Harbin Chinese Language

at-a-glance:

This program is for students with at least two years of college Chinese or its equivalent. Harbin's environment offers numerous opportunities to rapidly improve upon high intermediate and advanced language skill and attracts students who are up to the challenge of true immersion into an environment with few English-speaking foreigners. Students abide by a full-time language pledge and explore Harbin, a location chosen for its standard Mandarin, with Chinese roommates. The curriculum, perfect for students with research interests, includes one-on-two drill classes, small group electives and student-designed independent study classes--a student favorite.

academics

Regular (non-research track) students take a total of 20 class hours per week. All students are required to take the one-on-one tutorial and the one-on-two drill. They must also choose two group classes in which enrollment is usually four or five students per class.

Students are also offered an array of small group electives, such as Business Chinese, Chinese Newspaper, Classical Chinese, Composition, Selected Readings in Modern Literature and Conversation. Many of these classes involve outings that enhance in-class material. For example, students in the Chinese Newspaper class might visit a newspaper office and interview journalists. Business Chinese students might attend a panel discussion of local entrepreneurs.

Academic Links:

Online Course Catalogue

Vanderbilt Course Evaluation List

Harbin Institute of Technology

CET Web Site

student life

The program is hosted by the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), one of China's top ten institutions. HIT is located near Harbin's train station and the central Nangang shopping district. The campus has convenient public transportation to all of Harbin's major sites of interest including Sophia Church and Central Street. CET students reside in a foreign students' dormitory directly across from the campus tennis, basketball and volleyball courts.

During recesses and on weekends, students are free to explore popular Harbin landmarks and sites such as St. Sophia Cathedral, Unit 731 Museum, The Siberian Tiger Preserve, GrapeKingdom, Sun Island, and The Temple of Heavenly Bliss.

housing

Students are housed in a centrally located dormitory. Students live with their Chinese roommates in double rooms and share bathrooms with suite-mates. A student lounge provides space for activities and is equipped with a television, VCR and DVD player. A small library provides students a quiet place to study. Full internet access is available in the dorm's computer lab.

Meals are not included in the cost of this program. Most students choose to eat breakfast and lunch in the inexpensive and convenient student cafeterias and dinner off campus at local eateries. Northern Chinese food is known for its heartiness and simplicity, and restaurants in the HIT neighborhood, as well as on campus, offer local fare at inexpensive prices. Muslim and Korean restaurants are also within walking distance of campus. Some students also choose to cook their own meals with their Chinese roommates in CET's kitchen, which is housed in the dormitory.

location

Harbin's history and setting provide an ideal environment for this type of intensive study. Now an industrial center, Harbin was built largely by Russians in the early 20th century. Harbin's architecture reflects that history, and a number of Russian-style buildings still remain. Locals speak Mandarin, not another Chinese dialect, and many proudly claim that Harbin Mandarin is the most standard in China! With its language environment and few western distractions, Harbin offers an ideal location for immersion.

expenses

Program Costs: Semester Costs; Summer Costs

application

CET Application