Intensive Chinese Program in Taiwan at Fu Jen Catholic University

Location

Notre Dame's intensive summer Chinese language program is being offered through the Fu Jen Catholic University,

located six miles from Taipei, the capital of the Republic of China (ROC). Taipei, the political and financial center of the ROC, also known as Taiwan, is the island's most populous city. Taipei originated as a small trading port over two hundred years ago and is now a booming metropolis and one of the world’s leading hubs for business and high technology. The city is an unforgettable mixture of the modern and the traditional. Taipei 101, which was the tallest building in the world until recently, still has the world’s fastest ascending elevator. One of the most cherished collections of Chinese art is housed in Taipei’s National Palace Museum. Fu Jen Catholic University can be reached easily by public transportation from Taipei. Founded in Beijing in 1925, the university currently has 45 departments and offers 42 master’s degree programs and 11 Ph.D. programs. Students participating in the summer program will study at Fu Jen’s Language Center, which was established by Cardinal Paul Yu-pin in 1964.

Program of Study

Students will enroll in two intensive Chinese language courses (at the second-year, third-year, fourth-year, or advanced level) to earn 6 credits and a culture class for 2 credits. The program will run from June 7 to July 30, 2010 for a total of eight weeks in the summer. The Chinese language courses meet for a total of four hours each day, five days a week. Students will therefore receive a total of 160 hours of Chinese language instruction. Class size is small, ranging from 2-12 students per class. The small class size enhances individualized attention to student’s learning needs. Classmates may include other Notre Dame students and Language Center students, who are primarily from Europe and Southeast Asia. The program has an on-site coordinator.

Students will take a placement exam upon returning to Notre Dame, but the program aims to enable students to complete a full-year of language study in eight weeks. Students will receive Notre Dame credit for these courses, which means they will also be calculated into their ND GPA.

Excursions

Regular cultural activities and excursions will be included as part of the program. These activities may include visits to cultural sites, such as temples and museums, as well as demonstrations of Chinese calligraphy. 

Eligibility

Applicants must be full-time students in good standing at the University of Notre Dame and must have completed at least first year Chinese (or its equivalent) by the beginning of the program. Preference, however, is given to students who have completed second year Chinese (or its equivalent). Students should possess exceptional motivation, emotional maturity, and a high aptitude for adapting to new environments. Interested students will apply for the program using the OIS online application, available at http://www.nd.edu/~ois/Apply/Apply.html. The application deadline is February 19, 2010. Students should also expect to participate in an interview as part of the selection process. Selection is competitive. Admitted students will be required to participate in pre-departure orientation sessions.

Housing and Transportation

Students will live in double-occupancy hostels near the Fu Jen campus. There are no cafeterias on campus and hostels do not have kitchens, so students will be responsible for all of their meals. Restaurants and convenience stores are a short walk from the hostels.

Cost

Students selected to participate in the program will pay an administrative fee of $800, their own airfare, meals, books, local transportation, visa fees, and other miscellaneous expenses. Tuition, housing and health insurance will be covered by Notre Dame. Students will receive 8 credit hours.

Students may be eligible for Summer Language Grants Program. Information is available at Summer Language Grants at the University of Notre Dame.

Contact Information

Ms. Hong Zhu, Ed.D.

Assistant Director
Office of International Studies
152 Hurley Building
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN  46556
Telephone:  (574) 631-3229
E-mail:  zhu.6@nd.edu