All of PRC Study's programs focus on providing total immersion into each area of study. All programs combine core language classes and business studies with social and cultural activities and tours, weekend excursions, interaction with native speakers; and language enhancement services, such as extra-curricular elective workshops, language labs to listen to specially tailored Chinese language tapes, one-on-one Chinese language tutorials with expert teachers after class, and language exchange partner pairing for Premium and Corporate Premium Student members.
• Putonghua and Business Putonghua Language Classroom Curriculum
• China Business Curriculum
• PRC Study's Immersion Curriculum
Putonghua and Business Putonghua Language Classroom Curriculum |
Language Component |
Hours |
Length |
Class Times |
Putonghua Language Class |
20 hrs / week |
4 wks to 1 year |
8 am - 12 noon M - F |
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PRC Study's Putonghua Programs are tactically designed to provide complete immersion as they offer the most comprehensive and balanced curriculum, in and out of the classroom, for learning the Chinese language. |
All PRC Study's Putonghua and China Business Programs incorporate all aspects of the Chinese language: Phonetics, speaking, listening, reading, writing, vocabulary, and grammar. T o enable students to advance in all aspects of the Mandarin Chinese language, classroom curriculum is divided into the following four main areas:
Phonics & Interactive Spoken Chinese
- Focuses on phonetics and developing accurate pronunciation skills and being able to communicate clearly and effectively
Listening Comprehension
- Focuses on developing listening skills, and the ability to discern sound and tone patterns, to comprehending Putonghua spoken conversations
Grammar and Vocabulary
- Focuses on Chinese grammar fundamentals, such as sentence patterns and structures, punctuations and word usage; and understanding and making use of Chinese idiom expressions and vocabulary. Also, focuses on teaching the Chinese character writing method by introducing the fundamentals of the radical system, brush stroke and stroke order.
Reading Comprehension and Writing Composition
- Focuses on developing reading comprehension and writing composition skills, and increasing vocabulary recognition and speed with which all this is done
Whereas the Putonghua language classes will cover more topics related to everyday living, the Business Putonghua language classes will focus more on business related terminology and business scenarios in addition to everyday topics, as well as on developing business writing and newspaper reading skills.
For more information, please also see Teaching Standards by clicking here .
China Business Curriculum |
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The China Business course is a short intensive course providing an insight into the country's current dynamic business practices and economy. Factors that influence doing business in China, including business practices and related regulations and laws, are examined. |
Intended to compliment the Putonghua language component, the business curriculum is well balanced and combines classroom lectures with on-site study trips to factories or company operations. The China Business course component consists of 4 sections: lectures, company seminars, joint ventures and onsite visits.
China Business Components |
Hours |
Length |
Class Times |
Business Lectures |
1.5 hrs / lecture |
2 - 6 lectures |
2 pm - 3:30 pm M, W |
Company Seminars |
1.5 hrs / seminar |
2 - 6 seminars |
7 pm - 9 pm T, TH |
Joint Venture Presentations |
1.5 hrs / pres |
2 - 6 presentations |
2 pm - 3:30 pm F |
On-site Study Visits |
2.5 hrs / tour |
2 - 6 visits |
2 pm - 4:30 pm T, TH |
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1) Lectures
Business professors from China's University of International Business and Economics present a series of lectures. With immense knowledge and experience, these professors provide students with an in-depth understanding of China's unique historical and current economic, political, and legal frameworks, including business practices and management styles.
Lectures given could include the following China business topics:
- Business Practice and Doing Business in China
- Economic Profile and Current Market Situations
- Foreign Trade Environment
- Financial System and Different Forms of Foreign Investment
- Historical, Political and Cultural Environment
- Legal System and Structure
- Political Framework and Recent Reforms
- Chinese History, Society and Culture
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2) Company Seminars
Designed to further provide first-hand information regarding China's business environment to participants, seminars are given by senior representatives from state-owned, private, foreign, and joint venture companies.
Seminars could be presented by one speaker talking on their area of expertise or take the form of a panel discussion whereby representatives from several companies talk about a specific industry sector. Speakers will share their experience on working and conducting business in China.
The seminars will give a highlight of certain industries and illustrate different forms of foreign investment, company operations and practices, management styles and marketing strategies used in China.
Seminars could include representative speakers from the following companies: Air China, BMW, China Mobile, Hewlett Packard, Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation, IBM, KPMG, Legend, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, and the likes.
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3) Joint Venture Presentations
Joint venture presentations offer participants a chance to learn about the business issues and working perspectives from both the expatriate and Chinese management personnel coming from within the same company. This way, students will not only hear from the expatriate representative, they will also hear from the local Chinese representative.
