intensive chinese language + culture

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By Term

• Fall 2014
• Spring 2014
• Spring 2015
• Academic year 2014-2015

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Program Overview

Looking for a rigorous, language learning experience that pushes you to explore beyond the classroom? You’ll find it in Nanjing!

The CIEE Intensive Chinese Language and Culture study abroad program is designed to help you improve your Mandarin proficiency and cross-cultural competency through coursework and community interaction and engagement. With small class sizes, homestays, group excursions, and weekly sessions with peer tutors, CIEE study abroad in Nanjing gives you access to a full immersive cultural experience.

Study abroad in Nanjing and you will:

• Improve your Mandarin through intensive language training in small classes, a peer tutor program, and living with a Chinese roommate or host family
• Learn about contemporary China through a core course and work on a social research project conducted in English
• Explore Southwest China in the spring and Northwest China in the fall on week-long field trips
• Visit historic monuments and temples in Nanjing and Shanghai in the fall or Beijing in the spring on weekend field trips
• Get to know different people and places in Eastern China by exploring Jiangsu Province by bus or taking a bullet train to Shanghai for the weekend

The CIEE Difference

Coursework

With intensive language classes for intermediate to advanced speakers, area studies courses, and elective options encompassing a wide range of subjects, you can build a study abroad program the suits your interests and abilities. Study economics, foreign policy, Chinese history, literature, or film—all in Chinese. Or pursue a particular topic of interest through an independent research project.

Excursions

Visit the Great Wall and Bund, see Terra Cotta Warriors, and learn about giant pandas habitats and Sichuanese teahouse culture and history. Weekend and week-long excursions to locations including Beijing and Shanghai, Yunnan and the Gansu Province provide exposure to the linguistic, cultural, and culinary diversity within China.

Cultural Immersions

Use sessions with peer language tutors and local graduate students, bi-monthly group meals, and community service activities to improve your Chinese speaking, comprehension, and pronunciation, while gaining insight into the culture.

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.

• Tuition and housing
• Pre-departure advising and optional on-site airport meet and greet
• Full-time program leadership and support
• Field trips and cultural activities
• CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits

Please note, program dates are subject to change. Please contact your CIEE Study Abroad Advisor before purchasing airfare. Click the button to view more detailed information about dates and fees as well as estimated additional costs. Please talk with your University Study Abroad Advisor about additional fees that may be charged by your home institution when participating in a program abroad.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Fall 2014

04/01/2014

TBA

TBA

$13,850

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$11,285

Housing ***

$1,950

Insurance

$102

Visa Fees

$213

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

*** includes breakfast and dinner during the week and most weekends for homestay students

Estimated Additional Costs

Meals not included in program fee *

$1,200

International Airfare **

$1,650

Local Transportation

$150

Books & Supplies

$75

Personal expenses

$2,000

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* for students staying in dormitories; students placed in homestays should budget $400 for weekday lunches and some weekend meals

** round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

Spring 2014 (16 wks)

11/01/2013

02/20/2014

06/15/2014

$13,850

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$11,285

Housing ***

$1,950

Insurance

$102

Visa Fees

$213

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

*** includes breakfast and dinner during the week and most weekends for homestay students

Estimated Additional Costs

Meals not included in program fee *

$1,200

International Airfare **

$1,650

Local Transportation

$150

Books & Supplies

$75

Personal expenses

$2,000

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* for students staying in dormitories; students placed in homestays should budget $400 for weekday lunches and some weekend meals

** round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

Spring 2015

11/01/2014

TBA

TBA

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

Estimated Additional Costs

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

Academic year 2014-2015

04/01/2014

TBA

TBA

$26,300

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$21,785

Housing ***

$3,900

Insurance

$102

Visa Fees

$213

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

*** includes breakfast and dinner during the week and most weekends for homestay students

Estimated Additional Costs

Meals not included in program fee *

$2,400

International Airfare **

$1,650

Local Transportation

$300

Books & Supplies

$125

Personal expenses

$4,000

Expenses during break ***

$900

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* for students staying in dormitories; students placed in homestays should budget $400 for weekday lunches and some weekend meals

** round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

*** academic year students are responsible for meals during the semester break

Eligibility

• Overall GPA 2.75
• 2 semesters of college-level Mandarin Chinese or equivalent*
• 1 college-level Chinese area studies course recommended

*Advanced High level language students with at least five semesters of college-level Mandarin Chinese take Chinese electives with other international students and Superior level language students take elective courses with local Chinese students directly through the host university. Students with near-native proficiency in Mandarin should contact CIEE prior to submitting their application.

Recommended Credit

Total recommended credit for the semester is 15 semester/22.5 quarter hours and 30 semester/45 quarter hours for the academic year.

