for International Students, including courses such as history, international relations, economics, and literature. Students with near native proficiency in Mandarin should be aware that their language ability may exceed even the most advanced courses offered by the Institute for International Students. They may choose to enroll directly in other courses in political science, Chinese literature, history, social science, or other liberal arts departments at Nanjing University.

Academic Culture
Students attend morning language classes Monday through Thursday. The language classes are small, consisting of six to ten students, and students are encouraged to participate actively.

The required CIEE area studies course and the field trips usually take place in the afternoon two or three times a week. The course is divided into three levels, tailored to the students language ability. Each level is composed of a combination of lectures, class discussions, group or individual work on research projects, fieldwork, presentations, reports, and a final paper.

Highlights:

• Intensive language training, small class size, and opportunities to speak Chinese; peer tutor program
  
• Innovative one-week academic module in Sichuan Province including a visit to the Wolong Nature REserve to see Pandas in their natural environment
  
• Opportunity for advanced language students to enroll directly in select courses at Nanjing University for foreign students with superior language skills
  
• Live with Chinese roommates or a local Chinese family

Extracurricular classes in Chinese calligraphy and Taiji are held on weekday afternoons.

Sichuan Module
The program also includes a one-week module in Chengdu. The goal of the Chengdu, Sichuan Province module is to provide students with a unique opportunity to learn about the connections between folk customs, history, religion, traditional medicine, and the environment in a region with a rich cultural heritage and ethnic diversity. Sichuan Province, often referred to as The Heavenly Kingdom, offers students an unparalleled vantage point into the diverse societies, traditional religions, and natural landscapes of western China, against the backdrop of accelerated economic development in the region.

As part of the module, site visits complement lectures by prominent scholars from Sichuan University. Students also visit Wolong Nature Reserve (the National Giant Panda Research Center) and Jiuzhai Gou, with its breathtaking views. In addition to these visits, students visit a typical Sichuanese teahouse, sample traditional Sichuanese cuisine, take part in a martial arts demonstration on Mt. Emei, and have time most evenings to explore Chengdu on their own.

Cultural Reimbursement Program
To encourage students to enrich their study abroad experiences in Nanjing, CIEE reimburses students for their participation in cultural activities such as Chinese film screenings, theater performances, traditional music concerts, and visits to museums and historic places of interest, and martial arts or traditional Chinese musical instrument classes.

Immersion
Peer Language Tutors
Program participants are paired with Nanjing University students for weekly one-on-one Chinese language tutorials. These tutorials provide students with extra conversation practice in Mandarin, help with homework assignments, and afford students an opportunity to see firsthand the lifestyle of their Chinese peers.

Target Language Meals
To encourage students to utilize their Chinese in an informal setting, CIEE plans bimonthly group meals for students with their language teachers, Chinese peer tutors, and roommates. Students attending the optional meals are required to speak only Chinese.

Community Involvement
Participants are introduced to local NGOs where they participate in volunteer activities. Students might work with an environmental protection group, an anti-Aids organization, or teach English in an elementary school for immigrant laborers children. These activities give students the opportunity to be more involved in local life and to understand contemporary China in depth with a broader perspective.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

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

Experience Required: yes