Study Abroad China: Where and Why

A couple of months ago, I thought about making a blog post about my experience as a student in China. I wanted to make it a little bit personal, but also helpful and informative to those who were thinking about going to China to study Mandarin. During my 2 years as a Chinese language student, I got asked for tips and recommendations by both friends and strangers, and I wanted to make an outline of things to think about when studying in China.

I’ve only studied in China for two years, from 2010-2011 and 2012-2013, so I cannot promise that any advice, tips or recommendations will be recent and exact as this is mostly based on experience. But hopefully, reading this will help any readers get a better understanding of studying in China, and will help readers to pursue their decision if they’ve already thought about studying Mandarin.

This will (likely) be most helpful to:

• Those thinking or pursuing studies as a Chinese language student
• Overseas Chinese hoping to learn or re-learn the language
• Filipino-Chinese

 

—

I’ve decided to call this entry, Where and Why, two of the most basic, and in some way important questions to anybody’s quest for learning. Picking the where can help determine the atmosphere, learning environment, pace and opportunities to any study abroad experience, and why will help explain why I believe it’s relevant. This topic comes in three main parts in my entry: THE CITY, THE SCHOOL, THE ABODE.

1. THE CITY

When deciding to study in China, this is one of the first things you must ask yourself, where in China would you like to study? When I first decided to study in China, my dad let me pick between only two cities – Beijing and Xi’An. Being a Filipino-Chinese, I had thought that one of the choices my dad would ask of me was Xiamen, which was where my family was originally from in China. The reason my dad did not want me to study in Xiamen back then, was because he wanted me to improve on my Mandarin, and didn’t want the influence of the city and my family in Xiamen to divert me to learning Hokkien (Min Nan dialect) instead.

Back then, I was a little confused with my dad’s decision. I wanted to start in a smaller and more familiar town, and work my way up to a big city. Now that’s it’s been a few years since then, I can say that dad’s decision to make me choose between Beijing and Xi’An (I of course picked Beijing), really helped to mold my Chinese language studies experience.

Picking a city based on language, is very important. Like in my experience, dad knew that if I had picked Xiamen, I would be influenced to speak more Hokkien instead of Mandarin. Because I lived in Beijing, I was forced to speak Mandarin and only Mandarin. This is not to say that Beijing doesn’t have their own dialect, the “er” accent that you hear many Northern-Chinese people carrying when they speak is heavily rooted in Mandarin, but living in a city with no local dialect forces you to greatly improve on the one language.  In other cities where dialects are largely spoken, can also affect the way you learn Mandarin. For example, if you decide to take up your studies in Guangdong province, many of the people here speak Cantonese, so it can affect the way you learn Mandarin because learning a language is a lot about hearing and speaking it. It’s very easy to say that you learn Mandarin within the confines of the classroom, but if outside of that classroom a lot of other people speak a dialect, it becomes much harder to practice your listening skills and speaking skills .

Another thing to think about when picking a city is, how big the city is and how much populated it is with foreigners. Cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are very attractive to foreigners who are either there for studies, or there for work. How attractive a city is to a foreigner can affect the way you look at a language, or your outlook on learning. Cities with many foreigners tend to be easier on first-time language learners, because it’s much easier to find someone who speaks the same language as you. It’s easy to move into a comfort zone where you hang out with people who share the same language as you, but at the same time it can help to deter you from practicing Mandarin on a daily basis, which is what you need when learning any language. During my stay in Beijing, my housemates were all Filipino-Chinese like me, and I always hung out a lot with my other friends from the Philippines so my Tagalog improved during my stay there. The same thing happened when I was living in Xiamen, I hung out with a lot of my Filipino friends.

So being around people who can speak the same language as you can be a bit of a downer if you’re really serious about learning a new language.

