Language & Culture: Making the Connection
2009 Exploration Seminar in Beijing, China
THIS PROGRAM IS FULL AND NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS. PLEASE CONSIDER ANOTHER EXPLORATION SEMINAR PROGRAM!
Program Directors: Liping Yu ~ Asian Languages & Literature
Dates of Instruction: Aug 25-Sept. 16, 2009
The objective of this 2009 UW exploration seminar in Beijing China is to give our students first hand experience of both the ancient and modern China, since China has undergone a dramatic change in the past 30 years.
 Language is culture and culture is language. This trip will certainly complement the language classes that are offered at UW. In this trip our students are not only going to observe China with their own eyes, but also to live like a Chinese by adapting themselves to the Chinese style of living. Our students will live at the international student dorm of Tsinghua University and they will be paired up with Tsinghua University students in order to provide an opportunity for UW students to enhance their education through direct engagement and interaction with Chinese students, teachers, and ordinary Chinese people.
Our exploration seminar takes place in the capital of People’s Republic of China. It is usually recognized as the political, educational, and cultural center of China. The city itself is an active history book because it has been an integral part of China’s history over the past eight centuries. Nearly every major building, of any age, in Beijing has at least some national historical significance. Our hosting university, Tsinghua University, is the MIT of China. It is the dream university of top Chinese high school students. To immerse our students into Chinese culture in a structured way, our seminar consists of three major parts: cognitive instruction of Chinese culture, field trips related to the lectures, and language classes. There are 9 cultural lectures that will touch on a wide variety of topics of China. The topics will be Chinese education, architecture, painting and calligraphy, ethnic groups and religion, Chinese history, Chinese movie, and the development of Chinese national sports. Related field trips will include visiting Chinese elementary and middle schools, Chinese history museums, art museums, temples, emperor gardens, Olympic Park, etc. All lectures are taught by professors from Tsinghua University and the field trips will be led by faculty from UW and Tshinghua University. The language classes will be taught by Liping Yu, the Chinese lecturer from UW and local teaching faculty. Students will be put into different language classes according to their language proficiency. Altogether there are 10 hours of language classes, and students are encouraged to speak Chinese throughout the seminar.
 Be prepared for the adventure of your lifetime! In addition to the lectures and classes, students will have the opportunity to climb the Great Wall, visit the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Lama Temple, the Confucius Temple, Tiananmen Square, the Capital Museum, Madam Sun Yat-sen’s Residence, and roam around the old Beijing Hutong in the center of Beijing. On one of the weekends, students will have the opportunity to go to the neighboring city Tianjin, a famous seaport and colonial city in China. Students will also have some free time to explore the city of Beijing on their own. They will be able to meet with local people, and of course, sample the delicious Chinese cuisine.
Class assignments include keeping a diary of reactions to each site we visit, and write a short paper describing one cultural aspect of students’ interest and a final exam for the Chinese language class.
Credits: Students will receive 5 credits for CHIN 395 (VLPA). Participants should check with their advisors to determine how these credits can count towards departmental requirements.
Student costs:
The program includes all in-country transportation, all lodging, meals, all temple, garden and museum entry fee, lectures and language classes. Additional costs include: Round trip travel to Beijing, visa, health insurance and personal spending money.
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