China: Language Immersion

Arrive into Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to the hotel and settle in, relaxing after your long flight, and join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture.

Take the train to Tianjin and spend your morning touring the Tianjin University campus before jumping into your first language class.

Start each morning with approximately four hours of class time learning more about Mandarin language and culture. Spend your afternoons participating in cultural activities and practicing your spoken language through calligraphy classes, Tai Chi, and bargaining in the local market. Eat dinner at local restaurants, using these meals as an opportunity to learn about Chinese cuisine and practice your language skills in the community.

Take the train to the Forbidden City and explore the Temple of Heaven where, historically, the emperor would hold ceremonies to pray for good weather and abundant harvests. Today, the area around the Temple of Heaven is now used as a park where people play mahjong, sing operas, and square dance. After lunch, take the metro to Tiananmen Square, the biggest square in China. Walk from the top of Tiananmen Square to the entrance of the Forbidden City, which was home to the royal families of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. After walking through the City, climb up Jingshan Park to overlook the beautiful view of the Forbidden City before heading back down for dinner in another funky neighborhood.

After a quick breakfast, it’s time for one of the trip’s highlights: a visit to the Great Wall of China. Nothing can truly prepare you for an in-person look and this often photographed site and monument to human achievement. Depending on your flight, we can go to one of two sections of the Great Wall—Gubeikou or Mutianyu. If you have a late departure, you could stay at a guesthouse close to the more remote section of Gubeikou Great Wall.

At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

After breakfast it’s time to pack up and head to the airport for the journey home. Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.