Mandarin Chinese and Internship Program Curriculum and Teaching Standards

The Mandarin and Internship Program is comprised of two main components:

• Internship Work Placement(30 to 40 hours per week)
• Mandarin Language Chinese Classes(20 to 30 hours per week)

Students may choose to enroll in the Mandarin Chinese and Internship Program only or combine it with the China Business Program.

The Mandarin Chinese and Internship program is based on the following process:

Students will participate in Mandarin Chinese classes during the first portion of their program. At the same time, students may choose to join the China Business events consisting of lectures, seminars and onsite visits to learn more about China's dynamic business environment. In the second half of the program, students will do a work practicum in a Chinese, foreign, or multinational company operating within Beijing.

The Internship component offers students and professionals work experience in China, pre-internship training, and assistance in incorporating language with job skills and Chinese business practices.

The Internship component is conducted on-site within a host company. Candidates will be able to gain specialized and practical business experience as based on the student's respective areas of interest, educational background, Chinese language abilities, and previous work experience.

How it Works

PRC Study has developed numerous relationships with local and multinational companies, representing many different industry sectors and work positions in China where students may intern. Students may be placed in one or two companies during the internship time period. Each internship position is tailored to the individual according to his/her educational background, previous job experience, Chinese language skills, availability, interests, and preference.

However, it is recommended that those applying for an internship have at least a basic level knowledge of Mandarin Chinese. Internship placement for those who have little or no Mandarin skills will be decided on a candidate to candidate basis.

Pre-Internship Preparation

Students can participate in a series of business elective workshops offered by a leading HR specialist to learn more about interview skills used in China, Chinese CV writing, basic business writing, Chinese business etiquette, and Chinese work environment and culture. This pre-internship training will allow students to know more about the differences that exist between the Chinese and western business environments and enable students to be better prepared to enter the Chinese workforce.

The Right Internship For You

Your placement in a company in Beijing for an unpaid internship is guaranteed. In some cases, the internship may include a stipend paid by the company during the internship period for travel or lunch purposes.

Internship placements are offered in a range of professional areas. Once you arrive in Beijing, our Program Consultants will consult with you on the right internship for you as based on your educational background, previous job experience, Chinese language skills, availability, interests, and preference. Students may request an internship placement from one of the following fields:

• Accounting
• Automobile
• Banking and Finance
• Consulting and Business Development
• Education
• Food and Beverage
• Hotel
• Human Resources
• Journalism and Media
• IT (including Computer Networking, Web, Telecommunications, etc.)
• Law
• Marketing, Public Relations, and Advertising
• Non-Profit
• Printing and Publishing
• Real Estate and Property Management
• Retail
• Travel and Tourism

The companies will have the right to interview students prior to the confirmation of an internship placement. Additionally, students will be required to complete an ongoing evaluation form pertaining to their work experience placement. Upon completion of the internship, each participant will receive a reference letter.

Stipend

Internships are unpaid. However, some companies may pay a stipend for travel or lunch purposes during the internship periodЈ¬ The value of the stipend is determined by the company.

Hours of Work

The Internship component will take place during the second half of the program, once the student has finished their Mandarin study in the first half of the program. The internship placement will offer the participant 30 to 40 ours of work experience a week depending on the company.

The China Internship component offers an excellent opportunity to supplement your CV with hands-on internship work. Our interns will not only gain valuable China work experience, but also expand their network of contacts while putting into practice their business knowledge and skills. Additionally, the internship experience will give and insightful examination into China's dynamic business structure, including its social and cultural environments.

Internship Program Achievement Assessment

During and at the completion of your internship, we'll work with you to make an assessment of your program achievement so that your experience may be included in your resume, and shared with your school if required. This will help you combine research about the field in which you worked with your own personal impressions.

Certificate and Recommendation

Return home with a full portfolio documenting your international work experience recognized by employers, universities and governments worldwide. At the conclusion of your internship program, you'll be eligible for the PRC Study Certificate of International Internship, as well as a recommendation letter highlighting your achievements.

For this program, the Mandarin Chinese language classes are available at the Beijing Language and Culture Univeristy, Tsinghua University or the PRC Study Academy. The classes are taught by teachers who hold degrees in teaching Mandarin, and who are also certified by the Chinese Ministry of Education to teach Mandarin as a second language to foreign students. Students who wish can obtain university credits.

The Mandarin Chinese language programs incorporates all aspects of the Chinese language including, speaking, reading, writing, listening, grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, phonetics and pronunciation, and with a constant focus on Chinese culture, business and way of life.

Classroom curriculum is divided into four main areas: Phonics & Interactive Spoken Chinese, Listening Comprehension, Grammar & Vocabulary, and Reading Comprehension & Writing.

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, the ability to discern sound and tone patterns, and to comprehending Mandarin spoken conversations

Grammar and Vocabulary
Focuses on Chinese grammar fundamentals, such as sentence patterns and structures, punctuations, and word usage; as well as 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.

