Location:

Beijing, China; Qingdao, China

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Summer

Program Overview

Program Description:

CLIC is an eight-weeks intensive intermediate Chinese language program geared towards living and interacting in Chinese cultural contexts. The program begins with a pre-departure orientation to be conducted at USF during the preceding spring semester. The in-country program begins with a one-week study tour in Beijing. The Beijing tour is followed by a one-week in-country orientation designed to help students orient themselves to their new physical surroundings and cultural environment. The remainder of the program consists of a five-week intensive training session followed by a one-week study tour that takes students to a range of sites of cultural and historical significance in Shandong Province. The five-weeks of coursework are completed at Ocean University of China in Qingdao, a city renowned for its natural beauty and breathtaking seaside scenery. Past local activities have included traditional performances, tours of the Tsing-tao Brewery, visits to the Qingdao Sculpture Museum, the Qingdao History Museum, the Jimo Road Small Goods Market, the Shilaoren scenic area, Buddhist temples at Mt. Lao, and tours of the Haier and Coca Cola plants.

Through coursework and guided interaction in the local community, the curriculum of the USF intermediate language program provides participants with instruction that leads to the following primary goals:Group Pic 1) develop a more solid foundation in modern Chinese language, 2) gain an understanding of modern Chinese cultural expectations, 3) create opportunities for participants to gain invaluable experience in meaningful intercultural interaction in live contexts, 4) assist participants in reaching a level of comfort in Chinese culture. The USF in China curriculum is designed to take full advantage of the in-country environment and thus addresses aspects of language learning unique to the China specific setting. This set of courses is not designed to replicate coursework that can be offered at USF and should not be substituted for courses that are offered in Tampa. Speaking, listening, social interaction, and culture are the primary targets but practical uses of reading and writing will also be addressed. Our focus is "doing things in Chinese" in live Chinese cultural contexts and the underlying theme of our in-country curriculum is "interacting in Chinese society as an American". Three primary courses form the core of the intermediate program curriculum: CHI 4930: Socializing in China and America (3 credits) CHI 4930: Engaging Chinese Culture (3 credits) CHI 4930: Practical Reading and Writing (2 credits) CHI 1955: Overseas Study in China (1-3 credits, OPTIONAL) These core courses are supplemented by a Language Clinic (see below), a lecture series, and participation in local cultural and social activities. 1) Socializing in China and America (5 days/week, 2 hours, 20 sessions, 40 hours) Team taught in both Chinese and English by Eric Shepherd Socializing in China and American is the core of the USF Learning in the Culture curriculum. It is both an intermediate language course and an introduction to important elements of Chinese behavioral culture and interaction patterns. Participants explore effective strategies for developing circles of friends in both Chinese and American cultures. Proven techniques for establishing, maintaining, and repairing relationships in both cultures are practiced in a performance format. Emphasis is placed on developing appropriate cultural behaviors and language for formal and professional contexts, performing in frequently encountered cultural contexts, and community-oriented tasks. This course, team-taught by native speakers of both English and Chinese, involves Chinese and American participants in a peer-learning model. One hour of each session is taught in English and focuses on American culture while the other hour is taught in Chinese and focuses on Chinese culture. All participants are expected to serve as cultural advisors when dealing with their own native culture. Learning Beijing Opera 2) Engaging Chinese Culture (5 days/week, 1 hour, 20 sessions, 20 hours) Team taught in English and Chinese by USF and OUC faculty Engaging Chinese Culture is an intermediate language course designed to equip students to engage in Chinese discourses about Chinese culture. Coursework revolves around four primary themes, each of which serves as the framework for a week of the program: 1) Achievement Culture, 2) Popular Culture, 3) Folk Culture, and 4) Customs and Etiquette. Issues important to and frequently talked about by Chinese people will be dealt with. Participants are coached in how to participate more effectively in on-going discourses about aspects of Chinese culture, an understanding of which are important to successful interaction with Chinese people. Upon completion of this course participants should be able to engage in informed discussions about China. Significant emphasis is placed on first coaching participants about one particular element of Chinese culture and then practical engagement with that element outside the classroom. Two sessions each week (Monday and Wednesday) are lectures in English about various issues related to modern and contemporary Chinese culture. Two sessions each week (Tuesday and Thursday) are conducted in Chinese and are structured coaching sessions on how to deal with the issues introduced in the lecture portion of the course effectively in Chinese. Emphasis during these sessions is on useful vocabulary and structures as well as cultural knowledge about appropriate ways to discuss the given issue. The fifth session each week (typically conducted on Saturdays but subject to times of local activities) is an activity related to the week's theme such as a talk by an expert in the relevant field, a visit to a local cultural or historical site of significance, a local cultural performance, and/or meeting with local professionals. Local Qingdao activities include traditional performances, tours of the Tsing-tao Brewery, visits to the Qingdao Sculpture Museum, the Qingdao History Museum, the Jimo Road Small Goods Market, the S

Please contact program coordinator for more information.

Setting Description:

Location Because every place in China is at least a bilingual environment (some version of Mandarin and at least one local dialect), students also need to be trained in the process of adapting to different variations of Mandarin. Thus, our program will be located outside of Beijing or Shanghai, which abound with large foreign enclaves and significant numbers of English language speakers. The Program will be located in Qingdao, a rapidly growing port city on the southern coast of China's Shandong Province, on the Yellow Sea midway between Beijing and Shanghai. mistyseasideQingdao has seen explosive but sustained economic growth and commercial development over the twenty-five year period since China began its Reform and Opening Up policies. Since 1992 when the city was given provincial level status in terms of economic planning and funding, Qingdao has been transformed into one of north China's most important economic, shipping and trade hubs. The city's GDP nearly doubled from 62 bi

Cost:

Estimated Program Fees for 2013: $4,985 Included: Pre-departure orientation and On-site orientation programs; Double occupancy accommodations (shared with Chinese student); texts and materials; 9 USF academic credits; Welcome and closing dinner; Food and transportation for 1-week study tour in Shandong province; Emergency Health Insurance, and USF Study abroad T-shirt. The following items are not included in the Program Cost listed above: Passport fees International airfare ($1,000