Study Abroad with IES in Beijing Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Like I said, the workload for the Chinese classes was definitely more intense, but that intensity was balanced out by the relative easiness of the area studies classes. I definitely felt like IES did a good job of using immersion to help us all learn about China and Chinese. Most of my classes required me to get out in Beijing and learn more about the Chinese culture, which is a lot different than how Trinity works--but different in a good way. I loved being able to learn about the culture and use my language skills firsthand.

On-site administration of your program

With the exception of Brian Eyler and Jeremiah Jenne (the two main administrators at IES Beijing), the other staff members working there are all Chinese. Having two Americans who know so much about Chinese culture and have lived there for extended periods of time was really helpful. They know how things work in China so it was really easy to talk to them. They understand culture shock and other problems that foreigners face in China. Being that the staff is primarily Chinese, they know how to get things done in China and are really helpful with any problem a student may have. Brian and Jeremiah were almost always available to discuss issues (and in English if they were serious). Everyone that works there is extremely helpful and knows what they are doing.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

My host family was amazing. (And overall, IES does a great job of picking out host families.) I lived in an apartment about a 15 minute walk from the IES building, and the majority of that walk was through the Bei Wai campus. Not the mention, there were 4 other students living there. So, needless to say the location was perfect. My host family consisted of a mom, dad, younger sister, older "sister" (really a cousin), and our "a yi" or housekeeper who came every night. Both of my parents worked and often would work late nights, but I enjoyed having some alone time at home right when I'd get back from school to do homework or post a blog. Even though my host family was constantly super busy, I definitely still got to bond with them, and talking with them helped improve my Chinese immensely. It definitely takes a while to feel like you have a become a member of the family in China, but by the end of the program, I felt like my host family was my real family. I could joke with my host parents and sisters about funny things (and in Chinese), and my "a yi" and I were actually having conversations about her life as a migrant worker. If you go to IES Beijing, live in a homestay. Seriously, it's a must. I had amazing, home-cooked food every night. Also, having my own room was nice for the occasional days when I was homesick or just needed to be alone. My host family was awesome, and I truly think living with them made my experience all the better.

Honestly, most people in China think it's kinda odd that a lot of Americans are vegetarians. So, be aware that it can be a challenge to go to China and be a vegetarian, but it can be done! I had several vegetarian friends in China who just stuck to eating a lot of eggs, tofu and vegetables. My host family's food was really good. There were the occasional odd foods that I would try and then not eat again, but overall, I loved the food. And eating rice at least once a day was awesome! Food in China is super cheap... So get excited! And some of the best food is the cheap/street vendor food, so don't be afraid to be adventurous!

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I think my language skills definitely improved while I was at IES. I can talk about a variety of different topics now in Chinese thanks to the new vocabulary I learned. Not to mention, the fact that you are actually in China, learning Chinese, astronomically improves your spoken Chinese. By the end of the program I felt like I could comfortably have a conversation with my host parents or with my tutor about politics, sex in college, environmental issues, etc. and actually understand what they were saying. I feel much more confident about my Chinese now than I did before going over. Plus, with IES's language pledge, you're kinda forced to speak Chinese, even around a bunch of Americans... So you get comfortable with the language.

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• Host Family
• Dorm

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• Host Family

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• Americans