Summary of the 6 Chinese Language Proficiency Levels:

Prerequisite:

• Total beginner or with little background in Mandarin Chinese and Chinese phonetics with knowledge of less than 400 Chinese characters
• Unable to communicate on simple and basic everyday topics in Chinese

Course Aims :

• Provide solid foundational learning, focusing on teaching Chinese phonetics by incorporating tone exercises to ensure that students learn correct Chinese pronunciation and intonation
• Help students to begin developing Chinese listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills with the use of pinyin and Chinese characters
• Introduce the basics of Chinese grammar and simple sentence structures
• Teach necessary vocabulary and "survival" Chinese for students to conduct simple dialogue exchanges for basic daily life requirements and needs
• Train students on how to write basic Chinese characters by introducing the radical system (Chinese character composition), different types of brush strokes and stroke orders
• After completion of course, students should be able to engage in basic and simple conversations; recognize over 400 Chinese characters/expressions; and be ready to progress into the Upper Beginner level.

Prerequisite :

• Understand the basics of Chinese phonetics
• Can communicate using simple and basic sentences and know fewer than 800 Chinese characters/expressions

Course Aims :

• Provide more foundational learning to help students improve advanced Chinese pronunciation and sound recognition by focusing on use of proper phonetics and intonation with accuracy
• Help students improve and further develop their listening, speaking, reading, writing, and vocabulary usage skills
• Teach students to master the basics of Chinese grammar, while introducing the usage of slightly more complicated sentence structures
• Assist students to broaden their vocabulary and formulate various consolidated ideas and thoughts in Chinese for daily communication under a wide range of topics
• Help students learn to write more complicated Chinese characters with focus on using advanced brush strokes and stroke orders and use of proper writing techniques

Prerequisite:

• Know more than 800 Chinese characters/expressions
• Have a grasp of basic Chinese grammar and sentence structures
• Can engage in simple everyday conversations using complete sentences

Course Aims :

• Help students express and communicate oneself in Chinese with fluency and correct pronunciation
• Help students learn more complex Chinese grammar and major sentence structures in a systematic and intuitive manner
• Assist students in comprehending short stories that focus on improving grammar while introducing practical and more advanced vocabulary concerning a number of topics related to culture, history, and society
• Teach students how to direct a conversation in varied situations according to their thoughts using words in their proper context
• Teach students basic Chinese idioms, proverbs and colloquial sayings to be incorporated into their daily Chinese communication
• Further help students develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills to enable better expression of student's opinions and ideas in a rational and logical manner.
• After completion of course, students should be able to engage in daily everyday topics with a bit of sophistication; recognize over 1500 Chinese characters/expressions; and be ready to progress into the Intermediate level.

Prerequisite:

• Know more than 1,500 Chinese characters/expressions
• Have a grasp of Elementary Chinese grammar and sentence structures
• Can engage in daily everyday topics and express oneself with a bit of sophistication

Course Aims:

• Establish a finer and more extensive vocabulary background with the aim of enabling participants to functionally express themselves in broad and specific contexts with people from different backgrounds
• Focus on reading and writing compositions, as well as understanding more complex grammar and sentence structures by learning rhetorical expressions which would enable students the ability to express themselves eloquently in an effective and persuasive manner
• Help students to become increasingly fluent by doing paraphrasing exercises to retell stories or articles while inciting students to engage in lively debates
• Introduce more practical situational texts to provide a greater awareness of Chinese culture and society, as well as the use of more sophisticated Chinese idioms
• Introduce students to advanced writing in various styles including prose, poetry, and business correspondence
• After completion of course, students should be able to gain a deeper understanding of the Chinese culture, converse on a wide variety of topics in practical and situational context; express themselves in an articulate manner using more complicated sentence structures; recognize over 2500 Chinese characters/expressions; and be ready to progress into the Advanced level.

Prerequisite:

• Know more than 2,500 Chinese characters/expressions, including idioms
• Have a grasp of Intermediate to Advanced Chinese grammar and sentence structures
• Have the ability to engage in practical situational context and express themselves using complicated sentence structures

Course Aims:

• Teach students higher-level subject matters related to politics, economy, literature, and society, as well as to have in-depth debates and detailed discussions.
• Class work includes reading newspapers, watching films and documentaries, and listening to news broadcasts enabling students to grasp the meaning of more sophisticated Chinese messages and information while building up higher vocabulary required for intellectual conversations
• Assist students to use advanced Chinese in order to express their opinions and insights with precisions, vividness, and richness in a very logical and comprehensive manner
• Teach students how to write formal business letters and correspondences
• After completion of course, students should be able to discuss general and specialized topics, raise complex questions, and express their opinions clearly; recognize over 3500 Chinese characters/expressions; and be ready to progress into the Upper Advanced level.

Prerequisite:

• Know more than 3,500 Chinese characters/expressions
• Be able to read and comprehend newspapers, periodicals and understand radio broadcasts and television programs
• Can express oneself systematically using appropriate expressions and language norms.

