Location:

Beijing, China

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Summer

Program Overview

Program Description:

BICC’s annual summer camp is open to students from the age of 12. The program has been carefully designed to offer the perfect balance of education, culture and entertainment. The program offers Mandarin Chinese language tuition along with cultural activities and excursions, and provides an ideal environment for the hassle-free exploration of Beijing. Student gets 2-5 college credits based on the score of their final exam.

Students will attend four language classes each day. These classes aim to educate each student in the fundamental skills of any language: speaking, listening, reading and writing. The language classes offered on this program are taught by professional Chinese teachers who are experienced in teaching Chinese to foreign students at primary and secondary school level. They also have experience in teaching adults Chinese. Additionally, every BICC teacher has completed a bachelor degree. Our Chinese teachers also all speak English, in order to explain grammar structures and new vocabulary to beginners. When a student becomes more proficient in the language it is of course beneficial to be taught in Chinese, however here at BICC we believe that it is vital for complete beginners to be able to ask their teachers questions in English. Our teaching materials have been carefully selected to offer each student the best learning experience possible. We use a lot of audio-materials and interactive activities in the class, in order to keep the students interested. The teaching style is motivational, fast-paced and friendly, and we find that students learn Chinese rapidly, whilst enjoying themselves and making friends with their classmates at the same time. Our textbooks are usually printed by Beijing Language and Culture University and Beijing University. Each student will undertake a language test at the end of the course in order to highlight the progress they have made on the Summer Camp. They will also receive a certificate congratulating them on all of their hard work. The four daily language classes are accompanied by two cultural classes, where students are educated in many aspects of Chinese culture, and given the chance to take part in cultural activities such as making Chinese dumplings. Full descriptions of the cultural activities included in the summer camp are listed in the following section of this document. There are also language exchange opportunities scheduled into the program, where each BICC student will have the chance to meet local students at social events. They are then able to practice their Chinese with native Chinese speakers of their own age. This is an excellent opportunity for students to make Chinese friends which will enable them to continue practicing their Chinese once the Summer Camp has ended. Our language exchange is organised with English First, a group of students learning English in Beijing. Therefore if students do not feel comfortable speaking only in Chinese, their partner will most definitely know a few English words to help the conversation along!

Setting Description:

The BICC Summer Camp is hosted at the Gengdan Institute University Campus, in the North of Beijing. The classrooms, dining areas and accommodation facilities are all brand-new and in perfect condition. All transport for planned events is arranged for the students in advance, and there is a regular shuttle bus from the campus to the centre of the city if you wish to explore in your free time. The campus has extensive sports facilities, as well as a Supermarket, Café and Library. Accommodation The student accommodation is at the Gengdan Institute. All accommodation is brand new and 2013 will be the first year that it has been open to students. You will share a studio apartment with 2-3 students of your age. Each apartment is fully equipped with all modern appliances, a kitchenette, a balcony, a bathroom and bedrooms. Every apartment is fully air-conditioned. The studio apartment building has a library/common room area on each floor for students to study and socialise during their free

Cost:

This year’s BICC Summer Camp will be held from 25th June to 21st July 2013. Students can either take part for the whole four weeks or for two weeks from the 9th July to the 21st July. The price for 1 month is 9,900RMB ($1600USD) This price includes all accommodation, all transport to and from organised trips, and all meals listed in the itinerary. The cost excludes: airfare, laundry services, Visa fee and additional food or shopping that the student wishes to purchase during their stay. In orde