Summer Advanced Chinese Study in Qingdao

Bard College: Summer Advanced Chinese with Research Practica
Qingdao University, Summer 2009, (June 2 – July 25)

Bard College is offering an inexpensive way for students to pursue intensive advanced Chinese while conducting individual research projects and developing specialized language ability in their areas of interest. The program will enhance the students’ capacity in Chinese and area studies and position them for future careers that employ Chinese language.

Supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Fulbright Hayes Group Projects Abroad, Bard College and Qingdao University have set up an 8-week summer study program: seven weeks at Qingdao University; one week in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province. While in Qingdao, students attend Chinese classes (3 levels provided) in the mornings, with afternoons, evenings, and weekends for research and study. Each student is assigned an advisor appropriate to the student’s research proposal from the faculty of Qingdao University; the advisor chooses a “research buddy” from among his or her graduate students to assist with many phases of the research, such as library use, understanding texts, local travel, interviewing, etc. The week in Jingdezhen, famous for its pottery works and the revolutionary history of the surrounding area, is devoted to field research. Weekly group meetings are held to discuss research progress and solve problems. An outline and progress report in Chinese is due in the 4th and 6th weeks respectively, with the 8th week devoted to completing the final draft of the research report in Chinese, with an English translation. A reunion and research report meeting is held in the fall.

The cost to non-Bard students is $3,500. This includes international airfare, travel within China, room, board, and tuition. Insurance ($67) and visa ($130) will be billed to or paid by each student separately. Bard does not give credit for this course. Other schools may award credit based on records from Qingdao University.

The applicants should be juniors, seniors, or graduate students, and US citizens or legal residents. Projects should be in education, the humanities, social sciences, languages, or area studies. Applicants must have completed at least two academic years of college-level training in Chinese.

The application process requires a completed application form, a research proposal, a transcript, and letters of recommendation from the student’s academic advisor and the student’s Chinese teacher. Applicants must pass a phone interview in Chinese to be accepted into the program. Candidates will be selected for their language ability and the quality and feasibility of their research proposals.

Please contact Li-hua Ying (ying@bard) and Katherine Gould-Martin (gould@bard) for the application form.

This trip is conditional upon successful renewal of the government grant. Applicants will be informed as soon as we are notified of the renewal.