Beijing: Winter Short Course: for teenagers: experience/recommendations?

[bianfuxia]

Hello everyone

I've been searching around past threads and wonder if anyone can help. It's a niche request, so I know people may not have much info.

My 13-year old sister is coming to stay with us in Beijing in January. She's a beginner in Chinese (a little study at high school).

I've found a short course option at the Beijing Chinese Language and Culture College (北京华文学院) down the road from Tianyi in Fuchengmen. They take students from 12 years, and I have written to them for more information.

The experience question is: has anyone been to, or can anyone comment on the BCLCC, its quality, teachers, student demographics, etc?

The recommendation question is: does anyone have a recommendation for something like this that would be open to, and fun for, a 13 year old? Another similar thread suggested that BLCU and BNU don't take such young students.

The main parameters are:

- prefer a uni or college style environment (I am separately inquiring with smaller schools like Frontiers, etc)

- must be in January, to match her school holidays

- course only, because she will live with us (don't need dorms, food etc)

- preferably something with other kids her age, so it's more fun for her.

Desirable is not in Haidian, because it's a bit far from where we live near Hepingmen/Xidan.

Forgive me in advance if there's already a thread on this - I spent nearly an hour reading and searching!

thanks!

Edited June 6, 2009 at 07:26 AM by bianfuxia

[imron]

I can't help with the course, however it's worth noting that next year, Chinese New Year is February 14. Even if you find a place that says they run a course in February you might find that suddenly they don't have any teachers because everyone has gone home for the new year.

[bianfuxia]

Hey Imron

Good point - hadn't thought of that.

And, like an idiot, I meant to type January. School starts back home for her in February.

I will go back and edit my post!

R

[Meng Lelan]

CET in Washington DC used to run some program called JanTerm, which is two or three weeks of Chinese classes in January. I don't know if it still exists and whether they would take someone so young.