Academic Focus
This program is designed for students who are dedicated to acquiring and developing Chinese language skills, as well as getting to know Chinese culture. Classes are taught entirely in Chinese and are available to students of various language levels, from beginner to advanced. At the beginning level, the language course will focus primarily on developing listening comprehension, conversation, and grammar skills. Intermediate and advanced level courses will also integrate work on students’ reading and writing skills. Language courses at all levels meet daily. In addition to your language course, you will further develop your language skills and understanding of Chinese culture through weekly cultural activities, many of which will involve Chinese native speakers.
The 4-week summer language studies course meets for 80 hours* and is generally worth 5 credits in the US semester system. However, it is up to the discretion of your academic advisor how much credit will be awarded.
*NOTE: In the Chinese educational system, each lesson meets for 40 minutes which is considered the equivalent of a 50-minute lesson in the US. Therefore, each 40-minute lesson is considered one credit hour in the calculation of total contact hours.
Schedule Summary
Your Chinese language course will meet 2 ½ hours a day from 8:40 to 11:50am, Monday through Friday.
Course Registration
Registration will take place on the Friday preceding your official program start date. On that day, you will also take a placement exam. You will then be placed in classes with other students, American as well as international, of your own language level. The university offers Chinese language courses at three levels: beginning, intermediate and advanced but may break students who fall in between two of these levels into separate groups. In order to ensure that you receive credit for the level that you place into, it is in your best interest to have courses at several levels approved by your academic advisor prior to departure.
