The simple truth is, if you are not prepared to embrace the
Chinese lifestyle and culture, what are you doing investing
your time and money studying the language? We encourage you
to jump into the pool.
The support provided to ARAQ Comprehensive and Professional
Programme participants is both tangible and intangible. Upon
arrival at Beijing Airport we will issue you with a mobile
phone which will keep you in touch with both us and your friends
during the entire duration of your study course. We provide
you with two "mentors" who can help you in many
ways, particularly during the initial few months of your course.
We will be your lifeline in times of emergency, your consultant
in times of indecision and your go-between in times of misunderstanding
or conflict.
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With this support in place
you are ready to swim. Your first decision will be whether
to live in a dormitory room or an apartment. Although
dormitories are relatively expensive, for participants
studying only one semester they are really the only
option. You will be living with other foreigners, but
will have ample opportunity to speak Chinese as only
a few of them will speak English. Dormitory life is
a fascinating cultural experience in itself. |
You will make both Chinese and foreign friends during your
stay. Your university will arrange all kinds of activities
for its students. Examples are trips to local places of interest,
Peking Opera performances, sports days, speech contests and
plays acted out in Chinese by the foreign students themselves.
The ARAQ Network will also actively encourage you to join
our social evenings and will contact you regularly to find
out if there are any other ways we can help you.
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After your
first semester it is likely that you will learn to swim
by yourself. You will develop more friends from outside
of university circles and you may find chances to speak
your native language become limited. You will come to
know your city well and will have the confidence to
travel around other areas of China with foreign friends.
You will not need the assistance of the ARAQ Network
so much (and this is reflected in the
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fee scale for longer-term participants), but its presence can
still be reassuring and on occasion necessary. In short, you
will become submerged in Chinese life. You will understand far
more about the life and culture of Chinese people than the average
student in Beijing or Shanghai. Not only will you make Chinese
friends, you will quickly develop the skills to converse with
them in their native language.
Click here to view some photos
we have collected relating to student life in China
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