The area studies course is 45 contact hours and recommended credit is 3 semester/4.5 quarter hours. Required language courses are 120 contact hours and recommended credit is 6 semester/9 quarter hours per course. Contact hours and credits for host university courses are noted in the course listing.

Program Requirements

A full course load is three courses per semester. All study abroad students are required to take readings in Chinese, spoken Chinese, and the CIEE area studies course, contemporary Chinese studies. In addition, students may also take the Seminar on Living and Learning. The language courses are offered at intermediate, advanced intermediate, and advanced levels, equivalent to third, fourth, and fifth semester Chinese in the U.S. During the spring semester, academic year students are required to continue with each of the language courses.

Students who test above the advanced level take coursework at Nanjing University’s Institute for International Students or courses at Nanjing University for Chinese students, and the CIEE area studies course. Academic year students who complete the first area studies course in the fall semester may finish the area studies series in the spring or elect directed independent research instead.

About The City

Nanjing is regarded as one of China’s most important commercial centers, as well as one of the safest and most livable cities in China. Just an hour from Shanghai by high-speed train, Nanjing prides itself on maintaining the atmosphere of a traditional Chinese city, with its classical temples and 600-year-old city wall, while being a base for hundreds of multinational corporations and many Fortune 500 companies. Literally named “Southern Capital,” Nanjing was the seat of power for Imperial China in the Six Dynasties and is remembered as one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China. With more than 40 colleges and universities and over 600,000 college students in the city, there are more students as a percent of population than any other city in China, making Nanjing a uniquely student-friendly environment.

Meet The Staff

Fu Yanfei

Dr. Fu Yanfei completed her Ph.D. from the University of Arizona in Educational Psychology. She holds an M.A. degree from Syracuse University in Sociolinguistics and an M.A. from Nanjing University in World History. She also completed the graduate certificate program in American Studies at the Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies.

Dr. Fu has served as a Program Director of the Early Start program offering UCLA college courses to outstanding Chinese high school students at the prestigious Jinling High School in Nanjing. She previously served as Associate Program Director and Chinese Language Coordinator for another U.S. study abroad program in Nanjing operated in collaboration with the University of Arizona. She has also worked in the non-profit sector as the Program Officer for the Education Division of the Amity Foundation in Nanjing. Dr. Fu has taught multiple levels of Chinese language to American college students in Nanjing and at Syracuse University.

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I wish to welcome you to Nanjing, a city of tree-lined boulevards, beautiful lake parks, and endless cultural and outdoor activities. As one of the ancient capitals of China and a modern, developed provincial capital, Nanjing offers you a unique opportunity to simultaneously experience the rapid development of China and its rich history.

A city of over 8 million people, Nanjing is more accessible than many other metropolitan cities in China. The CIEE Study Center is conveniently located in the center of town on the campus of Nanjing University. Students can find parks, lakes, historical monuments, and cuisine from around the world minutes away from their residence hall. While Nanjing has a significant population of international students and many amazing historical sites, the city does not feel “touristy.” It is the perfect place for you to practice Chinese with the locals and learn about China, both old and new. I am very excited to join you in that experience.

— Fu Yanfei, Resident Director

“”

Jiang Jun

Program Assistant

Ms. Jiang Jun is Program Assistant for the CIEE Study Center in Nanjing. Originally from the city of Nanjing, she holds an M.A. from Beijing Foreign Studies University in translation between Chinese and English, and B.A. degrees from Capital Normal University in English language and literature and Spanish language and literature. She has been working with CIEE since summer, 2012. Prior to joining CIEE, Ms. Jiang taught Chinese at the Confucius Institute of the University of Piura in Peru, and she once served as the interpreter and assistant to the Secretary General of the Olympic Games Committee of Zambia. She is fluent in English and Spanish.

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Where You'll Study

Founded in 1902, Nanjing University is one of the most prestigious universities in China, and is best known for its liberal arts and social science disciplines. It has established academic cooperation with more than 200 universities and research institutes in some 70 countries. The beautiful campus is centrally located in downtown Nanjing, and has over 43,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The local neighborhood features shops and restaurants from both Asia and the West. The city’s two main shopping districts are within walking distance.

Housing & Meals

Housing is included in the study abroad program fee, and students may live in a Nanjing University dormitory with a Chinese roommate or in a homestay.

Students live in Nanjing University’s international student dormitory, Zeng Xianzi, in a double room with one Chinese roommate studying in either the Chinese Department, Institute for International Students, or other social science departments of Nanjing University. Chinese roommates are also CIEE peer tutors. Each room contains a bathroom and closets. The 12-story Zeng Xianzi building also houses the CIEE Study Center language and area studies classrooms and administrative and faculty offices. Additional facilities include a library, laundry facilities, small kitchen, basketball court, and outdoor track. Private accommodations outside of CIEE housing may not be arranged. Meals are not included in the dormitory option and are the responsibility of the student.

