The CET Chinese Studies & Service-Learning in Beijing program arranges
service-learning
placements and community service opportunities for interested students.
Students have several options-- they can take a service-learning course
taught by a faculty, do community service work on
their own, or work with the
Resident Director to develop a volunteering plan. Students who
choose to take advantage of this part of the program frequently tell us
that volunteering was the most meaningful part of their experience
abroad. Service-Learning Placement Examples
Find homes for animals living in a shelter
Educate the community about AIDS and HIV issues through a local NGO
Work with children at an orphanage
Teach children basketball or performing arts at an after-school program
Help in developing micro-finance programs to stimulate development
Assist a cultural preservation organization
Protect the environment working with local NGO
Social Problems and Service-Learning Course China's rapid economic development over the past three decades has also produced a number of social problems. The care and rights of a growing elderly population, those with disabilities, the education of migrant children, HIV/AIDS, and the environment are just a few of the challenges facing modern-day China. The Social Problems and Service-Learning course enables students to engage with these and other issues while using their Mandarin skills outside the classroom. Along with fieldtrips to various organizations working on these challenges, students are able to contribute to solving some of China's most pressing social problems.
The Social Problems and Service-Learning course includes an in-class component, a group service project and field trips.
In-class: Class meets once a week to discuss specific social issues, providing an overview of the political and economic processes that spurred the most rapid ascent out of poverty in world history, while also accelerating urban/rural inequality and novel forms of social exclusion.
Field trips: This portion of class consists of field trips to organizations working on various issues including migrant children, HIV/AIDS, the elderly, and/or mental health issues.
Group service-learning project: There are service-learning group projects determined each semester. These may include teaching English at a migrant school or center for the elderly on a regular basis, as well as one-time events such as beautifying a nearby nature reserve or volunteering labor for an environmental festival. The particular service-learning project or projects as well as field trips are determined on a semester-by-semester case. Interested students are encouraged to contact CET for more details.
