China: June 2009
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This trip will provide a unique immersion and experiential education experience for the students. The students will improve their Chinese language skills, learn about Chinese society, culture, history and arts, communicate with the local students, and travel around the most famous Chinese historical and scenic spots.
This three-week trip includes two weeks in Beijing. Days are filled with intense language instruction as well as immersion in Chinese cultural arts such as calligraphy, martial arts, Peking Opera, and culinary arts. During our stay in Beijing, we will visit Olympic stadiums, Great Wall, Forbidden City, and the Summer Palace. We will spend the last week travelling to Xi’an to see the Terracotta Warriors, and then go to visit Shanghai area. For the students who have studied Chinese, they are required to write a daily journal with target language. For the students who have not studied Chinese before, they are required to write a daily reflection journal in English. Every student will do a final project presentations based on their own experience in this trip.
During the whole trip, we will stay in the hotels.
Dates and basic itinerary
June 20 - July 11, 2009
We depart the Portland airport on June 20th, flying to China's capital, Beijing. After 14 days in Beijing,where we will take intensive Chinese language classes, selective culture classes, field trips around Beijing, and cooperative activities with the local students, we then head to Xi'an to visit Terracotta Warriors. We will spend two days there. Our next stop is Shanghai, Suzhou(Portland's sister city) and Hangzhou. We will spend four days there. Finally, we return to Portland on July 11, 2009.
Eligible Students
First priority goes to current Chinese language students, and if there is vacancy, non-Chinese language students who are interested in Chinese language and culture will be considered.
Earning Credit
Students who take this trip will be eligible to earn ½ credit (1 semester) in Chinese. Credit will be based on full participation in the experiential week, engagement during the trip, and the final project presentation upon return.
Chaperones
Beining Hu: MS/US Chinese teacher
Li-Ling Cheng: MS Chinese teacher
Important upcoming dates
Tuesday, Oct 7th, 2008 at 7:30 pm: Information session on China Trip in Gerlinger Media Auditorium.
Friday, November 21st : Applications and essays due to Beining Hu in the Upper School. Financial Aid applications are also due to Traci Rossi in Toad Hall (by 5:00 pm).
Monday, December 22nd : Decisions on participants emailed to students and families.
Monday Jan 5th, 2009: Parent/student confirmation of acceptance due.
Tuesday, Jan 14th at 7:00 pm: First student & parent group meeting (bring passports).
March 16th – 19th, 2009 (Winterim): Mandatory winterim attendance for all 4 days. During this time, we’ll prepare for the trip through study of geography, history, custom, traditions and current events.
April (Date to be set): Parent Q&A evening session with winterim sharing.
May (Date to be set): Evening meeting for final questions and preparations
June 20th, 2009: Departure to China
July 11th, 2009: Return from China
Application Process
Please email hub@catlin.edu by October 21 if you are seriously considering this experience.
To apply, submit the application form and essay to Beining by November 21.
