FAQ
- How many students will be in the program?
- We expect to have an international group of 20-30 students, ranging from rising freshman to graduating seniors, with around the same number of boys and girls.
- Do I have to speak Chinese?
- No. Ability to speak Chinese is not a pre-requisite.
- How are classes arranged?
- We have a variety of class styles depending on the material being studied. When important information needs to be presented to all of the students, such as in the Core Courses we will use a lecture. For most of the Elective Courses, students will be divided into two or three seminar groups with ample time for questions and discussions and asking questions. Many of the classes involve investigative learning with students interviewing people and studying sites beyond the campus.The Arts Appreciation Workshops are also divided into two or three sections. These workshops are interactive so that students can experience these traditional arts hands-on rather than just hearing about them.
The Mandarin Tutorials will be held in small groups with only two to four students per group based on a student’s background in the language. We will have tutorials ranging from beginners’ to advanced Mandarin.
- What kinds of sports activities are available for students?
- East China Normal University has a wide variety of sports facilities available for student use: courts for basketball, volleyball, tennis, badminton, and table tennis. A large grass area directly in front of the dormitory accommodates pick-up games.
- What kind of food will be served?
- Most breakfasts and lunches will be held in the dormitory dining hall while dinners will be consumed in a variety of restaurants near campus. The food served will usually be pre-ordered so as to accommodate the preferences and special dietary restrictions of participants.Breakfast in the dining hall is served buffet style and usually consists of Chinese steamed buns, vegetables, toast, eggs, rice porridge, orange juice, milk, and breakfast cereals.
Since meals are served Chinese style with ten people or so seated at a table, there is a wide variety of choices, usually around ten different dishes. These dishes might typically include steamed rice, fried rice, vegetables, pork, beef, poultry, tofu, dumplings, or noodles. Additionally, we will sample foods from the different regions of China. By the end of the four weeks, expect to have your interest in and enjoyment of Chinese food expanded.
- I’m a vegetarian. What food will be available?
- Lots of vegetables! If you like tofu, you will have even wider choices. Shanghainese cuisine is known, amongst other things, for its preparation of fresh vegetables. We will ask you before you come to Shanghai what your dietary restrictions and favorites are. We will take those into account when pre-ordering meals.
- Will I have a roommate?
- Yes, each student will share a double-room with another student or have a single room attached to a suite shared with three other students.
- Do I have to participate in a homestay in Hangzhou? How are host families chosen?
- No, the two-night homestay at the home of a high school student in Hangzhou is optional. However, most students would consider it one of the most significant and interesting part of their four weeks at the program. Host students come from top high schools in Hangzhou. Homes selected are comfortable with air-conditioning and modern amenities.
- How safe is the program?
- Crime rates in China are low. East China Normal University is a walled campus with three guarded gates. Students, Teaching Assistants, and supervisors live in a hotel facility on campus with 24-hour security.Although the environment is a safe one, we are especially concerned about student safety. Students may not leave the campus alone, and are required to carry cell phones when they are off campus. Trips into the city are chaperoned by a Teaching Assistant during the first two weeks of the program. In the last two weeks, subject to prior approval of the administrator-on-duty, students may take trips in groups of three or more on their own.
If a student need medical attention, he or she will have full access to the East China Normal University campus clinic and local hospitals. We have also made arrangements for students to be seen by Western-trained doctors at the Shanghai Parkway Health Clinic if necessary.
- Can students get high school credit for the program?
- The granting of high school credit is always up to the particular student’s high school. We will be happy to supply a full list of the courses and subject matters each student has studied to his or her school. Often having participation in the program listed on a student’s transcript can be helpful in his or her college admission process. Check with the college guidance counselor at your school.
- How can students get an application form?
- Application Forms are available only by download from our website. Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis. The deadline for submitting an application is March 31, 2011. Late applications beyond the deadline may be accepted on a case by case basis.
- How can students check the status of their application?
- Students and parents will receive an acknowledgement of receipt by e-mail once we receive the full set of application materials. Admissions decisions are generally made within two weeks thereafter. Students and parents can inquire about the status of their application at any time via info@chinaprograms.org. Our Admissions Office will respond to your e-mail within two working days.
- How does the financial aid application process work?
- Students wishing to apply for financial aid should make sure that their parents or guardians complete the financial aid application forms and submit all required documentation to us by January 15, 2011 for early admissions and March 15, 2011 for regular admissions. The granting of financial aid is discretionary and is primarily based on our assessment as to the student’s need. Because aid resources are limited, we make every effort to enable as many outstanding students as possible to attend the program, but we may not be able to grant aid to every student who applies or to award as much aid to individual students as we would like.
- Do the starting and ending dates of the program include time for travel?
- No. The published dates July 15 to August 11 are the dates you will arrive in and depart from Shanghai. If you are traveling from the US or Europe, you will depart one day earlier, July 14, in order to arrive in Shanghai on July 15. If you are traveling from Asia, you will depart on the same day as you arrive in Shanghai. On your return trip, you will arrive on the same day as your departure from Shanghai.
- How is travel to and from China arranged?
- We arrange for students to travel in groups from a few hub cities including New York and London. Please contact our Admissions Office to obtain a quote after you enroll with the program. Students can, of course, make their own independent arrangement to travel to and from Shanghai.
- Can I arrive earlier or leave later than the program dates?
- For students who would like to use the group ticket arrangement but who need a different arrival or departure date, there is a deviation surcharge of US$200 or £100. All other arrangements for early arrivals or late departures from China are the responsibility of the participants. Rooms at East China Normal University will only be available on the first day of the program and must be vacated on the last day, unless the student is participating in a Mandarin extension program.
- Can I stay with relatives during the program?
- The program is designed as a boarding experience in which all participants share. Individual students may not stay with relatives during the four-week program. Of course, students may visit relatives in Shanghai or spend time with family or friends visiting Shanghai during their free time.
- Does the program fee include cancellation insurance?
- The program fee does not include cancellation insurance. Students and parents who feel such a need should purchase their own cancellation insurance. Please refer to our Terms & Conditions for details regarding our cancellation policy.
- What about final travel arrangements, visas, what to take, what not to take, and other questions about actually going to China this summer?
- You will need to obtain a VISA to travel to China. After you have been accepted to the program and officially enrolled, you will receive information packets containing further information on the above questions. We are also available by e-mail, skype, and phone to answer your questions and to help make this one of the best experiences of your life.
