6-Week Program
Program Manager: AsstProf Fangyuan Yuan, 410-293-6319
The program consists of six weeks of intensive language instruction, two cultural excursions, and weekend local explorations. The hosting program is the Nankai – UWM (University of Wisconsin-Madison) Summer Chinese Program in Tianjin, the third largest city in China, about 80 miles from Beijing. The participants will take 125 hours of intensive class instruction i ncluding 4.5 hours of classes plus one hour of individual tutoring on each week day. This intensive immersion program, which is equivalent to two semesters' course work at the Academy, enables participants to jump ahead one level in their Chinese courses upon return – for example, from FC301 to FC401. Participants will choose from courses in calligraphy, Taiji, folk dance, or Chinese violin. Participants will go to Beijing and Shanghai for short cultural excursions, visiting the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Pudong Financial District, and well-known museums. They will also participate in local cultural activities outside the class schedule. The program starts on May 23rd and ends on July 5th.
4-Week Program
Program Manager: AsstProf Rui Shen, 410-293-6355
The Chinese LSAP four-week program has a vigorous language learning schedule and a fascinating cultural study tour. Participants spend the first two weeks in Beijing, attending language classes in the morning and putting the language to use in the language practicum in the afternoon. Language partners are assigned to midshipmen to help us get around town as well as to improve our language skills.
In the second half of the program, the participants will study Chinese society from both readings and first-hand experience. The program will travel to four provinces in the heartland of China and visit cities, small towns, and villages. Participants will have opportunities to use the language while experiencing the culture, society, and history of this hugely diverse country. We will also visit cultural heritage sites such as the hometown of Lu Xun; the mausoleum of Sun Yet-sen; and one of the most famous mountains – Lu Shan, where contemporary Chinese political struggle occurred. During the tour, there will be daily discussions of Chinese culture and society. The program starts on May 23rd and ends on June 20th,2009. Prof. Shen will be the escort.