Beijing Cultural Immersion Past Review
By A student (Brandeis University) - abroad from 02/16/2012 to 06/01/2012 with
CET Beijing
I definitely learned a lot about Chinese culture, and my language skills improved as well. It was worthwhile, and if I had the opportunity, I would definitely go back to China.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
As expected with an intensive language program, the courses were academically challenging. However, the workload was manageable and the material was very educational. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Most of the CET staff worked hard to help out students in any way possible, but there were a few occasions where they were not very responsive. A few times problems were be blamed on the on site BIE staff, and we were asked to handle the issues ourselves. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Very little information regarding housing was given beforehand. For the cost of the program, the housing is not up to par with other programs in Beijing. Basic cleanliness and availability of resources (AC, Internet, cleaning supplies) was lacking. However, the dorm rooms are pretty large. |
| * Food: |
Cafeteria provided lunches were not the best, and became repetitive. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The program focuses on immersion, which is why the campus is located in a more traditional section of Beijing instead of a more westernized area where some of the other universities are. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Luckily I did not have any serious health issues, but the staff takes emergencies seriously and prepared us just in case. It could be dangerous going to a local hospitality or doctor if your language skills are subpar, but there was an international hospital nearby which we had access to. I did not need any specific vaccines. Also - the air quality is really bad. |
| * Safety: |
Beijing is pretty safe if you use common sense. Petty theft is common if you are careless. Just be aware of your surroundings, always travel with a friend or local, and stay away from areas known to be dangerous. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Beijing is pretty cheap, but you can over do it if you buy a lot or go out for dinner / drinks too often. |
| * Was housing included in your program cost? | No |
| * Was food included in your program cost? | Yes |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Be aware of counterfeit bills and scams. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
You are required to speak Chinese all the time. The pledge is pretty strict. They don't really mention this beforehand, but listening to non-Chinese music out loud and watching non-Chinese are also not allowed. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | CHIN40 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Force yourself to speak as often as possible. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | For the above, I would not repeat the program just because I would like to try something new. The program overall was enjoyable and educational. However I wish I had known about the dorm quality. |