Picking a city based on its popularity with foreign students, is also something to consider. I learned this from some of my classmates, who had shared with the class that during their first time learning Mandarin, they had picked smaller cities or smaller towns that were more secluded or weren’t very popular with foreign students. For language learners who are more serious about learning a language or are more adventurous about indulging in the language experience, picking a smaller city can be integral as it forces you to learn a language quicker. If you go to big cities where lots of people speak your language, you’ll fall into a comfort zone and choose to speak your language with other people. But if you go to a city where most people can speak only Mandarin, you’ll find yourself picking up the language faster as you won’t have the temptation to revert to your mother tongue.

Picking a city based on its access to other cities, can also be something of relevance. A lot of people think about choosing a city based on what the city has to offer and if they know people who’ve studied in those places, or maybe based on the weather. But one thing I think is of relevance when picking a city, is if that city has good access to other cities, by way of bus, normal train, or bullet train. Of course being in China is mostly comprised of being in a classroom and studying your books and preparing for the exam, but one thing I learned during my stay is that travel is an extra way to learn the language.

What’s great about being in any Chinese city, is knowing that your city has access to other cities by way of bus or train, because this is a lot more affordable than flying by airplane. From Beijing I was able to travel to Inner Mongolia by bus, I was able to travel to Tianjin by bullet train and I was able to travel to Nanjing and the Yellow Mountains by train. Some cities have faster access to other cities – like bullet trains, but other cities have the slower but cheaper methods of traveling to other cities via slower trains. I remember my Mainland cousin once telling me that a train from Xiamen to Beijing would take at least 36hours. I also remember reading about a bullet train being built  from Guangdong to Shanghai that passes by Xiamen (and a few other cities) so I think it should take less than 36 hours to get from the South to the North, but this was only finished earlier this year.

Bigger cities have quicker access to other cities, so if you’re the kind of person who loves to travel, it would be a great way to read up on the cities that have bullet trains and where these places can get you. Buses are always an option but it’s a much slower option, and it can only get you so far.

2. THE SCHOOL

After deciding on the city where you want to pursue your studies, another thing to think about is which school you want to apply to. Not all universities in China have language programs where they teach students Mandarin, but a number of well-known universities offer programs/courses to foreign students. In Beijing, the universities I’m most familiar with are Peking University (北大), TsingHua University (清华大学) and the Beijing Language and Culture University BLCU(北语). In Shanghai, FuDan University and JiaoTong University. In Xiamen, Xiamen University (厦大) and JiMei University. Aside from universities though, there are also specialty language schools that teach Mandarin to those who want to learn, and also provide students with the necessary paperwork like visas.

Picking a school based on the curriculum. Schools have personalities to the way they teach. Usually, universities cover all the basics, and teach the way students are taught in a normal school setting. They teach you everything you need to know, even things you may already know. If you’re looking to study the basics and work your way up, studying in these kinds of schools is the best way to go because learning with an experienced teacher and with classmates can push you to improve the way you learn a language. Schools like this, like my experience in Tsinghua and Xiamen U, have the usual lessons, homeworks, class projects, midterms, orals, and finals (which may vary from teacher to teacher).  Some schools also offer extra classes for certain subjects like Calligraphy, or Business Chinese, which can either be separate from or included in the tuition.

Now some people, already know a certain aspect to Mandarin and want to focus on something else. If someone already has the basics like conversation, characters and grammar down and they want to focus on Business Chinese classes, going to a university will be a little aggravating because you’ll be paying for all these other classes that you don’t really want to take. I can’t say for certain in Xiamen, but while I was in Beijing, I had a friend who applied to one of these schools. Fees are usually based on the classes you want to take, and they even offer 2 on 1, or 1 on 1 lessons for those who want to avoid having the distraction of other classmates. Schools like this are usually found in big cities where there are lots of foreigners, so it would be good to read up on the school first before you apply to a place like this, as I personally think it’s not as sure-footed as applying to a well-known university that a lot of people usually apply to.

