<p>I was wondering if anyone knows of some good chinese language summer programs at any universities (NOT in China). I've taken chinese for 3 years but would like to advance to another level. So far I've seen programs from UChicago, Middlebury, and Stanford and was wondering if you CCers could reccomend any that aren't TOO long (ex: Harvard = 8 weeks, no thanks) but that are still good.</p>
<p>How long is the Middlebury program? </p>
<p>How advanced does the Concordia Language Village program promise to be?</p>
<p>Middlebury's program for middle and high school students offers a 4-week Chinese immersion program. [url=<a href="http://www.mmla.middlebury.edu%5DMiddlebury">http://www.mmla.middlebury.edu]Middlebury</a> Monterey Language Academy<a href="Full%20disclosure%20-%20I%20work%20for%20Middlebury%20College">/url</a></p>
<p>I would highly recommend the Middlebury Monterey Language Academy if you are looking to improve your Chinese and want a shorter program -- it is four weeks long. The reputation is that MMLA is a bit more academic and concordia is a bit more "have fun while learning a bit". The program at Chicago is fantastic -- but you have to want it at that level of intensity, and it looks like you are wanting something not quite that intense.</p>
<p>most programs that grant college credit are for about six weeks or so -- would that work? If so, check out brown, JHU, Columbia.</p>
<p>if you are interested in China, check out the foundations program Glimpses of China -- fantastic program and you can do an add on for the language.</p>
<p>The four-week program at Concordia Language Villages can be very advanced if you go in there with a good background. It will be similar to a semester of college. Because the "counselors" are native Chinese speakers, if you already know a decent amount of Chinese, they will challenge you. Call the administrative offices and ask them. Plus, absolutely all activities, meals, daily camp life will be in Chinese. I think you will find it to be right for you. It sounds like you are at a level that could really benefit from it.</p>
<p>hsmomstef- "The reputation is that MMLA is a bit more academic"</p>
<p>My daughter is very interested in MMLA. Just curious about the source of your information about the reputation because I thought 2008 is the inaugural year.</p>
<p>I just wanted to add that there is a huge difference between the 2 week programs and the 4 week programs at Concordia Language Villages. For the 2 week programs, you practice your language and there are relatively informal lessons - you are mainly learning by immersion - but in the 4 week programs, there are formal classes and quite a bit of homework at night. Depending on the language, some of the 4 week programs say they are worth a year of high school credit. There are two offered for Chinese in 2008:
one June 16 to July 12 and one July 14 to August 9. $3325. Scholarships available.
2008</a> CLV Schedule and Payment Information</p>
<p>I checked out Concordia last year and the year before since my son was interested in it -- people on this site, a couple of his friends spread around the US and a few teachers/adults with experience. All the info is anecdotal -- but I got the feeling that Concordia is really more "what you make of it". So -- if you are totally committed to being academic and working hard on improving your language, I suppose you could do well -- but the general consensus was that the aim was to have fun and learn some language. I was told that the kids and counselors don't necessarily take the pledge to always speak in the official language (was told that by numerous people), told that the instruction in the language was more along the lines of "cultural exploration" than serious academic study of grammar, verb tenses etc. Like -- learning about spanish food and learning the words for different ingredients. I also heard that in many sessions, all ability levels are intermixed -- so except for specific instructional times, which weren't that long, most of the kids didn't speak much of the language. I was also told that the majority of the kids that attend are at the beginning level -- 1-3 years, so the concentration was on that level.</p>
<p>I think Concordia does a great job -- they have many options and it is great that they offer so many choices -- in language, in length, in dates.</p>
<p>But -- my research on MMLA is that they plan to have a more academic slant to the program -- they do expect the kids to take the language pledge seriously, they will be dividing them by ability groups for a solid portion of the time and the instruction will be more academic, with instruction on grammar, verb tenses, vocabulary building, etc. </p>
<p>I also have to say that I am swayed by the fact that MMLA is designed and sponsored by Middlebury and the Monterey Language Institute -- the reputation of both is fantastic.</p>
<p>Just my opinion -- I think both programs are excellent, it just depends on what you are looking for and the personality of the student.</p>
<p>My son is looking to skip a year of high school spanish (after 2 years of middle school spanish) so he will be applying for MMLA.</p>
