Study Abroad

The National Aquatics Centre of , known Capitalizing on China as 'The Water Cube,' here photographed under construction, is sure to be an exciting competition venue for the 2008 Olympic Christine Tsai scours the districts of China’s capital for Games. The recently completed National Mandarin immersion programs to suit all tastes Theatre of China in Beijing is seen at left.

Beijing Beijing, the capital of the People’s , Beijing is full of historical taught Republic of China, is located in the northeast gems. more than part of central China. It is not only the center With the approach of the 2008 Olympic 28,000 peo- of China’s politics, culture and economy, but games, the face of Beijing is changing nearly ple, learning also the site of dynasties in Chinese history. everyday as the city prepares for guests from 15 languages in Also known as “Peking” which literally means, all over the world with renovations and new over 75 cities world- “northern capital,” Beijing is home to nearly 15 construction throughout the city. Visitors and wide. In Beijing, each campus teaches group million people. students are also getting excited as the 2008 classes daily for four hours. These programs The city is divided into various districts, Olympic games in Beijing provide another are designed for total immersion. AmeriSpan each with its own unique characteristics and great reason to learn the Mandarin language. encourages students to stay with a host fami- attractions. The center of the city is surround- ly so that students have the opportunity to ed by ring roads which become progressively understand daily life for locals as well as to larger as one moves further away from the Chaoyang practice the language during provided meals. city. One can estimate the distance of a resi- Beijing Taipei Language Institute, with dence or business from the city’s center by Located in the northeast section of head offices in Taiwan, now has locations in the ring and district that it is located in. Beijing, Chaoyang District is home to many China and . The school also has a sec- While Beijing is a rapidly growing city in foreign embassies. It is also the location of ond location in Beijing in the Dongcheng terms of business and economy, making it a Sanlitun Bar Street where visitors can sample District. While group courses can be fierce competitor against other modern cities the nightlife of Beijing along with other foreign- arranged, the Beijing Taipei Language Institute around the world, it is still able to maintain its ers and young locals. specializes in offering one-on-one classes to ancient culture and history. The sites to visit AmeriSpan Beijing has locations provide students with a comfortable setting to are never-ending, from the Great Wall of throughout Beijing, including the Chaoyang speaking, listening, and writing Chinese. China to Square and the District. Over the years, AmeriSpan has Because of the many foreign embassies in the 38 www.languagemagazine.com April 2008 Study Abroad

surrounding area, Beijing Taipei Language Flex Language program offers rolling start students must take the HSK in order to qualify Institute is the school of choice for many new dates to accommodate the schedule of any to pursue a Master or Doctorate degree in a diplomats. language learner. The school provides assis- Chinese university. The Chaoyang District is also home to tance with accommodation, insurance, HSK Easyou International Cultural Chinese Horizon, situated across from preparation, and 24-hour student support. Exchange Center, near the Beijing Worker’s Gymnasium, a multi-purpose The International College for Chinese Subway Station, offers a variety of language stadium which serves as a venue for lots of Language Studies at the Communication programs. With locations in Beijing and sporting events. Chinese Horizon offers vari- University of China provides in-depth study Shanghai, this school offers private lessons ous programs, including an of the Chinese language. Faculty members and group lessons that last anywhere from immersion program for adults and children possess degrees in foreign Chinese, Chinese two to 11 weeks. Each day, lessons are com- over six, where participants are provided linguistics, literature or broadcasting and have bined with group activities and excursions. housing with a local family. The school also been granted a Foreign Chinese Teaching For those who want to do a little more travel- offers an online Chinese course which allows Qualification Certificate by the National Office ing than the general programs offer, students the student to choose to study on their own for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language. can arrange for group study tours where les- or to have teacher support. Chinese Horizon’s Chinese language courses provided are of sons are combined with traveling to different Mandarin training is a unique blend of class- varying levels made to accommodate any stu- areas in China. The school also offers special room teaching and interactive online self- dent. Optional courses include Chinese courses in Chinese painting, Guqin (a tradi- learning. Pronunciation-Correction, Reading Chinese tional Chinese instrument) and Wushu, also With locations in Chaoyang and Shunyi, Poetry, Chinese Characters, Commercial known as Kungfu. The school will arrange Chinese Language Education offers small Chinese, Journalism Chinese, and Chinese accommodations for the student with a host group, private, online and custom corporate Idioms and Phrases. The school also provides family, in a shared studio or apartment, or in a programs for , Business courses in Chinese culture, folk-customs, and hotel or hostel, depending on the student’s Chinese, and Chinese Culture. Semester and calligraphy. Furthermore, the school offers needs. Easyou International Cultural year-long programs incorporate seminar courses to help students prepare for the HSK, Exchange Center prides itself on its full-time series, real-life language tasks, trips and which is a national standard exam which tests support that they provide to students. social events that are fun and also introduce the Chinese language proficiency of students’ With locations in Beijing and Shanghai, important aspects of Chinese culture. The whose native language is not Chinese. Usually Mandarin House is a member of the April 2008 www.languagemagazine.com 39 Study Abroad

