They must have sufficient background if they wish to by-pass a portion of it. The summer portion of the program is particularly valuable for students who wish to get a good start in the Mandarin Chinese language before going to China or Taiwan. Those with extensive experience in Chinese are encouraged to arrange for a telephone placement test. High school students may need special permission to enroll. W ith the exception of a daily lecture focused on the presentation of new material and on discussion of language, culture, and learning, all classes are conducted in Mandarin Chinese by our regular teachers, most of them natives of the People's Republic or of Taiwan.
Classes are small, most with no more than eight students, and some with fewer.
As students advance, the selection of materials broadens to include films and television programs, computer assisted instruction, newspaper primers, and eventually selections of short fiction and current articles from magazines and journals. The full-form 'classical' characters are taught first, then simplified characters are taught for reading, so that by the end of the program students should be adept at reading either type. By the end of the program, students are ready to take full advantage of a period of time in a Chinese speaking country. We are familiar with programs and opportunities in China, Taiwan, and elsewhere, and we can assist with applications. Two letters of recommendation 4.