China Study Tour Orientation Book www.StudyCLI.org
Welcome to CLI's China Study Tour! As a supplemental guide to your j o u r n ey t h ro u g h C h i n a , t h e C L I te a m h a s co m p i l e d t h i s comprehensive orientation book for your living and traveling needs. It remains our top goal to provide a safe and highly educational learning experience for the duration of your stay. Please do not hesitate to contact one of our team members at any time day or night if you have questions, concerns or translation needs. We greatly look forward to guiding you along your path to discovery!
General Information Money China is home to many banking networks, including the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the China Construction Bank, and the Bank of China. ATMs at any of these banks accept major international cards and are safe to use. Many ATMs offer 24-hour service, so you needn't worry if you find yourself without cash on hand after the sun has set. Throughout our China travels, we’ll lead the group to an ATM at least once every four days. If you need to exchange currency or travelers' checks for RMB, arrange for a CLI group leader to bring you to a major Chinese bank. Be sure to bring your foreign currency and passport in order to complete this transaction. There should be no service charge.
Postal Services CLI staff does not recommend sending valuable items internationally through the Chinese postal service, as it can be unreliable and expensive. That being said, service has significantly improved over the past several years. If you'd like to send a postcard, a member of the CLI team can help guide you to a local post office (邮 局, yóujú).
General Information (cont.) Safety & Security China is generally a safe country in which to study and sightsee. Nevertheless, any time you are traveling, you should always take necessary precautions to ensure your own personal safety. *If you experience any kind of safety emergency, please do not hesitate to call a member of the CLI team so that we may assist you in any way possible. Should a serious crisis occur, call Bradford immediately at 136-5963-0195.* Recommended Safety Tips: – Keep all of your belongings in sight and be mindful of them. Hold small personal bags close to your body, and keep them closed if possible. Pickpocketing is not a major problem in China, but it does happen from time to time. – In China, violent street crime and predatory behavior are rare occurrences –
but that doesn't mean that you should let your inhibitions down. Try your best to remain aware of your surroundings at all times. Travel in pairs or in groups. If a stranger makes you feel uncomfortable or in any way threatens you, immediately change your course of action (head into a store or hop in a taxi, for example). – If you know that you're going to be consuming alcohol, be responsible. Don't
accept beverages from strangers, and don't leave your drink unattended. Stay with the other members of your group, and make sure not to leave anyone behind at the end of the night. Take extra caution in getting home safely.
Safety & Security Recommended Safety Tips (cont.): – Crossing the road safely in China presents a challenge of its own. Here, it's important to remember what your mother always told you: make sure you look both ways before you step out into the street. Cars rarely obey traffic signals in China and motorcycles, electric scooters, bicycles and other pedestrians create additional safety hazards. Especially in Guilin, traffic patterns are probably nothing like what you were used to back home, so keep your eyes and ears open for oncoming vehicles. Proceed with caution, as there is a definite possibility that some drivers may not be paying much attention to the road or to you.
Medical Services If you find yourself in need of medical attention, please notify a member of CLI's on-site team as soon as possible. CLI emergency assistance is available around the clock, so don't hesitate to call at any time if you need to see a medical doctor. Should you catch a minor illness such as a seasonal cold or upset stomach, CLI staff is available to assist you in purchasing over-the-counter medicine at a local pharmacy. Let a CLI employee know that you're in need of medication, and we will be more than happy to help you find exactly what you need. If you'd prefer to head to the pharmacy yourself, you're likely to encounter one if you just head outside and keep your eyes open. But as always, give any of our local team members a call and we will assist you right away. *China’s 24-hour emergency number is 119, but if you contract a serious illness or sustain a significant injury, please call Bradford immediately at 136-5963-0195.*
“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard
Special Considerations Curiosity toward foreigners: Foreigners are a somewhat common sight in major cities, but for many people in smaller cities, and especially in the countryside, you may be the first foreigner they have ever interacted with. Expect occasional staring and calls of “Hello!” The stares and greetings from strangers are innocent and not done in malice; people are truly curious, and once they discover you speak Chinese, you will have a new best friend. The Great Firewall: In an effort to “harmonize” the Internet and prevent antigovernment activity, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) blocks access to numerous Web sites. Facebook, YouTube, Blogspot, Twitter, and other social networking/blogging sites are among those that you cannot access without a VPN. Additionally, major social and political advocacy sites, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, are blocked. Many foreigners and locals use a VPN to get around the firewall. Some, such as www.torproject.org, can be downloaded for free, but these are not as reliable as paid networks. Witopia (www.witopia.net) offers an excellent VPN for $60 (subject to increase), securing your privacy and providing you with relatively uninterrupted Internet access.
