Built upon the success of past programs, the Summer Study in China program is now hosting two different programs this year: an intensive language program in Beijing (SSC–Beijing) and a language immersion and travel program travelling from Beijing to East China (SSC–East China). Students will spend their summers exploring a wide variety of areas in China, continuing their Chinese language studies and investigating the country’s economical, cultural, historical and geological diversity.

Summer Study in China language learning programs are committed to providing students the opportunity to participate in a fully immersive course of study. The primary features of these programs include:

• living with a Chinese host family for the duration of the program;
• a 3:1 student to faculty/staff ratio;
• four weeks of daily intensive language classes;
• cultural workshops, excursions and academic lectures;
• community service, international perspective and leadership training;
• exciting field trips that allow students to experience the variety of China’s cultures;
• a pre-program information session and pre-departure orientation session; and
• post-program student ambassador opportunities.

Non-language learning programs place a greater emphasis on experiential learning. The goals of these programs include:

• giving participants the proper historical context to understand and appreciate varied issues surrounding contemporary Chinese life and culture;
• enabling students to gain an understanding of the social and environmental issues faced daily by ordinary people in China through fieldwork;
• raising students’ sense of social responsibility and awareness through varied community outreach programs;
• traveling within China to widen students’ frame of reference when speaking about the country’s geography, landscapes, and ethnically diverse population; and
• capping program enrollment at 15 students per site, so as to provide the best possible student-staff ration.

Beijing, the capital of China, is the nation’s political, cultural and educational center. The vast majority of whom speak Mandarin as their native language, there is arguably no better place to learn standard Chinese.

Beijing also offers its visitors an interesting array of contrasts. While portions of the city retain characteristics of traditional ways of life, Beijing is also a microcosm for the rapid economic development occurring throughout China. The city is at once both modern and ancient. It is indeed a unique opportunity to live and study in this country’s capital in the 21st century.

SSC-Beijing offers high school students the opportunity to receive intensive language training within an immersed cultural environment. Living for four weeks in the vibrant metropolis of Beijing, students will use their Chinese to communicate in daily life activities, improving both their fluency and pronunciation. Through rigorous small group daily language lessons, it is expected that they will acquire the equivalent of a full academic year of Chinese.

In the process, students will also gain a greater awareness and understanding of cultural differences and diversity.through a number of on-site activities (e.g. tai chi, calligraphy and paper cutting,etc.). On-site activities are accompanied by excursions into the city and an over night field trip to its surrounding areas. These outings afford students the opportunity to use their newly-acquired language skills with native speakers and visit some of the country’s most stunning sites, including the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall and countless temples, gardens and other places of interest.

The homestay component remains crucial to SSC-Beijing’s continued success. Each student will be partnered with a sibling of similar age and gender and will remain with that family for the entirety of his/her time in Beijing. Host families offer yet another set of activities that frequently involve inclusion in family life and insight into the daily lives of ordinary Chinese people in Beijing today. Summer Study students will eat family meals, be taken to restaurants, go to the movies and just “hang out” with their host brothers and sisters.

Program Features:

• living with a Chinese host family for the program’s duration;
• a 3:1 student to faculty/staff ratio;
• four weeks of daily intensive language classes, equivalent to one year of high school’s Chinese study;
• cultural workshops, athletics, community service, excursions
• exciting field trip to Inner Mongolia Plateau that allow students to experience the China’s variety of cultures;
• a pre-program information session and pre-departure orientation session; and
• post-program Student Ambassador opportunities.

Yunnan – located in China’s far southwest – borders the Southeast Asian countries of Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. Its mild climate, abundant hills, snow-capped mountains, vast river systems and lakes contribute to the region’s biological and cultural diversity; it is home to 17,000 species of plants, fully half of China’s bird and mammal species and the greatest number of China’s 55 officially recognized ethnic minority groups.

Yunnan, like the rest of China, has seen rapid development over the past few decades. Mining, manufacturing, increased agricultural production and tourism have all left their marks on the land. In light of these events, many Chinese are looking for ways to develop Yunnan and its local economies in socially and environmentally responsible ways.

This three-week program will endeavor to explore issues relating to one of China’s most pressing concerns: sustainable development. Yunnan’s natural beauty will provide a scenic backdrop for this journey. Students will not only visit some of the world’s most stunning landscapes, but also discover multiple paths forward. Yunnan’s cultural diversity will also provide students a window into the human tapestry that is China.