<p>edit: I just read JJG's post and that may be true. I only spoke with one person that took the four week program. She said she wasn't serious about the study and had a blast with a few other girls. I got the feeling that her parents wanted her to take the four week class, and she wanted to have a good time. She did say that she didn't have any trouble finding kids to hang out with -- she said most everyone was there to relax and kick back. but that was just one session, one language (I think French -- can't remember) and one year.</p>
<p>MN sophomore, what district are you in?</p>
<p>thanks for everyone's advice......however i was looking only for domestic university programs, no concordia or anything in china. anyone have more info on the chicago program, the stanford program, or if you really have to speak chinese 24/7 at MMLA (because that might make the program sound a little less appealing).</p>
<p>what are you looking for exactly? college credit, to advance a year in Chinese, to cement some of your knowledge in chinese?</p>
<p>Do you want an academically intense program where you will be challenged the whole time -- or one that is more relaxed and combines learning with fun?</p>
<p>are your parents willing to pay the big bucks for a program like Stanford or Chicago -- which can be around $8000 for the summer program?</p>
<p>Are you more comfortable with kids your own age and slightly higher -- or will you be alright in a group where many of the kids are college aged?</p>
<p>Does distance -- as long as it is in the US -- matter?</p>
<p>What about dates and length of program -- how many weeks are you looking for?</p>
<p>Without knowing these answers, it is hard to give you solid suggestions. there are many, many, many programs out there that teach Chinese -- you need to find the one that is a match for you.</p>
<p>What I know about Stanford is that it is extremely expensive, nice campus, the kids are a good mix of ages and interest in academics. You will work hard for your grade, the expectations are that you are attending an intensive college course and you will do the work for it. the prerequisite for second year chinese is that you have completed the equivalent of first year chinese -- for stanford, that is probably at least 3 years of high school chinese. this program will have a lot of class work and home work -- you cover an entire year of college chinese in five weeks. don't expect to have time to do anything else.</p>
<p>university of chicago -- also expensive, but not as expensive as stanford. the majority of the kids will be college students, this program doesn't have as many high school kids. Very, very academically intense -- at least at the same level as Stanford, probably more so. you will learn chinese -- but not have time for much else. the Chicago program is 9 weeks long.</p>
<p>MMLA -- my understanding is that they will be fairly strict with the language pledge, but that they plan to ease into it. the first day or so, English will also be allowed so that matters of safety can be addressed and so that everyone understands what is going on and can ask questions -- then it is time for just the langauge being learned except in cases of safety or extreme need. the point is to learn the language -- and the best way to do that is by total immersion.</p>
<p>thanks for the advice. Price isn't an issue for me but the main reason I want to do a program over the summer is so I can advance a year in chinese. I'm currently taking chinese 3 and would like to be in chinese 5 instead of chinese 4 next year. All the programs sound great and intensity doesn't really matter to me. The only problem with programs like chicago is that they're kind of long which sucks because I really want to go there for a college and I think taking one of their courses may show them that I'm committed (do you really have to do the whole nine weeks? can't you just do the first 3 or six?). I'd also like to find out more info about middlebury (what texts they use for what level, how much material will be covered over the summer) considering it's just being offered to high school students this summer</p>
<p>Don't go to the Chicago program just because you think it will show your interest in the school. I think you'd be much better off taking Chinese locally (if you can), hanging out with your friends, and visiting Chicago on a Friday during the summer, when they have summer visit days. I think the summer language programs at Chicago give you an inaccurate view of how intense the school actually is-- from my understanding, the language programs are VERY intense, and they are sort of a beast of their own.</p>
<p>Do more research on Chicago's program to see if it's right for you, and if it isn't, find one that is. This is your summer.</p>
<p>From what you have said, the Chicago program and the Stanford program would not be a good fit -- too intense and too long for you.</p>
<p>Have you checked other summer programs? Brown, Boston University, Berkeley, NYU, Harvard, Georgetown, Washington and Lee, Columbia, George Washington, Brandeis. those are just a few of the summer college programs I am familiar with -- I don't know if they offer Chinese.</p>
<p>harvard=8 weeks...no thanks: LOL! I like the way u said it!</p>
<p>Have you tried this Study</a> in China ?</p>