Harbin 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.
In fact, in an environment such as Harbin's, given the unique nature of the CET program, it is not uncommon for CET students to attract the attention of the Chinese media. Several CET Harbin students have been featured in local news articles, such as this one (pdf file), an article from the "Heilongjiang Daily" in the fall of 2006.
"Harbin is a great place to surround yourself with standard Mandarin." - A former CET Harbin student
Campus 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 an international students' dormitory directly across from the campus tennis, basketball and volleyball courts. CET students have discovered that pick-up games are a great way to make friends with Chinese students. While there are over 40,000 Chinese students enrolled at the university, CET students are the only group of American students in long-term residence on campus. The campus also boasts a well-equipped gym facility that CET students are permitted to use during extracurricular gym and taichi classes.
Housing, Meals & Chinese Roommates All students reside in double occupancy dormitory rooms with Chinese roommates and share bathrooms with suite-mates. A student lounge provides space for activities and is equipped with a television and DVD player. A small library within the dorm provides students a quiet place to study. Internet access is available in student dorm rooms as well as in computer labs on campus.
Chinese roommates are HIT students who are accepted into the program after an extensive application process. Harbin alumni continually cite the roommate experience as one of the best facets of the program.
Meals are not included in the program fee. Most students choose to eat breakfast and lunch in the student cafeterias and take advantage of the many inexpensive local eateries surrounding campus for dinner. Some students also choose to cook their own meals in the dormitory kitchen.
"Having a Chinese roommate was no
less an invaluable experience than academic courses...I dare to say that
our casual conversation about everyday lives were more effective in
understanding Chinese society than the editorial of People's Daily."
- Mun Young, Stanford University, a former CET Harbin student.
Orientation All
Harbin students first meet in Beijing for a mandatory orientation
session. This session introduces them to Harbin's academic program and
structure. Students then travel from Beijing to Harbin together by
train. In Harbin, orientation continues with a language placement test,
city and campus tours, Chinese roommate move-in and an opening banquet
that marks the start of the language pledge.
Excursions, Activities and the Immersion Retreat Weekly ativities
are designed to introduce students to the city of Harbin and its
unusual history. Outings might include an introduction to Harbin's
Russian-influenced architecture, a trip to a Korean minority village or
a meal of ethnic minority cuisine.
In addition to
regularly scheduled activities, extracurricular classes are offered
each semester. Recent classes have included Chinese calligraphy,
cooking, Tai Chi, erhu and karaoke.
Finally,
each term the program also organizes one three-day weekend excursion and one
overnight immersion retreat. The immersion retreat takes all students,
teachers and Chinese roommates to the countryside for a weekend of
pragmatic Chinese practice.
1920 N Street, NW, Suite 200 - Washington, DC 20036 - (800) 225-4262 - cet@academic-travel.com
Meals are not included in the program fee. Most students choose to eat breakfast and lunch in the student cafeterias and take advantage of the many inexpensive local eateries surrounding campus for dinner. Some students also choose to cook their own meals in the dormitory kitchen.