Recently I had an email from a learner in the US who wants to come to study in Shanghai and use the ChinesePod method in a classroom setting. That certainly could be done. (I’ve run a language school here for 10 years. Arranging arrival/accommodation isn’t difficult.)
This prompts something I’ve been thinking about for some time and a point of discussion at the factory recently: organizing study trips to China for our learners. Depending on what learners need, we could almost certainly arrange it. Here are a few ideas that might work:
- Accommodation at a local university/with local family
- Classes at a university/at one of my schools
- 2-4 week programs, conducted summer 2007
- Focus on speaking, using the ChinesePod curriculum
- General or business focus
- Include sight seeing/business visits/other things
I guess I’d stress the combination of learning and doing interesting stuff. Shanghai is an amazing place where you could, er, practice speaking Chinese.
Anyway, these are just suggestions. As ever I’d be keen to hear from you. What would most interest you chaps in this regard? Would you want to combine travel and study?
If you’re interested let me know. If we get a positive response I’d have to start planning in the next month or two. The next thing you know you’d be hitting the town and speaking the lingo.
Ken Carroll
I think that’s a great idea. I’m planning on coming back to China next year and that’s something I think I would definitely consider.
Although I personally don’t think I would need accommodations or help with airfare, I would be interested in a Chinesepod curriculum based language class.
(Also, I was wondering if you guys would ever consider doing a Shanghainese lesson. I know it’s impractical really, and might irk some Beijingers, but hey, personally I would love to hear it!)
What a great idea. I’d have to bring my kids though.
I would most certainly be interested in such a program. There’s no substitute for real-world experience combined with some classroom practice.
If you set up a classroom environment here in Canada or the States based on the Chinesepod learning approach, that would be ideal. We have a few Mandarin continuing education programs here in Toronto, but largely based on traditional teaching methods and mainly for interest only.
Have you considered a partnership with some of the schools here ? There are no shortage of qualified teachers here, however, I feel that there is no real “on-going” Chinese language program that can help one achieve proficiency in the language.
Terrific idea Ken! I think I can spare two weeks of vacation to go to Shanghai and immerse myself in learning Mandarin. Now I think you’ll get a waiting list for these classes/tour if you include “Dinner with Jenny” in the itinerary!
I think it’s a great idea ! In fact I want to go in China next year to study the language. I’m just not sure in which city. I would prefer to go in an University.
Right now I’m planning on going at Nankai University in Tianjin for the fall semester. My current teacher is native from over there. But Shanghai and Beijing are also part of my reflexion. Something like a 12 to 14 weeks trip.
Since I know pretty much nothing about the country, I would be more than happy to pay for help. Getting accomodations, filling the paperwork and all that stuff.
If you were to offer such a service, count me in !
I think it is a great idea with a lot of potential. I am scheduling a week in Beijing this coming June just to immerse myself in Chinese culture and sharpen my speaking. Having something with more structure and resources would be much more appealing than just winging it on my own.
Ken,
That’s a great idea. I’d be happy to get involved in some way too.
Ken,
Count me in! I think there’s nothing so useful as being in the environment where the language breathes on a daily basis. What a terrific program if you could make it happen!
I’m a college student studying business so I think it would be a great experience for me and others as well.
On a side note, I would be willing to sell my guitar and do whatever it takes to go!
Ken:
I’d be interested in this too. I tried a small school in beijing sept 2005 but the experience was quite uneven. Too many levels, too many random people popping in and out. Alas i got the flue too…
I think I learned more in two days wandering the streets and trying to read signs and talk to people after a fellow student gaveme some help looking up characters (and now i have the fastfinder book). Since I am interested in learning characters, too, some work in this area - practical stuff, like reading signs and menus and prices and lables in shops etc. — would be a good way to include a daily walk about town in the lesson scheme.
Two weeks is probably about right — lots to do and see in shanghai — i’d leave longer trips for folks to arrange on their own.
Excellent idea. lets pick some dates!
harry
Dear Ken,
How can I enroll in your programme?
Hatta
Hatta,
I’m just developing the idea. I’ll let you know.
Ken Carroll
Personally, I’m looking for a full immersion opportunity, where I’d ideally want no contact with westerners. 2-4 weeks, focus on speaking, family are fine. But classes and university are out, and despite the glamour (or because of), Shanghai might not be the ideal place particularly in the summer.
What I would welcome is an opportunity for action, e.g. be involved in a business activity somehow, or other local programme on a voluntary basis.
Yv
Great idea Ken! I would definitely be interested, but I have a limited amount of leave, so not sure if I would be able to attend for two weeks. If there was the possibility of attending for just 1 week I would definitely be interested in attending. If not, maybe the following year.
P.S. Happy belated birthday Jenny
I’d be extremely interested. I’m going to China in February and plan to spend some time in Shanghai. Can you have the school ready by then
?
I’ve been wondering. If one were to visit Shanghai for just a few days, would it be possible to drop by the office and say hello.
I realize that you are all so busy putting together magnificent lessons, but this would be a quick stop in and not a ‘hang out with’
Ron
Ken,
Great idea, the thought has come up several times. The longer the better, but probably 4 weeks is max. Intensive language training during day time, focusing on speaking which is hard to practise in the US. I would prefer to stay with a Chinese family, which seems to be quite common. Some comon events, like music, restaurants, shows whatever in the evenings would be great, and maybe some organized tourist trips in the weekends. It looks like the max amount of per week training any schools have is 30 hours, which probably is exhausting enough.