Depending on availability, the travel distance to Zeng Xianzi from the host families varies. Most host families are located within 30 minutes of campus by bus or bike. The families provide breakfast and dinner on weekdays and most weekends. Students should expect to buy their lunch on weekdays, but may be asked to eat lunch with their host families on weekends. A homestay orientation is offered to students prior to moving in with the families.

Housing between the fall and spring semesters is included in the academic year fee. Students may be moved from their original accommodations into a single or twin room with another foreign student. Students remaining in China between semesters may choose to travel during this period to enhance their language fluency and cultural understanding.

Orientations

Online Pre-Departure Orientation

You'll begin your study abroad experience in (location) even before leaving home by participating in a CIEE online pre-departure orientation. Meeting with students online, the resident director shares information about the program and site, highlighting issues that alumni have said are important, and giving you time to ask questions. The online orientation allows you to connect with others in the group, reflect on what you want to get out of the program, and learn what others in the group would like to accomplish. CIEE’s aim for the pre-departure orientation is simple—to help you understand more about the program, and identify your objectives so that you arrive well-informed and return home having made significant progress towards your goals.

On-Site Orientation

A mandatory three-day orientation session, conducted at Nanjing University at the beginning of the program, will introduce you to the city, culture, and academic program, and provide practical information about living in Nanjing. A language placement exam also takes place during the orientation period. A weekend field trip and other group activities are scheduled to enhance group dynamics and introduce you to China through experiential learning.

Resources for Ongoing Orientation

The Resources for Ongoing Orientation (ROO) program offers you a chance to dig deeper into the intercultural dimension of your experience in China. During ROO meetings, you will be both challenged and supported as you discuss U.S. and Chinese cultural values and norms, reflect on your daily experiences living and studying in China, and develop broad intercultural frameworks and skills—all under the guidance of a cultural mentor who has extensive experience with both cultures. ROO will meet approximately eight times over the first half of the semester. Ongoing support is provided by CIEE staff on an individual and group basis throughout the program.

Internet

You are encouraged to bring a wireless-enabled laptop. Internet access will be available in each of the student dormitory rooms and host families homes. Wireless Internet access is also available at the CIEE Study Center and Internet cafés located nearby.

Culture

Cultural Activities and Day Trips

Six day trips that focus on topics covered in the language and area studies courses are integrated into the academic curriculum. These local field trips and cultural activities include visits to a school for migrant workers’ children, a job fair for college students, the southern old city, Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, Ming Tombs, Purple Mountain, Xuanwu Lake, Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall, and Presidential Palace, as well as various neighborhoods, temples, and historical sites around Nanjing.

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

Weekend Field Trips

In the spring semester the study abroad program includes a weekend trip to Beijing. You will have a debriefing at the U.S. Embassy and visit the Great Wall, Tian’anmen Square, and the Forbidden City.

In the fall semester the program includes a weekend trip to Shanghai. Students will visit the Bund and City Planning Museum, and attend lectures on the economic development of China.

Week-long Field Trips

In the spring semester the program includes a week-long field trip to Sichuan or Yunnan Province to provide students exposure to the linguistic, cultural, and culinary diversity within China. In Sichuan, you might learn about the habitats of giant pandas and Sichuanese teahouse culture and history. In Yunnan, you might explore the Naxi ethnic minority culture of Lijiang, legendary for their living pictographic language; and in Shangri-La you are likely to discover beautiful natural scenery and learn about local Tibetan culture. You will also attend lectures on such topics as urban history, biodiversity, and ethnic minorities.

In the fall semester the study abroad program includes a week-long field trip to Xi’an, the western terminus of the Silk Road in Shanxi Province and Gansu Province, the corridor between Inner Mongolia and Tibet that connected China to the ancient Western world. In Xi’an you will visit the Terra Cotta Warriors, Great Goose Pagoda, and the Muslim quarter. In Gansu Province, you'll learn about this fascinating region that is home to large populations of Hui (Muslim) Chinese and Turkic peoples, explore important destinations along the ancient Silk Road such as Dunhuang, which is famed for its grottos painted with ancient Buddhist murals, or visit thriving Tibetan monasteries in Xiahe in Gansu province. You will also attend lectures on history and ethnic minority culture at local institutions such as Lanzhou University.

Immersion

Peer Language Tutors

You'll be paired with Nanjing University students for weekly one-on-one Chinese language tutorials for a total of two hours per week, with more hours available upon request. These tutorials will provide you extra conversation practice in Mandarin. Peer language tutors also help with homework assignments and social research projects, and will give you an opportunity to experience the lifestyle of your Chinese peers.

Individual Pronunciation Correction

You will also meet with graduate students majoring in teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages to work on pronunciation for a minimum of 30 minutes each week, with more hours available upon request. Graduate tutors will help you with tones, and provide systemic feedback for pronunciation using Chinese lessons covered in language classes each week.

