How do you choose a Chinese language school?

[sofiaw]

I am working for a Chinese Language school right now. Our school is in a beginning phrase and we would like to understand HOW students select their school, such as what will they usually consider when to pick up a school, what is the most or the top three terms they will take into account and what their criteria about a satisfied school and so on.

It is highly appreciated for any input.

Sofia.

[simonlaing]

(When I chose Nanjing Unviersity I actually went and traveled to several cities an checked out there programs, most still varied with the kind of teachers and student make up. As well as about 6 univerisities in Nanjing I looked in to Fudan, East China university and Jiaotong Univerities in shanghai, Suzhou University and GuangZhou Univerisity and Zhong Shan University in Guangzhou. Looking at the make up of students, campus life, size of classes and other issues.

I think the good classes that I have attended had

Younger Professors (25 -40) teaching student oriented classes (Students interact often with the teacher and there are role plays or other interactions in class)

Good text books, either interesting or used good techniques like those teaching radicals to learn how to read and write.

Interesting upper level classes, (I took Chinese international relations modern history, internet newspaper reading among others.)

CIEE runs programs that are 4 days a week of classes and then fridays are trips around or outside the cities to see some sight or learn some culture (a. k. a. museum...)

Good luck with your Chinese school.

Simon:)

P.S. I am looking to switch my job if you're hiring in Nanjing or Shanghai...

[sofiaw]

:DVery appreciate for your advices. They are really helpful for us.

The CIEE program sounds good. We also want to provide our students with mixed classes of Chinese study and culture immersion. The question is how many hours a day in the first 4 days classes and what are the students' opinion or feedback on the classes arrangement? I know a lot of Universities have half-day classes only in the morning as a routine. How about another 2 or 4 hours classes in the afternoon?

I saw a link of a Mandarin School in your signature, are you one of the teachers of it?

We are setting up our school in Beijing as a beginning. We might consider to open a banach at SH or some other places later on. You are highly welcomed to join us if possible.

Thanks again!

[knadolny]

My Chinese teacher at Cornell recommended that I study at Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) and so that's where I went. I didn't really know where to go for more advice so I took hers.

I met my wife during class and so of course recommend this school to anyone else traveling to China. My wife is Japanese and my favorite part about BLCU is the diverse student body. Not only do you learn Chinese, but you meet people from all over the world. When working on recruiting students, don't limit your options to just American or European students. I studied with Americans in America and don't really need to go to China to find that.

That's my two cents anyways. Maybe you'll find it useful.

Kevin

[sofiaw]

Hello Kevin, thank you very much!

So romantic of you to meet your wife in the class in a foreign country, God bless you two!

To know different people from different countries is an exciting thing indeed, we will seriously consider your suggestion for sure.

[knadolny]

So romantic of you to meet your wife in the class in a foreign country, God bless you two!

Thank you!

Thinking about your post a little bit more, having Korean and Japanese classmates is one reason my Chinese improved so much. I was "competing" with people who already had a great working knowledge of the characters so I had to learn more quickly then if I were only with western classmates. I was shocked to see how many characters they already knew and their writing was so much better than mine. Now that I live in Japan, I understand why

Cheers,

Kevin

Edited November 25, 2009 at 03:23 AM by imron
links go in signatures.