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Harvard Summer Program in Beijing, China

At a Glance

Dates:

June 14–August 14, 2010

Application deadline:

February 5

Cost:

$5,250

Accommodations:

Dorms

Slideshow

Contact

  • Harvard Summer Study Abroad Office, e-mail

Harvard College students can attend the study abroad fair to learn more about this program.

Modern Chinese language immersion in China’s cultural and political center

Faculty: Yu Feng and additional faculty to be announced

“I would suggest this program to anyone interested as second to none.”

– Beijing Summer School student

Beijing, the cultural and political center of China, is a 3,000-year-old city that has been the national capital for most of the past 600 years. While maintaining its deep historical roots, Beijing is quickly becoming a modern city and an important center for international business. Among the historical riches students may experience are the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Lamaist Temple Yonghegong, ancient teahouses, and Beijing opera theaters. This program provides students with full linguistic and cultural immersion.

The Harvard Summer Program in Beijing, also called Harvard-Beijing Academy (HBA), gives Chinese language students the opportunity to explore this richly historic city while participating in intensive language instruction. The program offers 4 intensive courses in modern Chinese at the intermediate and advanced levels, as well as a 1-week social study project. The language training is embedded in the Chinese setting, with speakers from many sectors of Chinese society joining the participants to discuss their lives.

On a typical weekday, students have 4 hours of class in the morning (2 hours of instruction and 2 hours of drills) and a 45-minute 1-on-1 conversation session with one of the teachers in the afternoon. The rest of the afternoon is left open for study and extracurricular activities in Chinese. There is a quiz every Friday morning and a weekly faculty-student luncheon where students can get to know the teachers and practice Chinese in a relaxed social setting. Teachers hold office hours in the evenings.

On the weekends, there are performances, trips, and lectures by guest speakers from various strata of Chinese society (for example, private business owners, workers, peasants, and scholars). Students may also spend time on weekends with host families to experience the daily lives and customs of Chinese families. Weekend excursions to historic sites outside Beijing—such as Chengde Summer Palace, Longqing Valley, and the Ming Tombs—will broaden their perspectives on Chinese culture. This school/society nexus gives the program its unique participatory flavor, with language instruction continually related to its Beijing setting.

In addition, students are encouraged to take lessons in Chinese arts, such as taiji, martial arts, calligraphy, cooking, or music. One special event is a speech contest among American students in all of the Beijing summer Chinese language programs.

“The teachers were all very enthusiastic and dedicated. I’ll miss them when I leave!”

– Beijing Summer School student

Who should apply

Open to students from all colleges and countries, the program is designed for native English speakers who are intermediate or advanced students of Chinese. Heritage learners whose spoken language skills are stronger than their ability to read and write are also encouraged to apply. With a 2-to-1 student–teacher ratio, the program can meet the needs of each student.

The Chinese-only pledge

Students must speak only Chinese during the entire program (with exceptions for emergencies and phone calls with friends and family). Every student signs a pledge agreeing to this commitment. The Chinese-only pledge is considered valuable and critical in learning the language and developing fluency. Students are penalized if they violate the pledge, not only because it impairs their ability to learn, but also because it affects the learning atmosphere for other students. Experience shows that students who make friends with local Chinese people and keep their use of English to an absolute minimum—by limiting phone calls, e-mail, and reading in English—invariably show the greatest progress during the program.

“I really enjoyed HBA, especially the week of social study because it really allowed students to be immersed in the culture and not just the language of China.”

– Beijing Summer School student

Social study project

Students spend the fifth week of the program conducting a social study, a field study in a location of their choice (such as a factory, village, or school) on some aspect of Chinese society. In this practical extension of the classroom experience, students are integrated into Chinese society. They write a report in Chinese about their social study and develop the report into a paper for an academic conference. The best social study essays are published in the program journal China’s Issues in Chinese Prose.

Some students travel as far as Shanghai or Mongolia for their social study projects, while others stay in Beijing and visit businesses or work at daycare centers. Students may organize their own social study or choose from the organized programs:

Course of study

Students enroll in 1 of the 4 courses listed below. They are placed in a course commensurate with their level of fluency, which is assessed based on their written and oral application materials and a placement test taken after they arrive in Beijing. Because all language progress is relative and student strengths vary, every effort is made to ensure the best placement.