Special Considerations (cont.) Misinformation: It sometimes happens that local Chinese will unintentionally mislead you rather than say they don’t know the answer to your question. Therefore, just because someone tells you a specific product is not in stock or a food item does not have a particular ingredient does not mean this is necessarily so. It’s always a good idea to either be persistent or trust your instinct and ask for a second opinion. Daily rest time: There is a daily rest time from noon to 2:30pm that many Chinese people adhere to. Universities and most government offices close within this window, and it is therefore sometimes difficult to accomplish tasks requiring cooperation with locals during this time. Haggling/special foreigner prices: Since parts of China heavily cater to tourism and have countless visitors each year, vendors and cab drivers sometimes try to take advantage by overcharging for items and services. However, once they hear that you speak even the most basic Chinese, they will be much more willing to negotiate with you. In most bustling markets, expect to pay 25% to 30% less than the asking price for the majority of items, and in more touristy areas, the price could drop well over half. Work opportunities: Many foreigners living in Guilin teach English. The other choices are to find work with a local company in need of a foreign staff member, be savvy enough to find an online job with an international company, or start your own business. If you’re interested in working while at CLI, simply ask one of our program leaders for more information.
Utilizing CLI’s Language Environment In order to make the most of your time studying with CLI, it’s important to constantly be pro-active and to consistently seek new opportunities to advance your Chinese. Self study, conversing with cab drivers, shopping with local friends – there are countless ways to improve and validate your Mandarin language skills. Below are a few suggestions on how to best utilize CLI’s language environment: ö Make sure you know all 58 pinyin sounds: Do not undervalue the importance
of pinyin (拼 音). Once you can make all of the sounds, you can essentially say any word in Chinese. Concentrate on hearing and saying the slight variations between sounds. Tones are very important, but clear pronunciation of the pinyin sounds is still the most essential building block of spoken Mandarin. ö Speak (and think in) Chinese, regardless of your Chinese level: Whether you
are an absolute beginner or the world’s greatest Mandarin speaker, you can always advance your skills by practicing the language at every turn. You should not only be speaking in Chinese whenever possible, but also thinking in Chinese. This is absolutely crucial to becoming a fluent speaker. Think about what you did yesterday, what you plan to do today, where you hope to go tomorrow, and so on – all in Chinese. Mandarin will eventually become second-nature to you. You’ll then no longer need to translate your thoughts from your native language into spoken Chinese.
ö Keep CLI Informed: All of CLI’s team members—teachers, directors and tour
guides alike—are here because we love the Chinese language, love sharing it, and love that you’re interested. Let us know if you don’t understand something or have a specific question. Be an active learner. Don’t forget that a student’s dedication and persistence is the ultimate factor that leads to success when learning a foreign language. ö Attitude is everything: Maintain a relentless attitude in your approach to
mastering the Chinese language. If you feel you’re hitting a plateau, push even harder. Many non-native speakers have reached a high level of proficiency in the Chinese language, and with the right combination of language environment, determination and attitude, you can too. Warm hospitality abounds in China. Take the initiative to speak with those around you every day. Chat with local shopowners. Ask the police questions. Talk to waiters and waitresses during meals. These people are your teachers too. When it comes to spoken Chinese, there is no better way to improve than to simply speak.
ö Make the most of China:
CLI puts a great deal of emphasis on creating a community conducive to Chinese language learning. We maintain a one-to-one ratio of local community members to international language students, so do your best to embrace your team of educators. Our homestay families, Chinese student-roommates, language instructors, local managers and network of friends are all here to guide you on your path to proficiency – be sure to engage!
ö Engage with the CLI community:
“Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.” – Dr. Seuss
Online Learning Resources Upon completion of your travels through China, we sincerely hope that you continue learning the Chinese language and exploring China’s timeless culture. The following list was compiled to offer you easy access to a wealth of invaluable online learning resources: è ChinesePod (www.chinesepod.com): ChinesePod specializes in providing
recorded lessons and media-oriented self-study tools for Chinese language learners. Through a combination of audio, video, mobile, and online review materials, ChinesePod focuses mainly on Mandarin study for everyday use. è Nciku (www.nciku.com): Nciku is a free online Chinese-English dictionary
that additionally provides a diverse range of online language learning tools, including topic-based vocabulary lists, handwriting recognition, audio pronunciation, and sample dialogues. è Lingoes (www.lingoes.net): Lingoes is an easy-to-use dictionary and text
translation software available for free download. After downloading the Lingoes dictionary software, click on “Add Dictionaries” to download CEDICT Chinese-English Dictionary and Essential English-Chinese Dictionary. è CLI Online (www.studycli.org/online):
CLI’s innovative online learning system seamlessly connects students of all ages to a native Chinese instructor through an easy-to-use and intuitively designed educational platform. Language skills are improved and validated through direct communication with a Mandarin teacher located in Guilin.
Our core mission at CLI is to provide students with the most comprehensive path available toward full Chinese proficiency. This concept is not limited to language fluency. We strive to equip our students with a deep understanding of China’s diverse culture and a strong comprehension of its complex economic and political environment. China is among the most fascinating civilizations in human history, and its importance only grows. We welcome you to reach full proficiency in Chinese language and culture with CLI!
Welcome to CLI’s China Study Tour!
24-Hour Assistance Throughout the duration of your stay with CLI, please do not hesitate to call one of our team members at any time day or night if you have questions, concerns or translation issues. Bradford (Program Director) Molin (Guilin Director) Echo (Head of Teaching Staff)
136-5963-0195 139-7738-4687 139-7830-6934
W: www.StudyCLI.org | E: info@studycli.org | USA: (888) 781.8383 | PRC: (+86) 137.8858.7005