Program Overview
Program Overview
What’s it like to live and study in China? Come discover for yourself with CIEE High School Abroad.
Spend your evenings chatting with local dorm mates or your host family, learning about their lives in China while practicing your Mandarin. Challenge yourself in class, studying familiar subjects in a whole new language. On the weekends explore your new community and accompany your host family to local markets, restaurants, and shops.
While in Zheng Zhou, you’ll be immersed in a rich history and culture and will discover what it means to be Chinese. You’ll develop an understanding of what it’s like to live in a country that is rapidly becoming a global superpower and gain important life skills you can draw upon in college and beyond.
The CIEE Difference
The CIEE Difference
Academic Program
In China you’ll be placed in the first year of high school (year 10) at a boarding school. Depending upon your placement, classes will either be taught in Chinese or English. Subjects may include Mandarin language, physics, chemistry, geography, history, physical education, and IT.
You’ll likely find that the Chinese learning environment is more intense than what you’re used to back home in the U.S. CIEE understands the challenges associated with studying abroad and will provide all students with 80 hours of group tutoring sessions per semester. These sessions take place during the afternoon, once students have finished their morning classes. If you feel like you need more Chinese language instruction, additional Mandarin lessons are available for an additional fee.
Cultural Immersion
There’s no better way to immerse yourself in another culture than by living with locals. Students have two housing options: they can choose to live with a host family, full-time, or they can choose to live on campus—with classmates—during the week and with a host family on the weekend. Host families provide you will far more than meals and a place to stay, they’ll introduce you to local customs and offer support and guidance in an unfamiliar environment.
Whichever housing option you choose, time spent with a host family affords you the opportunity to build new relationships and develop your language skills outside of the classroom.
Dates, Deadlines & Fees
Dates, Deadlines & Fees
We want to make sure you get the most out of your experience when you study abroad with CIEE, which is why we offer the most inclusions in our fees.
- International airfare between U.S. departure city and China
- Transportation to and from a local Chinese airport
- Transportation between Shanghai and Zheng Zhou
- Placement in a Chinese high school
- Careful selection and screening of a compatible Chinese family
- Room and board with selected host family
- Supervision and support of a local coordinator
- Periodic progress reports
- 80 hours of mandarin Chinese tutoring per semester
- Dormitory deposit and bedding
- School uniforms
- Textbooks and supplies
- Required health check
- Orientation prior to leaving the U.S. and upon arrival in China
- International medical insurance through iNext and 24-hour worldwide travel assistance and support
Application Due
Start Date
End Date
Cost
Academic Year (Aug. - June)
May 15, 2013*
August
June
$15,995
Semester (Aug. - Jan.)
May 15, 2013*
August
January
$11,995
Semester (Feb. - June)
October 15, 2013
February
June
$11,995
*Early applications are due August 30, 2013. Apply early and save $250 off your program fees!
Prices are subject to change and will be locked in for the participant on the day CIEE receives the completed application and program deposit.
Eligibility
Eligibility
At the time of departure, students must:
- Be between the ages of 15 and 18 years old and have completed at least one year of high school
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Demonstrate, through the application process, their flexibility, maturity, adaptability, and readiness to face the challenges of living in a new culture
- No prior Chinese language study is required though it is highly recommended
CIEE Support
CIEE Support
Our receiving organization in China is responsible for your placement and support during your time in country.
This organization is responsible for recruiting, screening, and placing you with your host family and in your local high school. Upon arrival, you’ll be assigned a local coordinator who will provide support and complete supervision throughout your stay in China.
CIEE Orientation
CIEE Orientation
All high school students take part in an online pre-departure orientation that introduces them to aspects of living abroad in their host country and to other high school students studying on the program. The orientation helps students and parents set realistic expectations and goals and understand the support system. CIEE staff will offer advice on adjusting to a new culture and will facilitate a Q&A forum.
When possible, CIEE will make every effort to allow students to travel to their host country on the same flight as each other. For larger groups, a CIEE staff member will most likely travel with the group.
An in-country orientation offers the perfect start to your high school study abroad adventure. For one week in Shanghai, you’ll receive an introduction to local customs and culture—such as learning to make traditional dumplings—get a jump on your mastery of the Chinese language through six to 15 hours of Mandarin class instruction and language exchanges with local students, and participate in exciting cultural activities such as a sight-seeing city tour—all before heading to your school and starting classes. The orientation is conducted in English to help you ease into the experience.
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Program Blog
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