I would definitely be interested in this. Sounds like a great idea to mix the studying in with a bit of sightseeing. I was in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan this summer and I realised how bad my spoken Chinese is so I’m looking to go back next year… and I’ve never been to Shanghai so that would be great! (Do you think you could coincide the course with a Cold Fairyland gig?)
I’m rubbish at organising things though, so help with accommodation as mentioned could be handy! I would probably only be able to attend for two weeks.
Count me in. That was my email query from John just last week.
I’m interested in this. I’d like to go with my family and spend a couple of weeks there. Good idea!!
Ken,
I’m interesed too. I’m just studying Chinese for fun. I’ve been thinking about a trip to China for a few months now. This sounds perfect. I want to improve my Chinese and do a little sight-seeing. By the way, I love ChinesePod. Great idea.
Todd
I’d be really interested in something like that, homestay is an excellent environment to learn a language. Please keep us informed!
I didn’t expect quite such an enthusiastic response. It’s now obvious that I need to consider this as a real possibility. Please keep the suggestions coming - the more I know, the better.
Ken Carroll
I would love it. But some of us still have to work even on vacations (own business). Would it be possible to split the courses from the sightseeing and make the sightseeing optional (a bit as on a cruise, you get off the boat you pay!)
That would be a fantastic formula.
Great idea.If you offer this service(homestay,tours,language classes)when I’m planning on visiting China, you’ll be my first choice.I think you are trustworthy.
I’d love to attend a two to three weeks HSK intensive prep class, cause I’m planning to take the test next summer. I’m thinking of something similar to the IELTS preparations courses offered by the British Council. A seminar where you become familar with the core concept of the test and learn strategies to crack it.
I’d definitely come. I live in HK and have visited Shanghai before but didn’t speak much.
I would definitely be interested. I was thinking of going to Shanghai around the new year anyway for a week or two for just this purpose — I live in Singapore, so it’s an easy trip — but didn’t know where to get started on short term language education.
heh. Better use my english language name or somebody will think I speak chinese.
Another angle for ken to consider, as a business person: The school I attended in Beijing sept 05 had lots of germans in it - beause they have a law / union rule / something that gives employees two weeks (?) of paid vacation to study a foreign language for every four years they work. so this program had some paperwork, but the school i attended focused on this and was 60% german students… just a thought. again, seems like most folks would sign up for one or two weeks. i think grouping by level is important — someone ready for the HSK probably wouldn’t get much value out of the things I still need to focus on.
I would be interested as well.
Great idea, Ken. However, I think two weeks is way too short. I learned German in Germany in total inmersion courses at the Goethe institute. I was there twice, the first time for one month and the second for two months. I can say from experience that after a month you’re barely getting to know the place and your classmates. I think you need a program which lasts at least eight weeks for it to be worthwhile.
Also, please try to keep it within a reasonable budget. Maybe you can negotiate discounts for air travel and the like, but try to keep us starving students in mind when doing your planning.
Christian,
I agree that longer is better, but as your second point stresses,
we have to keep the costs down. That’s the tricky part!
Ken Carroll
好主意 ! (Good idea)
I would be interested.
Marc (马克)
I am looking for just such a class. I’ve been taking Mandarin lessons at a school in Hong Kong and I’m just not getting anywhere. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I need to try something new and I love chinesepod. So please let us know if this is for real or not.
I would also be very interested. I’m also in Hong Kong so the trip would be easy. Count me in.
I hope the maximum stay would be one month. It’s hard to apply for a long leave. Thanks.
I’m interested! And I’m already here, Ken!
Definitely interested, just came back from 4 weeks vacation between shanghai+beijing to see how I could cope with living there with the plan to study at SCNU for 2 months in in Feb.
I would much prefer the chinesepod approach if it were available. I felt I cemented a lot of previous learning just by being in the country (with my ipod and chinesepod too obviously).
I’m definitely interested, but since I can only ever get one week off from my job at a time, 1 week Chinese lessons would be better. I would definitely want a focus on medical or other specialized conversation as well as general. I will email you privately when I get a chance to get more details.
I’d really love to come out for something like this. I’ve been listening to Chinesepod for a while and I love the lesson content and think your ideas are brilliant. I agree with Christian, I’d love for it to be 6+ weeks.
Build a C-Pod school, and Poddies will come. :-p
Let us know whats happening!
I’d also be interested. I think you will have two types of students; those that can attend for multiple weeks and those that can only manage a week at a time. Unfortunately, I fall into the week at a time division. I would like to see short courses with a focus on specific topics (i.e business, manufacturing, finance, etc).
Hehe, if someone wanted to spend a year creating enough interest in a study trip to China, I can’t think of a better way to do it, and it wasn’t even intentional.
I love the idea Ken! This is sooooo weird because just yesterday I was wishing Chinesepod could arrange something like this. And today I read this blog! (Maybe I should wish today to win the lottery and check it tomorrow - huh?)
I think I could manage two weeks if I can talk the husband into keeping the kids.
Xie xie ni!
I am going to Shangai from July to September. If you organice some course , let me know.