Joint venture presentations will illustrate different forms of joint venture cooperation, and provide an insight into company operations and practices, including best methods for mixing east-west management styles in China.
Joint venture presentations could be made by the following companies: Hewlett Packard, Motorola, Nokia, and the likes.
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4) On-site Study Visits
Participants will gain insights into Chinese business operations through on-site visits to a variety of state-owned, private, joint venture or wholly owned foreign enterprises in China.
During each on-site visit a presentation on the company's operations, a tour of the facilities, and in some cases product sampling will be given to participants. This will give participants an inside look into each of the company's operating standards, production and quality control process, employee training and management styles, safety controls employed, and much more.
On-site study trips could include visiting the following companies: Air China, China Mobile, IKEA, Nokia, Tetrapak, Yanjing Breweries, and many more.
PRC Study's Immersion Curriculum |
Social & Cultural Activities and Guided Tours (Available for all students)
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PRC Study also realizes that an added advantage in learning Putonghua quickly and effectively is to get deep into the Chinese's rich and colourful culture and society. As such, PRC Study organizes social and cultural activities, such as karaoke sing-along, mah-jiang night, bowling happy hour, Peking Duck feast, Peking Opera extravaganza, and the likes, throughout the week to help you apply what you have learnt in class in out-of-class settings.
In addition, PRC Study will arrange guided tours to visit historical landmarks like: The Great Wall, Summer Palace, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and other famous attractions. All t hese activities will also allow you to get better acquainted with fellow students, as well as with local natives in Beijing.
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Weekend Excursions (Optional for all students)
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From time to time, PRC Study will organize weekend excursions to further broaden students' knowledge of China and create an even more memorable experience. Such excursions could include places like Shanghai, Shaolin Temple, Tianjin, Datong, Xian, Wuhan, Inner Mongolia, etc.
Though weekend excursions are not included in the program fees, the cost for participation is quite low. For instance, it can cost as low as US$150 to $300 for an all-inclusive three-day weekend or a week tour package, with train tickets, hotel, meals, admission to major attractions, English speaking guides, and bus transportation all covered.
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Language Enhancement Services (for Premium and Corporate Premium Packages)
As well as learning the core Putonghua language in classroom settings, PRC study also offers additional free-of-charge language enhancement services to help facilitate students in their study progress:
Extra-curricular Elective Workshops
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PRC Study offers extra-curricular elective workshops to further help with your Chinese learning experience. The electives may focus on language development skills or learning more about the Mainland Chinese culture, history and art. The number of workshops offered within each of the two categories varies depending on program duration and may include the following:
Chinese Language , which includes the following electives:
Chinese Characters Reading & Writing , Chinese Composition , Chinese Idioms , Chinese Pronunciation , and Chinese Pronunciation Improvement
Chinese History and Arts , which includes the following electives:
Chinese Calligraphy , Chinese Culture , Chinese Games , Chinese History , Chinese Painting , Chinese Songs , Tai Ji Quan , Traditional Chinese Massage and Traditional Chinese Medicine
For description of Elective Workshops, please click here .
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Language Labs
PRC Study offers access to language labs so that students may practice and reinforce their Putonghua using specially tailored Chinese language learning tapes.
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One-on-one Chinese Language Tutorials
Tutoring has proven effective in advancing students' linguistics skills. PRC Study provides one-on-one after class tutoring lessons for students. Tutors are native Chinese teachers, certified in teaching Mandarin Chinese as a second language. Tutors offer invaluable personal support and assistance in monitoring individual progress throughout the study program and can assist students with language coaching, homework assignments, conversational practice, tips and advice, and more.
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Language Exchange Partnership
Interacting with locals is an essential part of the immersion program. At the start of the program, PRC Study arranges for each student to have a local Chinese student as a language buddy. Not only does this provide the perfect opportunity to practice Putonghua, it also enables cultural and social exchange and an opportunity to make new friends .
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Using and Borrowing Reference Materials
Use of the PRC Study Library full of Chinese reference materials and DVDs, with rights to borrow reference material for a three-day period for home use .
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For Business Program Students Enrolled in Corporate Premium Service |
This service is provided to Business Program Students enrolled in the Corporate Premium Service. Corporate Premium Student Members receive all Standard and Premium Student services and are also entitled to the following additional services:
- Source and arrange one-on-one meetings with Foreign or local Chinese companies with offices in Beijing within your specific industry
- Meeting accompaniment and translator / interpreter service
- Car transportation service to and from meeting location
- We recommend a maximum of two industry specific meetings for those enrolled in four-week program; four meetings for those registered in eight- week program; and thereafter by arrangement
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