University Experience/Language Curriculum

[vkim67]

Hello all,

If you have studied at a university in China, PLEASE take a few minutes to describe your experiences and the language curriculum in this thread!

So I've browsed the forums for help in choosing a university for 1-year language study. It would be a lot more helpful for myself and future readers if people could kindly detail their experiences with context for others to make their own decision based on a variety of factors.

For ex. many found yonglin's post very useful!

I'm particularly interested in the Chinese LANGUAGE-focused curriculum at any university, so details of that would be highly appreciated. I am willing to tolerate mediocre dorms and shared bathrooms and extreme weather for a great program so those don't concern me as much (unless cost is unrealistically high for poor conditions). I'm also trying to get AWAY from distractions and party scene so I don't care for the nightlife either. However, I'm sure other readers would appreciate those kinds of information.

Some topics you might like to include:

CURRICULUM:

1. Hours per week

2. Different kinds of electives (ex. newspaper, modern literature, classical, research, conversational class)

3. # Students per class

4. Teaching style (interactive, monotonous reading, interview assignments, etc.)

5. Textbooks

6. Your thoughts

7. Pros/cons of the university or curriculum

8. University life and social aspect

9. # of foreigners (english-speaking?)

LIVING SITUATION

1. Dorms provided? Apartments?

2. Chinese roommate? Singles?

3. Private/shared bathroom

4. A/C or heater

5. internet access

6. laundromat

REGION

1. local dialect

2. weather

3. foreign language speakers

4. urban/rural

5. access to markets/malls/banks/transportation

These are just ideas to get you started! Please feel free to add more information or to skip some.

[ousijia]

Hi,

I studied Chinese in two universities in China. Firstly in Capital Normal University (首都师范大学).

CURRICULUM:

. Hours per week - 20 hours (four hours every morning from 8am-12pm).

. Different kinds of electives - Newspaper, grammar, Chinese civilization and culture.

. # Students per class - around 16 students per class

. Teaching style - interactive (lots of questions asked/ role plays), reading out loud, dictation, lots of textbook exercises.

.Pros/cons of the university or curriculum - Intense four hours every morning, and lots of homework given. However was great as we had the whole afternoon after 12 free.

.University life and social aspect - The only downside I thought was that it was split into two campuses. One for foreigners and one for Chinese. However there was no problem making Chinese friends or finding language partners as many .Chinese students came to the university's main lobby to hang out.

.# of foreigners (english-speaking?) All foreigners (all there learning Chinese)

LIVING SITUATION

.Dorms provided? Apartments? - Originally in a hotel type room on campus shared with another person, then moved into apartment.

.Chinese roommate? Singles? Not Chinese roommate - Thai room mate. Did have the choice of a single bedroom.

.Private/shared bathroom - shared bathroom

. A/C or heater - Yes

. internet access - Yes wireless

. laundromat - Yes

REGION

1.local dialect - Mandarin

2. weather - Dry!

3. foreign language speakers - A whole mixture. English/Italian/Korean/

4. urban/rural - urban

5. access to markets/malls/banks/transportation - 10 minute bus ride to nearest tube station. Lots of taxis and buses. Lots of Chinese restaurants and supermarkets. Three banks in the local area.

I hope this information helps a little.

[vkim67]

Thanks Ousijia for taking the time to share!!

You mentioned you studied at two universities. May I ask what the other university was?

[ousijia]

Yes, of course - sorry I forgot to mention the second one was Jiao Tong University in Shanghai!