The textbooks, written by faculty of the program, use both traditional and simplified characters, and students are encouraged to learn both. Those who know only traditional characters generally learn to recognize simplified characters quickly. Every student has a language partner.

Prerequisites for all courses: Harvard College students must take the Harvard Chinese placement test and receive an assignment of intermediate-level Chinese (120a) or higher. Taking a Chinese language course before the program increases a student’s chances of being accepted. Students from other colleges must have 1 year of college-level Chinese or the equivalent.

CHIN S-120 Study Abroad in China: Intermediate Modern Chinese (31796)

(8 credits: UN, GR) Limited enrollment

In this second-year course, students develop their conversational and narrative skills using carefully selected vocabulary and grammar. The textbook is based on authentic conversation, moving gradually from casual to formal styles. The text covers the most important communicative skills needed by American students studying in China and provides a deeper understanding of cultural and intellectual differences between US and Chinese societies. The text for this course is When in China. This course assumes that students know approximately 600 common Chinese characters.

CHIN S-130 Study Abroad in China: Advanced Modern Chinese (31797)

(8 credits: UN, GR) Limited enrollment

In this third-year course, students study contemporary China and develop their speaking and writing skills by constructing new compounds, using idiomatic expressions, and mastering formal and informal styles. The curriculum is designed to further improve listening and reading abilities through texts geared specifically to the understanding of Chinese media. The texts for this course are Understanding the People and the World, An Introduction to Chinese Films and Television, and An Introduction to Chinese News Broadcasts.

CHIN S-140 Study Abroad in China: Advanced Readings in Modern Chinese (31803)

(8 credits: UN, GR) Limited enrollment

In this fourth-year course, students read authentic articles, novels, and newspapers emphasizing social and cultural issues in contemporary America and China. Through the extensive readings, students learn speed-reading strategies, rhythmic writing rules, and stylistic transformations (casual and formal). Students also write compositions and papers, do formal presentations, and participate in classroom discussions to develop a solid foundation in the 4 skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—in formal Chinese. The text for this course is On the Present and Past.

CHIN S-150 Study Abroad in China: Advanced Writing in Modern Chinese (31799)

(8 credits: UN, GR) Limited enrollment

This fifth-year course enables students to speak and write formally, preparing them for future research and engagement in all fields where Chinese is used professionally. Students read academic articles from different genres and classical stories from different periods compiled in the textbook. They also write compositions and papers, do formal presentations, and participate in classroom discussions. Students learn a complete set of written grammar, including formal vocabularies (about 300 monosyllabic and 300 disyllabic words), formal sentence patterns (about 200), and rhythmic rules that govern sentences as well as words. The text for this course is Writing and Truth.

“This program was great! It is the strictest and most intense language program in Beijing. This is what I asked for, this is what I paid for, this is what I got. Thank you!”

– Beijing Summer School student

Course credit

See Study Abroad Credit Information.

Faculty

Yu Feng, Associate Professor and Director of Chinese Language Program, Brandeis University

Additional faculty to be announced.

Application

Students must be at least 18 years old, have completed at least 1 year of college or be a first-year student, and be in good academic standing to apply.

The application materials, outlined below, are due February 5:

Supplementary materials and transcripts should be addressed as follows:

Matilda West
Study Abroad Coordinator
Harvard Summer School
51 Brattle Street
Room 525
Cambridge, MA 02138 USA

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Because obtaining proper visas for travel to China may be a lengthy process, students should apply to the program early to avoid delays. See the visa information below.

Students will be notified of admission decisions on a rolling basis.

Notice to all applicants and accepted students

Due to the lengthy nature of this program, it is likely to overlap with other potential commitments. Please note, absence from class for a day or during the weekends will not be permitted for any reason. This has been the tradition of our program since its founding, and we apologize for any inconvenience it may cause.

