Multiple Locations: Chinese Language and Culture (Summer 1) (Closed)

Beijing, China

Program website not available Type:   |  Minimum GPA:
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Dates
  • Summer 1 Semester - May 6 – June 12, 2013

Application Deadline
  • Summer 1 Semester - Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and program may fill at any time. Final deadline – January 24.

Description

Information Session: October 30. 415SH, at 6:00pm – 7:15pm.

Faculty: Prof. Hua Dong, (h.dong@neu.edu)

Study Abroad Coordinator: Daisy Biddle (d.biddle@neu.edu)

Term: Summer I

Courses: LANG 1990 Chinese Language Immersion (multiple levels) &  CLTR4944 Dialogue of Civilizations: Globalization, Humanities and Culture

Program Description: 

Now in its sixth summer, the language-intensive China Dialogue based in Nanjing offers students a chance to improve their Mandarin proficiency in the best possible way – by speaking it in China. You will not only use it to find your way around some of the most famous landmarks in the world – the Great Wall and Forbidden City, for example – but in daily interactions with local residents while you live and study Chinese at Nanjing University. Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to use the language you learn in a workplace setting – maybe a magazine editorial office or relief agency headquarters – while you take part in a Chinese internship program related to your specific major. You will also be able to witness first-hand how China’s, environment, culture, economy and politics in both urban and rural areas are being affected by its progress; you will speak with students, businesspeople, activists, workers and artists about their jobs, lives, and perspectives on the issues facing China and its relationship with the world today; all this while putting the Chinese you learn in the classroom to good use. Best of all, because of the small class sizes, local language partners and always-available evening tutors, this program is open to students of all majors and levels of language proficiency.

The program looks like this:

-        We arrive in Beijing, the last imperial capital and the site of the 2008 Summer Olympics, filled with landmarks both ancient and modern. In the five days of our stay in Beijing, we will explore the city and experience its unique culture, speaking with various NGOs about the issues of rural migrant workers in the city and cultural preservation in the face of ever-increasing urbanization.

-        We then move south to Nanjing, ancient imperial capital, site of the Nanking Massacre, and now at the forefront of China’s transition toward global power. Here we will settle into student life at Nanjing University, one of the country’s premier Sino-Anglo exchange institutions. While in Nanjing, each student will stay with a Chinese family for a week. Besides daily 4-hour language classes, we will hold dialogues with speakers from the media, expatriate community, professional firms and peer college students.  In the final weeks of our stay, students will participate in internships/job shadow around the city for a total of 30-40 hours.

-        After the midterm exam, we will take a long weekend retreat to Anhui, and stay in a rural village with well-preserved historic architecture and culture in Anhui. It is also the home of the China House in the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts.

-        After the final exam, we will relocate to Shanghai, the host city of the 2010 World Expo. Here, at the pinnacle of China’s economic progress. During the four days, we will visit landmarks and multinational corporations, meet with business people, government officials, entrepreneurs, architects and artists to get a feel for what the future of the city and indeed the country might look like, and to expand the network for your future career as well.  We will also meet with the hosts of ChinesePod.com, a wonderful resource for Chinese learners.

Because you will be completely immersed in Chinese language and culture, this Dialogue is not for the faint of heart. However, the results are among the best of any Chinese program offered at Northeastern; former students will tell you that the experience is easily worth the hard work. You can’t understand China without learning Chinese, and you can’t learn Chinese without understanding China. This program is a fast-track to both. We look forward to receiving your application. For more information, check out the daily blogs by the students from the past years (http://neuinchina.blogspot.com [2010], http://neuinchina2011.blogspot.com [2011]), and http://neuinchina2012.blogspot.com [2012]), or contact Prof. Hua Dong, h.dong@neu.edu.

Courses
  • LANG 1990 Chinese Language Immersion (multiple levels)
  • CLTR4944 Dialogue of Civilizations: Globalization, Humanities and Culture

Host University

Nanjing University is one of oldest and top five universities in China. Its Institute of International Students, founded in 1955, has received more than 18,000 international students from over 70 countries. Its present enrollment is around 1,700. Besides a large team of well-qualified faculties in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (TCFL), the institute also has the master and doctoral programs in TCFL. 

Eligibility Requirements

One semester of prior Chinese language study. GPA 2.75 and above, have completed two academic semesters at NU, and be in good standing

Application Procedure
    • Online Dialogue of Civilizations application (available on OISP website)
    • Unofficial transcript which you can download and print from MyNEU
    • One copy of passport ID page – To be given directly to your faculty leader after acceptance.
    • 2-3 page essay answering the following questions:
    1. What are your personal and academic reasons for wishing to participate in this Dialogue of Civilizations program?
    2. How will the program further your academic and career goals?
    3. What is your previous travel and language experience, if any?
    4. What courses have you taken which are directly relevant to the program?

    **Faculty may require additional information and/or interview (after application deadline)

    **Please note that after prior to 11/15/12 your unofficial transcript and essay should be handed in to OISP.  After 11/15/12, please send them directly to your faculty leader

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Cost

Tuition: $9,830

DOC Fee:$ $2,500

Tuition and DOC Fee cover 8 Northeastern credits, round-trip airfare from Boston, housing for program duration, International SOS assistance, as well as some local transport, excursions and group meals.

Accommodations

Standard double rooms in hotels and well-operated student dorms. Students will be staying at hotels in Beijing and Shanghai, and in a campus dormitory for most of the time at Nanjing University, plus a week stay with host families.

Destination

The program will be based in Nanjing, a historic city with long and influential history as the capital of six dynasties, the early Ming dynasty (1368-1421) and the Republic of China (1928-1949). We will also visit Beijing, the political center of the country and one rural village with well-preserved historic architecture and culture in Anhui, and the home of the China House in the Peabody Essex Museum. The trip will end in Shanghai, the host of the 2010 World Expo and hub of growing Chinese capitalist-market economic reforms.