Harvey Posted March 5, 2006 at 12:21 PM Report Posted March 5, 2006 at 12:21 PM Well, that's it. This year I'm going to China. Going to drop the job. Pick a school. Get a plane ticket. You can follow my antics here. I'm really nervous about this, so thanks for the support in advance chiense-fourms.com dwellers! Quote
novemberfog Posted March 5, 2006 at 11:44 PM Report Posted March 5, 2006 at 11:44 PM Sounds good that you are going to do what you really want to do. What type of field do you work in? Do you think you can get placement in that industry in China perhaps, especially since you have experience abroad? Quote
Harvey Posted March 6, 2006 at 01:43 PM Author Report Posted March 6, 2006 at 01:43 PM I work in IT, and I think I could get a job in that field in China if I tried. Only thing is, if I did, I don't think I would learn to speak Chinese for a long time. I don't have any Chinese language background so I think i'll need a year of real student-ish studying to get on my feet before I can spend time doing other things seriously. Quote
Shadowdh Posted March 7, 2006 at 04:18 PM Report Posted March 7, 2006 at 04:18 PM Good luck mate and remember nothing ventured is nothing gained... take care and study hard... Quote
Shiela Posted March 24, 2006 at 02:18 PM Report Posted March 24, 2006 at 02:18 PM Hey Harvey, Glad I'm not the only one. Have just chucked in the job to take a career break and travel RTW for a year - starting trip in June from London. Will arrive in Bejing in Sep06 to study for a semester before continuing my travels. Might see you out there. Shiela Quote
Harvey Posted March 26, 2006 at 08:22 AM Author Report Posted March 26, 2006 at 08:22 AM Shiela you rock! Recently I am considering the timing of my going to China. I -will- go this year not sure when though. I'm thinking to do a RTJ (round the Japan) trip between leaving the j-o-b and before I finally leave for China. Regarding that. What are the usual months when one can enter the major language schools in China? I was planning to go start in Sept, but is it possible to start in the middle of the year in most places? Im also wondering if doing a little China tour before school, and visiting the campuses of the places I'm considering going would be worth it. Let me know what you think! Quote
billybot Posted March 26, 2006 at 09:02 AM Report Posted March 26, 2006 at 09:02 AM "Regarding that. What are the usual months when one can enter the major language schools in China? I was planning to go start in Sept, but is it possible to start in the middle of the year in most places?" If you go to a relatively large city, there should be private schools where you can enroll anytime of the year. A university may be more troublesome. Quote
mr.stinky Posted March 26, 2006 at 09:21 AM Report Posted March 26, 2006 at 09:21 AM no problems at the universities if you want to arrive mid-semester. with no language experience you will be unable to join a class already in progress. however, most should allow you the option of one-to-one instruction for a minimum number of hours per week (which will get you the requisite student visa). Quote
Shiela Posted March 28, 2006 at 01:25 PM Report Posted March 28, 2006 at 01:25 PM Hi Harvey, From the research I've done... Private institutes will run short courses - more expensive but smaller classes and more start dates. BLCU - have a number of short courses starting throughout the year - start dates (roughly) : Feb, May, Sep & Dec - shortest course is 4 weeks Tsinghua - have just replied saying that they are no longer offering short courses in Sep06 - shortest course is 1 semester - however, could leave early but would NOT get a refund! Quote
adrianlondon Posted March 28, 2006 at 02:15 PM Report Posted March 28, 2006 at 02:15 PM BLCU has the greatest choice for course length, outside of finding a private school and just waving money around and saying what you want. Quote
mrtoga Posted March 28, 2006 at 02:55 PM Report Posted March 28, 2006 at 02:55 PM Sounds like a good plan Harvey. Send me a PM if you are coming to Dalian - I can at least point you in the right direction for hotels, interesting spots etc. Speaking from personal experience, arriving in regional Chinese cities on your own with minimal Chinese ability can be a bewildering experience..... Quote
Harvey Posted April 5, 2006 at 02:06 PM Author Report Posted April 5, 2006 at 02:06 PM Decision. Harvey will study in Changchun. That's "long spring". That's. 長春. That's. -30 degrees Celcius. Hope it's SHORT WINTER. Totally decided. Only place I am considering as a possible alternative is HARBIN. And I'm wondering if I should do 6 months in each place or not. Good stuff. Quote
roddy Posted April 5, 2006 at 02:13 PM Report Posted April 5, 2006 at 02:13 PM Totally decided. possible alternative I'm wondering I sense there may be another chapter to this epic . . . Quote
mlomker Posted April 6, 2006 at 02:54 AM Report Posted April 6, 2006 at 02:54 AM lol. I'm leaning toward HIT in Harbin, myself, but the Winter is a doozy. It'll encourage you to stay inside and write characters. ;) Quote
ask_weasal Posted April 19, 2006 at 02:26 AM Report Posted April 19, 2006 at 02:26 AM Hope you make it buddy....Just be prepared to live in a completely new atmosphere Quote
venture160 Posted April 19, 2006 at 07:59 AM Report Posted April 19, 2006 at 07:59 AM Harbin is great, the winter really does help you study, there is nothing else to do!!! Quote
mrtoga Posted April 19, 2006 at 01:29 PM Report Posted April 19, 2006 at 01:29 PM Aint that the truth. Although I find the fact that the area has the most beautiful Chinese woman in addition to the bevvy of Russian, Japanese and Korean fillies rather distracting at times. Welcome distractions of course. Quote
jeffofarabia Posted April 23, 2006 at 06:05 PM Report Posted April 23, 2006 at 06:05 PM can i quit my job too? i am actually planning on it for next year. i teach and every once and a while i tell my kids to study chinese in college. last week when i was saying it i thought to myself, you need to get back to china and learn more. so i have given myself one more year of work and then i am going to sichuan or yunnan. cheers. jeff Quote
Harvey Posted April 24, 2006 at 11:34 AM Author Report Posted April 24, 2006 at 11:34 AM Yeah you can quit too Jeff no prob. Hey today I was asked to stay on until like September! NEVER! I gotta run for the border! BTW I think I'll bein China around november. I've got a few things to take care of between July and then Quote
Harvey Posted May 3, 2006 at 02:01 AM Author Report Posted May 3, 2006 at 02:01 AM This school just offered to pay tuition for me from October to June... Harvey waffles. I'm considering doing this before going to China to make my Japanese a force to be reckoned with before taclking the new China frontier.... http://www.stanford.edu/dept/IUC/10month.html Hrm.. Quote
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