CIEE Advanced Chinese Studies 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: Students on the Advanced Chinese Studies program will develop advanced communicative skills in Mandarin Chinese through small classes, tutors, and language clinics; understand contemporary economic and political issues affecting China and China as a rising power in the world today; and apply skills learned in the classroom to better understand China through a highly individualized program. This program is appropriate for students who want to work professionally in China or in a China-related career following their undergraduate studies.

Academic Program
Established in 1998, the CIEE Study Center in Shanghai is located at East China Normal University, which is centrally located and close to Shanghai's large commercial areas. The program is designed to provide participants with a deeper understanding of China as it emerges to take a leading role in the global economy and a more influential role in world affairs. Students hone their language skills while deepening their cultural, historical, and political understanding of China.

Language classes, language electives, and related language clinics and tutoring sessions are taught in Mandarin Chinese. Elective and core courses are taught in both English and Chinese by native and fluent non-native spearkers. Students who have completed exactly four semesters of Chinese language coursework may elect to take the accelerated language course in order to focus on rapid language acquisition. Students above this level do not have this option.

There are multiple course options specifically designed for business majors or minors on this program, including Business Chinese and the opportunity to take part in an organizational internship. The curriculum is flexible to encourage business majors to increase their proficiency in Chinese while taking couthat can transfer credit to their major.

Academic Culture
Core courses taught in Chinese typically meet twice per week for two hours, while electives taught in English typically meet once per week for three hours. Certain courses may include required site visits in Shanghai, typically arranged on Fridays. Students attend required language classes for two hours per day, four afternoons per week, typically Monday though Thursday unless they choose the accelerated course option. These language courses are offered at eight levels. Students taking the accelerated language course attend required language classes for four hours per day, four mornings and afternoons per week.

Class sizes are very small and require active student participation. Most language classes have between four and eight students. Area studies electives 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 where assistant language instructors to focus on developing students' listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills of formal Chinese language. Students learn to develop extended discourse on concrete topics and deal with abstract, professional, or specialized topics, and defend opinion. Students are encouraged to participate actively and to speak only in Chinese whenever possible.

Highlights:

• Intensive Mandarin language program; accelerated language course option; peer language tutors; target language activities; language clinic.
  
• Courses in business, international relations, and film in Chinese; English language courses in business, international relations, Chinese history and culture; core courses to enhance Chinese proficiency in a professional context.
  
• Weeklong excursion to the Silk Road; cultural activities such as visits to an acrobatics show and river cruise; cultural reimbursement program; volunteering

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 optional weeklong field trip to Xi'an, one of China's ancient capitals and most important historical cities, takes students to surrounding rural areas in nearby Liquan County and to Mt. Hua, one of the Five Imperial Mountains of ancient China. The field trip may include rural fieldwork, moderate farm work and hiking, as well as visits to rural schools, businesses, or government offices. Students complete pre-departure readings, attend on-site lectures and discussions, and complete ethnographic fieldwork or interview assignments during the field trip. Alternatively, students have the option to design their own independent field trip within China. Students participating in an internship for credit may also elect to remain in Shanghai instead of participating in this field trip.

Cultural Reimbursement Program
As a means of encouraging students to enrich their study abroad experience, 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 assists in organizing internships for credit. Although positions are not guaranteed by CIEE, the Shanghai staff assists all students interested in pursuing an internship. These opportunities vary in time commitment and skills required and are only available on a part-time basis and not for pay. Students may also secure their own internships in advance, keeping in mind that the internship must fit into their academic schedule.

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.

Chinese Area Studies Workshop and Tutorials
Workshops and individual tutorials assist students enrolled in area studies courses taught in Chinese. These workshops are coordinated by the Academic Director and led by graduate students from related programs at ECNU.

Target Language Meals
To encourage students to utilize their Chinese in an informal setting, CIEE head language teachers plan monthly Chinese 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