Academic Culture:

Students attend language classes Monday through Friday for a total of twenty hours a week. Individual schedules vary depending on course levels. In China, teachers are accustomed to being treated with the highest respect. Keeping this in mind, students should be prepared to arrive in class on time, dress with care, and not eat while in the classroom. In addition, awareness of the differences between U.S. and Chinese teaching styles is needed. The Chinese educational system is based on a system of tests in which students are expected to memorize characters and long passages; some teachers may be accustomed to teaching in this manner. Depending on the instructor, there may be less discussion involved and more lecturing.

The CIEE semester program ends one month prior to the end of the regular language classes in accordance with the typical U.S. academic calendar so that students may return home for the winter holidays after the fall semester and for the summer break after the spring semester. The academic year program includes two semesters of study. Depending on the date of the Lunar New Year, there is approximately a two-month break before the start of the spring semester during which academic year students may travel around China and other parts of Asia. In the middle of each semester, there is a one-week break during which students may explore other parts of China. Other than these occasions, students should limit travel to nearby destinations on weekends or reserve more extensive travel until after the program has ended.

Curricular Summary:

Total recommended credit for the semester is 15-17 credits and 30-34 credits for the academic year program.

A full course load for the semester varies from 3-5 courses and for the academic year is 6-10 courses. All students must take Spoken Chinese and Readings in Chinese as two required courses. Students are placed at a level commensurate with their individual skills in speaking and reading, based on a language placement exam taken during orientation. Please note that a student's class level does not necessarily correspond with the years the student spent learning Chinese.

In addition to the two required language courses, students take 1-3 elective courses, depending on the level of the Readings course. Each student must take additional courses in Listening in Chinese, Chinese Characters, Newspaper Readings, and/or other electives. One elective area studies course, taught in English, is offered each semester.

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