Prerequisite: Open to students entering grade($): Grade 6 - 11 (Students will be grouped according to age and language ability)

Course Description

Yuen Laoshi, who has been designing and leading HKIS summer mandarin immersion trips for the past 9 years, along with Calvin Lieu, who has co-led summer immersion as well as coordinate outdoor trips around Asia for the last 5 years, will both be leading this particular trip. This immersion experience will provide students with the opportunity to advance their Putonghua language abilities, while getting to know the rich culture in the capital city.

Hosted at Beijing Institute of Economic Management, our students will begin each day with Gong Fu exercises before their intensive language lessons. Daily lessons will be instructed by native speakers, including one-on-one conversation sessions, cultural arts & craft, as well as other mentally and physically recreational activities including martial arts, kite making, paper cutting, cooking classes, knot tying, Chinese calligraphy etc.

Immersed in this setting, students will have the opportunity to practice their newly acquired Putonghua skills during their daily and weekend excursions around the ancient city. They will be encouraged to interact and communicate with local people, tasting different styles of Chinese cuisine, all while touring around Beijing
and the surrounding area as well as learning about the rich history and culture. Combined, this is a trip that promises a summer that is both mentally stimulating and physically rewarding.

Learner Outcomes:

Students will:
  • Improve their oral proficiency in Putonghua and learn more Chinese characters
  • Learn historical facts about Chinese people and the culture
  • Develop an appreciation of China, its people and its influence around the world
  • Learn Chinese games, arts and crafts, sports and recreational activities
  • Develop friendship with the local students through interactive skits and activities
  • Have more self-confidence in their Putonghua verbal ability
  • Learn to manage their daily lives independently whilst staying in the university’s dormitory

Methodology:

  • Students will participate in daily Chinese language lessons at the Beijing Institute of Economic Management. University instructors and our HKIS teachers will design the course based on our students’ learning needs in oral proficiency and other practical Chinese language
  • Educational excursions will provide opportunities for students to interact with local people to ask directions or questions as well as to express themselves in basic conversation while shopping and greeting people
  • Daily activities to learn cultural facts of different elements that make Chinese culture unique
  • Instructors will guide and facilitate interaction in conversational Putonghua between our students and the local students at Beijing
  • Institute of Economic Management to learn about each other’s culture, lifestyles and their interests
  • Students will live in a dormitory and learn to be responsible for themselves, their belongings and their HKIS dorm buddies

Assessment:

  • Daily written and oral work to reflect on the student’s learning
  • One-hour group study on weeknights and 15 minute written or oral quiz on weekdays
  • Language pledge to participate in this mandarin immersion trip
  • Upon successful completion, Beijing Institute of Economic Management of China will issue each student with a certificate to recognise his or her hard work and effort

Minimum 12 students and maximum 30 students for the trip.

Price: HKD 45,800 inclusive

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 5 May 2015