We will begin our investigation of the region’s cultural, biological and geological diversity in Kunming, the provincial capital. As we make our way to Zhongdian (otherwise known as Shangri La), major stops may include the ancient cities of Dali and Lijiang and the canyon known as Tiger Leaping Gorge. Upon arrival at Zhongdian, we will begin to explore the town and its cultural heritage alongside the Shangri-la Institute for Sustainable Communities, an independent Chinese non-governmental organization. In addition to better understanding the local Tibetan community through a number of short trips and hands-on activities, students will also be introduced to factors affecting the area, indigenous efforts to conserve the environment and ways they can get involved. Before returning home, students will depart for Beijing and spend a few days exploring the capital’s sites, including: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and centuries-old neighborhoods located within the ancient city.

As a non-language learning program, SSC-Southwest will place a greater emphasis on experiential learning. The program’s features include:

• no requirement of Mandarine Chinese proficiency;
• a three-day crash course in Mandarin as part of the program’s in-country orientation in Kunming;
• well structured task-based projects and discussion sessions organized by the program, which will give students a chance to discuss and contextualize their experiences;
• a variety of cultural workshops provided by partner institutes, e.g. tangka painting, dances, etc.;
• academic subject materials covered during the program will be varied and contain, but not be limited to: environmental studies, government, history, anthropology and economics;
• a two-day’s trip in Beijing which will allows students to explore the culture and history of the city;
• a pre-program information session and pre-departure orientation session; and
• post-program Student Ambassador opportunities.

Built upon the success of China Institute’s Summer Study in China (SSC) program, which has brought high school students to Beijing, China every summer to study Chinese language and culture in an immersion environment since 2005, a new program, SSC-East China will be open to all high school-age students to further develope SSC programs and increase the Institute’s impact.

This program will combine a fully language immersion with a series of structured projects, excursions and field trips to different cities. In the first two weeks, students will live with their host families in Beijing, immerse themselves in Chinese language and culture. An intensive Chinese language course is provided everyday, as well as cultural workshops and excursions to Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall, etc. At the end of the second week, students will take a train to Suzhou, a beautiful city with historical gardens and relics. Students will spend a week in Suzhou, exploring the city, attending various kinds of cultural events and workshops, and communicating with local high school students and their families. The third step of the program is Nanjing, where students will not only capture the history and development of the city, but also have a rare opportunity to work with Chinese farmers in East China: cultivating the land, picking tea leaves, and so on. At the end of the fourth week, students will go to Shanghai, the financial center of the country, and will depart from Shanghai to the U.S.

SSC-East China will allow students to explore the country from every aspect, from the North to the South, from the urban areas to the scenic rural destinations, from the past to the present. Through this program students will understand the country’s people, culture and history more deeply than ever possible from a classroom.

Program features:

• living with a Chinese host family during the first two weeks;
• living with a roommate in a dormitory during the last two weeks;
• two weeks of daily intensive language classes, equivalent to one semester of high school Chinese study;
• two weeks of field trips to the southeast of China that allows students to experience China’s variety of cultures;
• a variety of activities including culture workshops, excursions, task-based projects, community service, farm work, etc.;
• academic subject materials covered during the field trip will be varied and contain, but not limited to: history, economics, and enviromental studies;
• a pre-program information session and pre-departure orientation session; and
• post-program Student Ambassador opportunities.

The cost of the program is inclusive of:

• Instruction and material costs
• Room and board with host family (only for SSC-Beijing and SSC-Southeast)
• All lodge and transportation within China
• All cultural workshops, excursions, trips and related expenses scheduled by China Institute during the program
• Pre-departure orientation and packet
• Pick-up/drop off at Beijing Capital Airport on your arrival/departure date

Expenses not included in the fee are international airfare, passport, transportation to and from the point of embarkation and arrival home in the U.S., health care, personal expenses such as telephone, fax, Internet access charges outside the host campus, costs of souvenirs, and additional meals and other activities.

The cost of the program in 2013: $5500

Participants must make a deposit of $1,000 within one week of notification of acceptance. The total program fees, payment schedule, and cancellation policies will be included in the admission packet.

China Institute reserves the right to, cancel any program that fails to garner sufficient enrollment, and raise program fees, with due notice in the case of unforeseen circumstances, such as monetary exchange, rate fluctuations; etc.

China Institute is a non-profit organization and we provide scholarships ranging from full tuition scholarship, half tuition scholarship to partial tuition scholarship, based on students’ financial need.