International Association of Language Centers their studies. The Chinese study program (IALC) and accredited by the Ministry of consists of intensive Chinese language Education and Research in Sweden. instruction, individual tutorials, optional culture Mandarin House offers general Chinese pro- classes and field excursions in and around grams in group settings, private settings, or a Beijing. The school also offers an internship combination of both. Programs are available program where participants can intern with for adults and children as well as working pro- companies in Beijing, Shanghai or Xiamen to fessionals. Social activities let students dis- practice their Chinese and build their cover Chinese culture in all its facets - from resumes. There is also a study-tour program cooking classes to martial arts sessions and available where students take a break in the visiting old lanes to walking the Great Wall. middle of their studies, ranging from nine to 14 days, to visit various cities in China while learning more about Chinese culture. Haidian District LanguBridge Education Centre has Chinese programs based in both Beijing and Sometimes referred to as the “University Shanghai, which are hosted at university cam- District,” the Haidian District is where most of puses. The Beijing centre is hosted at Beijing Beijing’s universities are located so it is full of Jiaotong University in the Haidian District. young college students and foreigners. LanguBridge offers summer immersion pro- Located northwest of Beijing’s city center, the grams that are open to high school and uni- Haidian District is not only known for its abun- versity students. Each session, which lasts dance of universities, but also for the Summer four weeks, combines lessons, tutoring and Palace, which is where language exchanges. LanguBridge will offer a would spend her weekends and holidays to special Olympic session this year, where pro- get away from the busy city. Named as a gram themes will be developed around the UNESCO World Heritage site in 1998, the games, to enable students to learn Chinese offers historic architecture as through watching the games and participating Located west of the Forbidden City, the well as beautiful breathtaking landscapes. in Olympic-related events. Xicheng District is situated within the second Beijing Language and Culture Sino Language Gateway, which partners Ring Road close to the city’s center. In the University is an accredited Chinese university with various universities in China, including Xicheng District, there are a variety of interest- that specializes in teaching Mandarin Chinese and Beijing Language & ing sites, such as the Beijing and Beihai language and culture to foreign students. With Culture University, offers a variety of pro- Park. It is also home to the bar area, more than 10,000 foreign students per year grams, including Chinese Summer Camp, where lively cafes, restaurants and bars sur- from more than 100 different countries, BLCU Advanced Chinese, youth volunteers and spe- round the scenic Houhai Lake. has carried an excellent reputation for provid- cial Olympic programs. While most programs While it has its head offices and most ing effective and intensive language training to set the minimum age for study-abroad pro- classrooms in the Xicheng District, the their students. Students have easy access to grams to be high school students, Sino Hutong School, has also recently opened a any learning materials that they might need Language Gateway also has programs for new center in the Dashanzi art district within since BLCU produces most of the texts and children under 10. Sino Language Gateway’s the Chaoyang District. The school offers two learning materials that are used. Chinese language study programs include main programs, an internship program and an The International Culture Exchange opportunities for interaction with local intensive Chinese program. The internship Center at the Beijing University of Posts teenagers, trips to some of the city’s most program consists of a placement at one of and Telecommunications offers a variety of well-known attractions, well-equipped rooms the school’s partner companies, two hours of programs that would suit any language learn- in the universities and bilingual counselors that Chinese language instruction per day, accom- er looking for more than just classes to enrich are always available. modation in an apartment in the center of the city, organization of weekly cultural activities and business lectures as well as practical assistance during the student’s stay in Beijing. The intensive Chinese language program offers the same as the internship program, but instead of a work placement, students receive four hours of instruction per day. Wherever you choose to study in Beijing, you will be engulfed by the city’s energy and enthusiasm, and are sure to have an experi- ence you will never forget. 40 www.languagemagazine.com April 2008