Course Aims:

• Help students to become literary scholar with aristocratic knowledge and understand classical Chinese literature and Chinese philosophy;
• Assist students to gain further proficiency in understanding and expressing in-depth, intellectual comments on news reports, television, and radio broadcasts
• Provide a practice forum for students to discuss and debate on contemporary issues
• Help students to develop a solid knowledge and comprehension of Chinese idioms with full and extended knowledge about Chinese culture and language
• Teach students how to express themselves in a highly academic level, tackling the most complicated and complex sentence structures while being able to summarize and analyze all kinds of Chinese literature
• Assist students to gain an even better understanding of Chinese linguistic concepts and theories in order to understand modern Chinese language
• After completion of course, students would be at a highly proficient Chinese level with the ability to discuss and debate on complex issues; recognize over 5000 Chinese characters/expressions; and have a complete and thorough knowledge of the Chinese language.

Students are first placed according to the Chinese language proficiency level they indicate on the application form. During the morning of the first day of class, students will be tested in the following areas: grammar, comprehension, writing, and fluency. Based on the test results, each student will be placed in a class best suited to his/her current comprehension and fluency level. The classes will be both comfortable and challenging.

Friendly, professional, and with many years experience, all the Mandarin teaching instructors are native Putonghua speakers. Qualified with a minimum of a university degree related to Chinese language, these teachers are also certified by the Chinese Ministry of Education to teach Mandarin Chinese as a second language to foreigners. Highly trained, qualified, and active in curriculum development, the teachers are keen to pass their knowledge to you. Their goal is to help you succeed in learning the Mandarin Chinese language which you can use in daily life and in the workplace.

Teaching materials, textbooks and handouts used in classes are carefully selected according to different learning levels, enabling students to develop their Chinese language skills while having fun, as well as be stimulated and challenged at the same time.

Textbooks, as well as a Chinese-English dictionary, are provided by PRC Study for all full service students. Cassette tapes can be purchased at an additional fee.

Students may choose to participate in the Mandarin Chinese classes or the Business Mandarin classes. Please note however, that a minimum of 800 Chinese characters / expressions are required for enrollment in the Business Mandarin classes which are only available at the PRC Study Academy.

Students at the beginner level will be taught simpler topics, while advanced level students will be presented with more complex and specialized subject matters.

Topics covered in the Mandarin Chinese classes include: Everyday lifestyle situations, current affairs, Chinese history, culture, and society. More advanced students will also be presented with topics related to economy and current affairs, leading up to reading newspapers, periodicals, literature and understanding television and radio programs. Those students at the Upper Advanced level will also be presented with topics related to classical Chinese literature and Chinese philosophy.

Students enrolled in the Business Mandarin Chinese classes will still learn the topics as stated above, but the syllabus will also be more geared towards learning Mandarin Chinese language as used in a workplace and business situations.

PRC Study's Mandarin and HSK programs are carefully designed to promote accelerated comprehensive learning through total immersion. Classroom instructions provide structured learning, enabling learners of all levels to achieve expedited progress in Chinese language skills within a short period of time while out-of-class activities will give students insights into China's colourful culture and lifestyle.

A highly interactive approach is adopted, with focus placed on giving students ample opportunity to practice Mandarin Chinese speaking, listening, reading and writing skills through:

• Classroom settings
• One-on-one language tutorials
• Language Partner Exchange
• locial / Cultural Activities
• Everyday living in China

The goal is to quickly enable students to communicate competently and effectively using the Chinese language while preparing for the HSK exam.

After successful completion of the course the student will be awarded a certificate issued by the university or institution he/she attended. University credits may be received provided the student has met all the requirements by their hometown university.

PRC Study places great emphasis on providing an excellent immersion environment for students to learn Mandarin Chinese. We offer a 10 components formula for accelerated Chinese immersion learning, which includes: 1-on-1 after class language tutorials; multi-media learning courseware; supervised homework support; language exchange program; language lab; use of library and reference materials; electives, social activities, guided tours and excursions; student development assessment and certification; and Mandarin only policy. For more details, please click on Total Immersion Curriculum.

Students' Chinese language development progress is regularly assessed by homework assignments and tests throughout the program. Semester and academic year programs also have formal mid-terms and final examinations. Attendance is mandatory. After successful completion of the course, students are awarded certificates at the end of their study program.

In addition, PRC Study Quality Assurance team will closely monitor the programs offered by each university or institution and ensure that they are providing the best educational services by giving them student feedbacks.

Gerald Chaston, Australia

"PRC Study helped me find my internship at IBM! That was great, I learnt 200 Chinese expressions about informatics during the Mandarin Chinese classes. I was then able to communicate with my colleagues in simple Chinese, and even to some clients' inquiries. My resume has been fully valorized and I gained a solid experience in the field I want to work in. Thank you PRC Study."

• Mandarin Chinese and Internship Program Overview
• Mandarin Chinese and Internship Program Details and Structure
• Mandarin Chinese and China Business Program Fees & Schedules
• Registration Procedures
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