Our primary reasons for having such a strict policy are as follows:

  1. Each day of class at the HBA program is the equivalent of 1 week of class in a standard university-level Chinese course. Consequently, missing even a single day of class from the program is incredibly detrimental to a student’s course of study. Similarly, we lack the resources and faculty to make up coursework with students after class for any reason other than serious illness.
  2. At HBA, we encourage a sense of collective morale amongst the students. To have a student leave for a period is damaging not only to their personal study experience, but also to that of all their classmates. Similarly, if we were to grant an exception for 1 student, it would be unjust to deny such exceptions to others regardless of circumstances.
  3. Our policies regarding travel during the program are also grounded in our concern for our students’ safety. Travel, regardless of whether it is domestic or international, is often fraught with a number of unforeseeable problems ranging from airline delays to visa problems that may result in students missing their required classes, or also potentially finding themselves in more dire circumstances.

We have adopted a strict policy of required class attendance and no international travel during the program. We thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Cost

The cost of the program is $5,250 and a nonrefundable $50 application fee. This covers the following:

In addition to the program fee, students are responsible for:

Program directors will advise students of likely additional expenses. A sample budget for estimating expenses will be available soon.

A notebook computer, though not required, is strongly recommended. Every student must have an iPod or other MP3 player to listen to the audio recordings that accompany the textbook. Students can also use a computer if it is properly equipped or purchase inexpensive audio equipment in Beijing.

How to pay and funding options

See How to Pay for payment deadlines, deposit amounts, and more information including funding options for Harvard College students.

Obtaining a visa

To attend Harvard-Beijing Academy, students must obtain a 90-day F visa, which is for short-term work or study. Once students have been accepted, the program sends a list of admitted students to BLCU. BLCU issues a form called a JW202 form for each student, which will be mailed to them. This form must be included when submitting the visa application form. See the Chinese embassy’s website for more information on how to apply for a visa. For a fee, some travel agents and visa agents, such as FlyChina or Zierer Visa Service, help visitors attain visas.

Obtaining a visa for travel to China can be a lengthy process, so apply as early as possible.

Accommodations

The host institution, Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU), is located in a high-tech region of the city. Students live in comfortable, modern dorm rooms at the university’s International Conference Center. Everyone has a single room with a private bath, air conditioning, television, and other amenities. The dorm is steps away from the classrooms. All students must stay in BLCU housing.

A cafeteria in the dormitory offers reasonably priced Chinese and foreign food. Many restaurants and shops are within walking distance of the dormitory.

Living in Beijing

As a major cultural and economic center in China, Beijing has a wealth of entertainment options. Movie theaters and shopping districts are abundant. Goods range from cheap to expensive, and stores can be crowded. There are also many fine museums, monuments, and parks in Beijing.

Weather. Beijing can be hot and humid in the summer, with consecutive days in the mid-90s. There are frequent thunderstorms. Most buildings, including the dormitory, are air conditioned.

Public transportation. Beijing’s public transportation system includes buses, subways, and light rail. Fares range from less than 1 yuan to several yuan, depending on the distance traveled. Buses can be crowded, slow, and hot, although a small number of buses are air conditioned. The air-conditioned bus that stops at BLCU goes directly to the Forbidden City. The subway system has a limited number of stops, most of which are in downtown Beijing. The stations and trains are modern and clean. Qinggui, the new light rail system, is fast, clean, and well air conditioned. It connects to the subway system.

Taxis, which start at 10 yuan, are convenient, but traveling by taxi at rush hour in Beijing can be expensive because of heavy traffic.

Students can rent a bicycle near BLCU, but only experienced cyclists should consider this option. Riding a bicycle is a convenient form of transportation in Beijing, but the traffic is chaotic, and cars do not yield to bicycles or pedestrians.

Voltage. The voltage used in China is 220V, while the voltage used in the United States is 110V. Students need to be sure that the adapter for any appliances students bring is 220V compatible. Plugging in an appliance without an adapter can cause a short circuit. If necessary, students can purchase an adapter in Beijing.

Additional information

Contact the Harvard Summer Study Abroad Office at summerabroad@dcemail.harvard.edu.

Students with disabilities should contact the disability services coordinator as soon as possible. See Students with Disabilities for more information.

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