Target Language Meals

To encourage you to use Chinese in an informal setting, CIEE plans bi-monthly group meals for students to engage with their language teachers, Chinese peer tutors, and roommates. Students attending the optional meals are required to speak only Chinese.

Community Involvement

You will be introduced to local NGOs, where you can engage in volunteer activities. You might work with an environmental protection group, a local HIV/AIDS organization, or teach English in an elementary school for migrant workers’ children. These activities will give you the opportunity to become more involved in local life and understand contemporary China in depth and with broader perspective.

Language

CIEE Community Language Commitment

You will part in the CIEE Community Language Commitment by speaking Chinese from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. during all workdays (except in emergencies, during area studies classes, individual academic advising, and some orientation activities). This fosters a learning community that contributes to both Chinese language proficiency and understanding of Chinese society.

CIEE Chinese Language Advisory Committee

The CIEE Chinese Language Advisory Committee (CCLAC) is comprised of specialists in the field of teaching Chinese as a second language and serves to promote the highest standards of education at the CIEE Study Centers in Greater China. Specifically, the committee advises CIEE administrators and language instructors on curriculum issues such as learning goals and objectives, instructional innovations, assessment of proficiency gains, program evaluation, and course articulation.

Academics

Established in 1982, the CIEE Study Center at Nanjing University focuses on helping students develop third through fifth semester Mandarin Chinese communication skills and providing opportunities for exploring contemporary Chinese society and culture. The program offers an integrated curriculum that links the language classes, an area studies course on contemporary China, day trips in and around Nanjing, and week-long field trips to neighboring provinces. There are three-day weekend trips, a week-long mid-semester independent travel break and, for academic year students, a two-month winter break. All of these provide valuable opportunities to explore China, reinforce classroom learning, and provide natural settings in which to speak Chinese on a regular basis.

Study abroad students with advanced writing and speaking skills, as determined by an on-site placement test, and academic year participants who complete the advanced level language course in the fall semester, may be able to enroll in special language coursework at Nanjing University’s Institute for International Students. This includes courses in history, international relations, economics, and literature taught in Mandarin.

Students with superior level, or near native proficiency in Mandarin, whose language ability exceeds even the most advanced elective courses offered by the Institute for International Students, may enroll directly with local students in Nanjing University courses.

Academic Culture

Students attend morning language classes Monday through Thursday, between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. The language classes are small, consisting of six to 10 students, so students are encouraged to participate actively. Students also meet with graduate student tutors individually for pronunciation correction and coaching for a minimum of 30 minutes weekly.

The required CIEE area studies course usually take places in the afternoon, two times a week, and is taught in English. Instruction combines lectures, class discussions, fieldwork, presentations, observation papers, and group or individual projects. The optional Seminar on Living and Learning in Nanjing takes place in the evening once weekly and is taught in English. Instruction is highly interactive and includes group and small group work and discussions.

Chinese language electives offered through the Institute for International Students meet once or twice per week for two to three hours, depending on the number of credits. Most electives offered through other departments at Nanjing University, for local Chinese students, meet once weekly for three hours.

Nature of Classes

Study abroad participants take required language classes and the area studies course with other CIEE students only. Students with advanced high or superior level Chinese language skills take courses offered by Nanjing University’s Institute for International Students with other international students, or with local Chinese students in other departments.

Grading System

The area studies course is graded based on observation papers, presentations, and a final project, as well as participation and attendance. Language courses are graded on participation, class performance, daily homework, quizzes, and a mid-term and final exam.

Language of Instruction

English
Mandarin Chinese

Faculty

All Chinese language courses are taught by faculty from the Institute for International Students at Nanjing University who specialize in teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages.

The area studies courses are taught by Dr. Colette Plum. She received her doctorate in East Asian History from Stanford University in 2006. She has taught American students in the U.S. and China for 15 years. Currently, she is working on a book manuscript about children and orphans during China’s war with Japan.

The Seminar on Living and Learning is taught by Dr. Jason Patent. He received his Ph.D. and M.A. in Chinese linguistics from University of California, Berkeley, and M.A. in East Asian Studies from Stanford University and an A.B. in East Asian Studies, Magna Cum Laude, from Harvard University. He has worked as a professional intercultural consultant and was the Inaugural Director of the Stanford Bing Overseas Studies Program in Beijing. He currently serves as the American Co-Director of the Hopkins-Nanjing Center for Chinese and American Studies.

Textbooks and Teaching Materials

To learn about the textbooks and teaching materials being used in CIEE programs in China and Taiwan, visit www.ciee.org/chinatextbooks.

Learn more about the CIEE Greater China Initiative for Study Abroad at www.ciee.org/studychina.

Course Description

Program Blog

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