Picking a school based on the schedule of classes. Not all schools work on the same school schedule, some have whole-day classes, some have half-day classes, it really depends on the way the curriculum is built. During my stay in Tsinghua, classes were either morning or afternoon, and it was the school that had a final say on which schedule you would be enrolled in (though they ask for your schedule preference). In Tsinghua, they would have a schedule of 2 classes per half-day on alternate days, depending on the class. Extra-curricular lessons were all in the afternoon, after normal school hours. On the other hand, during my time in Xiamen University, classes were a lot more flexible and like normal university classes. Certain classes were on certain times on certain days, so you could have days where you only had one class, or days where you had classes in both the morning and afternoon with so much free time in between. Extra-curricular lessons could be in the morning or afternoon, depending on the availability of the teacher, so you could pick a class as long as it didn’t conflict with any of your current classes.

Some people don’t think much about the schedule of classes but knowing how the schedules of classes will go can help in figuring out what to do during your spare time. When I was living in Beijing, me and most of my friends had morning classes, so we would schedule some of our exploration trips during the afternoons. Trips can be done on weekends and holidays but of course, weekends means more people.

Picking a school based on its admission requirements. Just like applying to university, studying in China has some requirements that you need to fulfill before you can study in a university. Most universities require the usual things, passport details, paperwork from previ0us schools, filled out application form, and so on. But there are certain schools, well for this example I’m only thinking of one school in particular, that I heard requires a letter of recommendation from someone affiliated with the university – like an alumni or an employee of the institution. I’m not sure if Peking University, which is the school I’m talking about, still requires this from interested applicants. But in any case, doing research on the Chinese language programs of the school of your choosing, is very important. These schools usually have English websites with detailed information about the program, and contact information should you have any questions, so do your research before making a decision.

I will not include tuition as a segment here because I think this is really the personal decision of whomever wants to learn Mandarin, based on all those discussed above.

3. THE ABODE

After deciding the city and the school, the last thing to think about is where you will be living. This decision is usually thought about after receiving the okay from the school of choice, and upon receiving the necessary requirements for your visa. Universities usually have dormitory housing for students applying to their language program, but this is often (in my experience) not enough for the number of students applying.

Fall semester is usually the time when dormitory housing gets filled up fast, as many students apply for this term.

Picking dormitory housing over an apartment. Picking dormitory housing is for parents, usually the safest option. Dorms are located within school so security is good, and it’s easy to find food because there are cafeterias/canteens within the school, as well as groceries and banks. And of course, it’s easier to get to classes if you’re already within the school grounds.

I’ll try to share what I can on this segment, but I don’t have much experience as I lived in an apartment.

Dormitories vary from school to school…

In Tsinghua, there are specific dormitory buildings for foreigners, and they have Western toilets and you can choose between 3 rooming options. They also require visitors to log in (it doesn’t matter if you’re from the building next door) and leave by curfew. Here, dorms for foreigners cost a lot more than dorms for locals, generally because the style and amenities are different. In Tsinghua foreign dorms, maids come in to clean your room at least once or twice a week, and furniture like a bed, closet, and even a TV are provided for. I’m not sure about payments for water and electricity.

In Xiamen U, there are no dorms for foreigners and dormitory rooming is  mixed with the local student population. I visited my friends in their dorm rooms, which is about 4 students to one room, which uses the Chinese style of 4 bunk beds. Each bunk bed is for one student, beds on top and tables on the bottom. Toilets are Chinese style, and you have to clean your own room. Prices in these kinds of dorms are a lot cheaper than in Tsinghua. I’m also not sure about how payments for water and electricity are made.

In universities, there are usually groceries and banks, post offices and university bookstores Groceries don’t only sell junk food, snacks, and drinks, they sell frozen food that you can steam, fruits, they also sell school supplies and shoes and other materials, depending on the grocery store. It’s like it’s own little community. In China though, cafeterias are very time-specific, they’re not open at all hours, and you have to compete with local students who are rushing through the cafeterias to get food and seats.

Picking an apartment over dormitory housing. Picking an apartment is for the more adventurous and usually doesn’t bode well with parents unless you’re going with friends. Apartments can be near to the school, and can be far from the school. Usually apartments nearer to schools cost more. Finding an apartment is hard because you need to look at the pricing of the apartment and its location, and if you can’t speak Chinese, you may find yourself having a hard time conversing with the landlord of the real estate agency (who by the way will charge you at least half the cost of one month’s rent). Also, a lot of landlords are hesitant about renting out a place for only 6 months, more so if you want to rent for only 3 months. They prefer renting out to people who can book the place for a year.

