$ 6885/Trimester About Minds Abroad Minds Abroad is a U.S based organization that conducts programs on both sides of the Pacific: we bring both Asian students to the United States and Western students to Asia. Because of the way our programs engage our participants with local communities, Minds Abroad was recently named a ”Top Ten Best Practices Program” by the Center for Citizen Diplomacy in conjunction with the U.S. State Department. We design programs that inspire participants to understand global issues and our innovative curriculum is both eye opening and transformational. More than simply a study abroad experience or a student tour, Minds Abroad's programs take participants on a deep journey of discovery of local cultures. While focusing on understanding a different culture on a local level, we help participants to understand global issues and become full global citizens. Program Introduction To fully understand China, it should be experienced through insight into its many different sides, its many different faces, most of which are rarely seen by foreign visitors. From modern metropolises filled with neon and skyscrapers, which almost all Western visitors pass through, to dozens of medium-sized cities in the country’s interior where far fewer outsiders visit, to thousands of smaller traditional villages spread out through the vast countryside many of which many have never been seen by Westerners, the opportunities to see China’s many faces and people are plenty. In fact, one of the most fascinating parts of China is the Himalayan Plateau which covers over one third of the country and is home to dozens of isolated and ancient cultures. Many of these places are as far off the “beaten track” as it is possible. The Minds Abroad China Trimester brings students to all of these places. The weekday academic core of our program is based in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province. Yunnan is China’s most diverse province and Lonely Planet’s top choice in the country. As Lonely Planet says, “If you have time for but one province in China, Yunnan should be it.” The program runs for ten months in Yunnan Province, China, and has three sessions (trimesters) in addition to two intersession programs in Vietnam. Over the course of the program students are taken to three provinces and dozens of unique towns and cities. Students do not have to sign up for all three sessions. They may opt to sign up for just one, two or three of the trimesters (each only three months). The Minds Abroad China Trimester Program is a combination of morning Mandarin class, afternoon volunteering, interning or language exchange, and weekend travel or cultural activities. Our morning classes are small, normally consisting of 2-4 students and are taught by experienced Mandarin teachers. For an all-encompassing cultural experience, in addition to the classes, we identify afternoon volunteer and internship opportunities in the student’s chosen field at local NGOs (non-profit organizations) and companies in Kunming. Each weekend students will travel or engage in a cultural activity such as participating in a calligraphy workshop watching a film or documentary screening about China. Program Components Morning Mandarin Class As a part of the Trimester Program, students will attend intensive Mandarin classes from Monday to Friday every morning for three hours and forty five minutes. During certain weeks when students are traveling the classes may be less than five days per week. Our teachers are experienced and certified in teaching Mandarin Chinese to international students. To ensure maximum student-teacher interaction we have small classes that are normally limited to 2-4 students. The classes cater to complete beginners, intermediate, and advanced students. During the first two weeks in August and the last three weeks in May classes will be one and a half hours each day. This shorter schedule is to allow for a unique experiential learning activity. Chinese classes in the program do not include university credit; however students can opt to add university credit for an addition of $1985/trimester. Afternoon Option 1: Volunteer Service Learning in Non-Profit Organizations There is no extra fee for students who opt for this afternoon activity. Throughout the trimester program in Kunming, participants will be involved in various volunteering activities in local non-profit organizations or NGOs. Most, though not all, of our placements involve teaching English to disadvantaged children. We partner with several local NGOs which are devoted to helping children from a variety of disadvantaged backgrounds including homeless children, the children of migrant workers, and children from economically challenged ethnic minority groups. In addition we have many placements in centers helping autistic children. Minds Abroad participants engage with these children through a variety of stimulating activities. In addition to NGOs working with children, students may alternatively choose to be involved in placements pertaining to environmental protection, health care, or community development. For more details on placement options, please e-mail [email protected] to get a list of volunteer placement sites. Afternoon Option 2: Internship in Local Companies There is an added fee of $485 for an intern placement. In Kunming, every weekday afternoon, students will have the option to intern with local companies. We have a number of internship placements available across various areas such as hospitality (hotels), tourism/travel agencies (developing marketing materials for foreign markets), educational administration (working in the front office of private schools and training centers, not primarily teaching), international trade (import and export companies) and media (English language editing positions). Responsibilities of an intern may include translation of documents from Chinese to English (only for advanced students), proofreading documents in English, contacting new overseas customers and overseas market research for Chinese enterprises seeking to expand abroad. For more info on the placement options, please e-mail [email protected] to get a list of placement sites. Afternoon Option 3: Language Exchange Sessions There is no extra fee for students who opt for this afternoon activity. A one-on-one Chinese/English language exchange session with local students can supplement language skills that students acquire in class. There is simply no better way to practice one's listening and speaking skills than by having regular conversations with a native speaker. So Minds Abroad can arrange for language exchange sessions with students and young adults from local schools and communities. Students who choose to participate in our afternoon language exchange sessions will get a personal in-depth understanding of Chinese culture and local customs. But most importantly, having a language partner provides students with a fantastic opportunity to make local friends, who will not only help improve their language skills, but will also ensure that they have a fun time while they are studying abroad. Program Components Evening Cultural Activities During the trip, students can choose to participate in cultural activities to get an in-depth understanding of the ways of life of local people. These activities include going to sites of cultural and historical interest. Students can undertake calligraphy lessons, practice Tai Chi or enjoy bike rides along beautiful lakes. Academic Excursions to Sites of Historic and Cultural Interest As a part of this program, students will visit fast growing metropolises, beautiful Chinese villages and ancient towns which have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We believe this not only gives students a balanced perspective into the rapidly modernizing urban China, but also gives them an understanding of the rural society where the majority of the Chinese still live. Extend Your Program: the Weekly Morning Class and Afternoon Activities Program This program costs $398/week including meals and housing. This optional program is intended for students interested in learning Chinese on their own schedule. Students can continue to participate in this program either before their Trimester Program begins or as soon as they finish the Trimester Program and have the flexibility to decide upon the length of their course. Students can enroll for a minimum Optional Homestay in Kunming of two weeks to an additional month or more. Our Mandarin classes are small in size, normally two to four students per class, to maximize student-teacher interaction. Morning There is an added placement cost of $385 if students wish to stay with a homestay family. classes are complemented with several optional afternoon activities including Students who have been studying Chinese in our trimester program will have a chance to improve their language skills by living with a local volunteering, interning, language exchange or one-on-one tutorial sessions. homestay family. This homestay experience will not only be an excellent opportunity for the students to brush up and practice what they have learned in a classroom setting, but will also help them understand Chinese culture in a real life context. During this period, students will Travel Immersion Together With Chinese peers participate in family activities with their homestay hosts including cooking meals together, visiting relatives, attending festivals, watching movies, For the Chinese National Day holidays in October and Chinese New