CIEE Business, Language and Culture Program in Shanghai, China

  China

• Shanghai: 
Shanghai

Term: Academic Year, Fall, Spring 
Dates: Fall 15 weeks: late August - early December; Spring 15 weeks: mid-February - late May; Academic Year 38 weeks: late August - late May

Description: The goals of the Business, Language, and Culture program are designed for students with a major or minor in business administration or economics. Students on this program will learn to understand contemporary business issues affecting China and China as a rising power in the business world today; develop functional communicative skills in Mandarin Chinese through small classes, tutors, and language clinics; and apply theories learned in the classroom to understand the local business environment.

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 Business, Language, and Culture program is designed to provide participants with a deeper understanding of China as it emerges to take a leading role in the global market. Students are introduced to the language, the history of China's economic reforms, China's macroeconomic impact on other economies, and the local business practices that shape and mold the economic development of the nation.

Language classes and related language clinics and tutoring sessions are taught in Mandarin Chinese, with business and area studies courses taught in English by native and fluent non-native speakers.

Academic Culture
All core courses and area studies electives are taught in English, typically meet once per week for three hours, and 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, Monday though Thursday. These language courses are offered at eight levels. Students with four semesters or fewer of 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.

Each day head language instructors first 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.

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 electives typically do not exceed a maximum class size of 30 students.

Highlights:

• Business program with courses taught in English in business, economics, international relations and law; non-credit internships; volunteer opportunities.
  
• Comprehensive Mandarin language program, including accelerated language options; Language and Culture Practicum; peer language tutors; language clinic.
  
• Weeklong field trip to Shenzhen and Hong Kong, with visits to companies and lectures given by top Chinese scholars; excursions to local companies, factories, and agencies; and cultural and educational activities

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

Weeklong Field Trip
The weeklong field trip to Shenzhen and Hong Kong is organized in conjunction with the China Business Centre at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The field trip includes site visits to companies in Hong Kong and lectures on business development and industry in China. Lectures may include: The Role of Hong Kong in China's Business Development, Pan-Pearl River and Yangtze River Deltas Regional Development, and Financial Markets in Hong Kong, as well as site visits to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and a company visit to a Hong Kong-based multinational company. Students are expected to complete pre-departure readings, attend classroom lectures, films, and discussions, and conduct assignments during the module.

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
Internship 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.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

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

Experience Required: yes