There are different kinds of housing, studio apartments and normal apartments. Studio apartments are good for those who don’t want to live with strangers (in case you’re in China alone) but they inevitably cost more. There’s also normal apartments where sometimes A) you rent the apartment with your friends and split the cost, B) you rent one room and the landlord will find other tenants for the other rooms, C) you go online and look for an apartment that’s looking to rent out a room. Even after you’ve found a suitable place, you have to look at the available furniture in the apartment because some apartments come with some furniture, and some don’t, sometimes you may have to haggle with the landlord about providing some extra furniture.

The thing to remember when looking at apartments is where it is in relation to your school of choice. First figure out what school gate is closest to where your classes will take place, this can help you find which buses pass by that place, and which stations are closest. If you want to buy a bike, this can alleviate some of the stress of finding bus routes, but you have to think about the distance you’ll be biking and the terrain, as well as how safe that area is for bikers. And if there’s a place to park your bike when you’re not using it (at home and at school). If it’ll take about 10-20 minutes to get from your apartment to your class by foot, all the better.

Another thing to remember when living in an apartment is all the extra fees you have to think about paying. These include rent, gas, water, electricity and administration fees (for the apartment complex). It depends on your contract with the landlord, how you go about paying these, whether you (or your roommates/flatmates) will pay for it yourselves at the respective places you’re supposed to pay them at, or if you pay the landlord and he’ll help you pay the fees.

In China, if you’re living in an apartment, it’s not hard to find groceries to buy things at. But always consider the necessities when your first move in, like drinking water, bedding, pillows, laundry detergent (make sure you have a working washing machine!), and maybe a some rags and a broom to clean the apartment up. Other things can be bought later on. When it comes to buying food, there’s always a small restaurant in the vicinity, so if you’re up to trying some local cuisine, it’s a great way to get yourself started.

Besides location in relation to school, the most important thing that foreigners have to remember when living in China, is registering at the local police station. If you’re living within school, this is usually not a problem as you register with your dormitory management. But if you live outside, in an apartment, you have to register at the local police station within 24 hours of your moving in. You have to bring your passport, school registration documents, photocopies of your landlord’s identification card, photocopy of your contract, among other things. You will be fined, per day, if you’re not registered properly. If you’re having problems with registration, make sure to have the contact info of your landlord, and of the Chinese language program department with you, should anything go wrong.

Living in an apartment is definitely more free than living in a dorm, because you can cook and do chores usually whenever you want (unless you live with other people), but at the same time, there are a lot more aspects to it than just renting a place and moving in.

 

—

After finally finishing this entry, which took me over a month to write….I’ve sort of realized how complicated it all looks. I hope it wasn’t too difficult a read for most of you, as I tend to blabber on after I’ve focused on a thought to write about. I’m trying to remember all the aspects about my stay in China, aspects which I hope could help anybody interested in studying in China.

For the most part, I mostly went at it without knowing anything, and learning as I (and my friends) gained experiences and encountered problems, discovered solutions, met people, and just matured during our stay.

Most of those who read this can choose to ignore most of what is written, you can survive in China without reading this, because you’ll eventually learn from experience when you’re there. But I hope that those who have a hard time deciding what to do, where to go, what to choose, will find choosing a little bit easier after they’ve read my lengthy entry.

I think, in the end, what’s most important is just deciding to do something and going along with things no matter what happens. One way or another, you’ll be forced into a situation where only you can decide. Things will happen, and you just have to face them no matter what. No matter how afraid or apprehensive you are of a new experience or environment, sometimes you just have to take the plunge and go for what you want!

Should you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below. I’ll try to answer your questions as best as I can, or try to find someone who can help answer your question. 🙂

 

I hope someone finds this entry of some relevance….