Program Structure

The CLS Program in Suzhou provides an intensive 8-week language learning environment designed to cover the equivalent of one academic year of university-level Chinese study. Students receive a minimum of 20 hours per week of classroom instruction. Students also participate in a variety of excursions to explore the rich culture and history of their Chinese host city. These excursions offer students the opportunity to practice their language skills and learn more about the local culture. Additionally, students meet with a language partner several hours each week to practice language skills and engage in learning outside the classroom with native speakers. The CLS Program in Suzhou incorporates a language policy that requires scholarship recipients to speak only Chinese during all program activities and with one another and all staff.

The CLS Suzhou Institute is hosted by Soochow University, held on the main campus, Gusu Campus, of the university. The campus grounds have been described as one of China’s most beautiful, in part based on the incorporation of typical features of the classical gardens in Suzhou.

Students live with local host families in Suzhou, who give them an opportunity to experience life in a Chinese family and develop their language skills outside of class. Students typically eat breakfast and dinner with their host families, giving them an opportunity to practice speaking Chinese, to experience home-cooked Chinese food, and to learn more about day-to-day life in Suzhou.

Language Levels Offered:

• Intermediate: Minimum completion of two academic years of college-level Mandarin Chinese, or its equivalent, prior to the start of the program.
• Advanced: Minimum completion of three academic years of college-level Mandarin Chinese, or its equivalent, prior to the start of the program.