Chinese: Xi’an, China


Location: Xi’an, China
Dates of program: June 3 - August 4, 2012
Hosting institution: The Alliance for Global Education at Shaanxi Normal University
Language offered: Mandarin Chinese
Levels offered: Intermediate and advanced

Program Structure

The CLS Program in Xi’an, China provides an intensive 8-week language learning environment set in an epicenter of Chinese history and traditional culture. Students in the ancient imperial capital receive a minimum of 20 hours per week of classroom instruction. Participants also practice Chinese a few hours each week with peer tutors, Chinese students who act as study partners. As peer tutors are recruited from among the Shaanxi Normal University student body, many of these conversation partners are future teachers. The CLS program in Xi’an incorporates a language pledge that requires scholarship recipients to speak only Chinese during all program activities and with all staff.

The CLS Xi’an group visits an ethnically Tibetan area
near Xiahe in Gansu province.

CLS participants in Xi’an live on campus in dorm rooms they share with Chinese roommates. Living with local students provides another opportunity to use Chinese language skills outside of class. Living with a Chinese native-speaker also provides CLS students with cultural learning opportunities and insights into day-to-day life in Xi’an.

On weekends, students in Xi’an participate in a variety of cultural excursions to explore the rich culture and history of their host city, once known as Chang’an. Students also participate in co-curricular activities during the week that help them to learn about Chinese culture and customs while using their target language. During the summer 2011 program, CLS students in Xi’an chose between classes in Calligraphy or Tai Chi.

Outcomes

In 2010, the CLS Program adopted the Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) as an additional measure of the effectiveness and quality of the institutes overseas. Before the program, students take a diagnostic OPI test; at the end of their 8-week course of study, they take an ACTFL-certified post-program OPI assessment. The scores on these tests give students a concrete, widely-recognized measure of their speaking skills in Mandarin Chinese.

CLS students tossing water balloons with children at a
local NGO that works with homeless youth.

Student Activities

Students in Xi’an this past summer went on a service learning excursion to Baoji Xinxing Street Kids Aid, a non-profit organization that helps children without homes. CLS students participated in a day of fun and games with the children at Baoji Xinxing including a water balloon toss, a foot race, Mahjong, and origami folding, among others. You can see two photos from the excursions here.

Alumni Highlights

CLS was pleased to add Xi’an as a new program site for summer 2011. Click here to read about the current CLS Alumni Ambassador for China, Emily Brandt.

Program Highlights

View videos, read highlights, and more on the CLS Blog!

Alumni Ambassadors



Nicole Baden, '10 (Beijing)	Emily Brandt, '11 (Shanghai)	Tim Ditter, ’10 (Shanghai)