ECNU Intensive Business Chinese Program February 25, 2026
By A student (Chinese Language, Literature, The College of William & Mary) - abroad from 09/08/2025 to 01/04/2026 with
East China Normal University: Shanghai - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
Language skills and a deeper love for 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. |
Long class hours, but does not really cover any more than Su Laoshi's classes |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The attendance policies are completely ridiculous. I failed a class because of being sick, even with doctor notes. My assignment grades were fine, but the attendance was 20% of the grade. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived off campus, a little over an hour on the subway each way, but had a great little loft apartment in the New Pudong Area for very cheap. The closer you live to school, the more expensive it is, so I recommend picking somewhere further away, but close to a subway station. |
| * Food: |
The food in Shanghai is great, but every time I ate at the school cafeteria, I got sick. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
This was likely due to living with my Chinese husband. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Be prepared for the healthcare system to look very different. It is extremely efficient and very affordable, but expect a friend or family member to fill the role of a nurse. |
| * Safety: |
very safe city |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
It was a good program, but for personal reasons, during that timeframe, a lighter program would have been better |
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) |
It is very affordable. Going out to eat is about $2. Rent for a month was about $300. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eat local food, especially from snack shops |
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 |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 406 |
| 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? | Talk to people, watch TV, listen to music, act like a little kid: ask what everything is, point at things, and say their name (eg. Butterfly, point and say Hudie) |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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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? | Attendance is 20% of your grade. If you miss 3 days, you get a zero for attendance |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
