Dalian: I Will Be Back Soon! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload of the summer course was not only manageable but was the perfect level to help beginner students effectively learn mandarin. With teachers who fully understood the challenges faced by foreigners when learning putonghua, the course provided the perfect learning environment.

On-site administration of your program

As a late applicant to the programme, I was unsure as to whether I was going to be able to secure a spot on the summer immersion programme. Initially I had applied for an earlier course start date but due to time constraints and document complications the admin were unable to process my application in time. However, all hope was not lost, and I was smoothly transferred onto a later programme with no extra hassle. My advice: Apply Early.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

During the mandarin immersion programme I was fortunate enough to stay in university dorms. All of the international students were placed together and although this may not have been the best setup for language acquisition, it was definitely advantageous in helping you feel more like you were at home. Everything was included within the room (sheets, pillows, kettle, mugs etc) and the location could not have been better, situated within the campus I was only a few minutes walk to my classroom... perfect for long lie ins!

The summer programme was extremely accommodating of my wheat intolerance. There were no problems when ordering food and the staff did a great job of finding food I could eat during every meal. Local food in Dalian was amazing with a number of different restaurants offering some of the finest Chinese/Japanese/Korean food that I have ever tasted.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

As I was enrolled upon a language and culture programme the non-academic aspects were amazing. Group trips kept the students entertained every afternoon whilst the nightlife was also better than I had expected! Some of the most memorable trips were: the Great Wall of China, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Dalian Beer festival and Dalian Zoo, just to name a few.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

During my 4-week stay in Dalian I didn't encounter any health issues whilst attending the summer programme. The city seemed far safer than what I was used to coming from London and I always felt like I was safe. The only thing I would advise is to familiarise yourself with the local street market food one step at a time, in order to avoid getting sick.

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

Having studied languages for five years prior to the summer immersion programme, I can confidently say that the environment in which we were placed in was perfect for encouraging language acquisition. The opportunity to speak with native mandarin speakers was amazing whilst the chance to practice what we had just learnt in class out on the streets of China was priceless.

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• Dorm

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• International Students

• Staff
• Morning class / afternoon excursion set up

• Canteen food
• Topic of masterclasses