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China: Exploring Confucius' China

CHIN 219/ HONR 258M (3 credits)

Summer 2010 dates May 29 - June 21

This month-long program in China is a partnership with the School of Languages, Literatures & Cultures, the Language House Immersion Program, the Confucius Institute at the University of Maryland, and Nankai University.

Students will be based at Nankai University in Tianjin, China's third largest city. Tianjin is a coastal city located in the region of Hebei Province, close to the capital Beijing. The course includes language study, "culture clusters" (history, arts, Taichi, opera, cuisine, calligraphy and music), and excursions to cities and sites that bear the mark of Confucius, China's greatest sage. Participants will visit Beijing, Xi'an, Qufu, and the sacred mountain of Tai Shan.

Course outline

SLLC 299A / HONR 258M+N is a course for students to develop their speaking proficiency and listening comprehension of daily Chinese conversation by participating in intensive language classes and visiting major cities and rural villages in China. The program is designed for learners of various levels to develop basic language skills both in and out of class. Students will gain knowledge of the formal grammar, enhance their ability to understand slang or more colloquial speech, and build vocabulary, pronunciation, and fluidity.

Chinese language is an important component of the country’s culture. Students will learn not only about today’s Chinese language and culture, but will also explore the regions specific to China’s greatest sage, Confucius, who lived 2000 years ago. The course’s cross-cultural interaction will encourage student awareness of their own role as Americans in a foreign country.

Field Trips and Excursions to Enhance the Academic Content

While the coursework is based at Nankai University, students are offered additional weekend trips to rural villages to interact with the local populace. The month-long culture/study program covers four major cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Xi’an, Shanghai, Qufu (Confucius’ birth place), and one sacred mountain in China, Mount Tai (where 72 emperors have worshipped). Lectures and discussions for the culture field trips will be held in all the proposed excursion sites, some in the basic target language, Chinese.

Activities and excursions include:

  • Intensive Chinese language for four weeks, including “culture clusters”: history, arts, Taichi, Beijing opera, Chinese cooking and foods, Chinese calligraphy, music.
  • Weekend trip to rural village to interact with local populace and taste traditional foods.
  • In Qufu, field trip to Confucius’ hometown to visit the Temple and Cemetery of Confucius, and the Kung family mansion
  • Visit “Tai Shan”, a mountain of historical and cultural significance, “Heaven Street,” “Jade Emperor Summit,” and “Cloud Temple.”
  • In Xi’an (one of China’s six ancient capitals, and starting point of the Silk Road), visit the world’s 8th wonder: the Terra-Cotta Warriors, Huaqing Palace, Emperor Qin Shihuang Mausoleum. Visit the Garden of the Great Tang Dynasty, Qin Palace, Dayan Pagoda, Calligraphy Museum, Bell Tower, History Museum, City Wall, and Stone SteleForest.
  • In Beijing, visit Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven Park (Tian Tan), walk in the Hutongs (ancient alleys), visit Chinese tea house, Great Wall, Summer Palace.

Accommodations

Students will be housed in double rooms in Nankai University dormitories. Single accommodations may be arranged for an additional cost. All meals are separate and on students' own cost, either in the on-campus cafeteria or in off-campus restaurants.