YOUR PATH TO CHINESE FLUENCY BEGINS
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China is home to one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations, a staggering one-fifth of earth’s population, the world’s second largest economy, and humanity’s most spoken language — Mandarin Chinese. As one of the most dynamic countries in the world, China provides the perfect setting for an ideal study abroad experience. Whether you are looking for an unforgettable time abroad, the fast track to Chinese fluency, or the tools necessary to successfully operate in China’s booming marketplace, the CHINESE LANGUAGE INSTITUTE (CLI ) has a program that’s the perfect fit for you — we’ll even create a program specially suited to your needs and interests.
THE CLI MODEL
OUR PROGRAMS
OUR STRATEGIES
CLI is led by a passionate group of individuals who all have a strong interest in China and Chinese. Our mission is to share our knowledge and experience with every student who joins our learning community. While classroom instruction is a fundamental part of our pedagogy, the CLI model places an equal amount of importance on external learning components by facilitating opportunities for students to use their Chinese in real-life situations. The CLI model is constantly being built upon, refined, and improved, yet constant engagement with the Chinese language through learning-based games, activities, and organic interactions with native Chinese speakers remains at the core of all our learning systems and programs.
At CLI, we recognize that different students have different needs and learning styles. We offer four core programs to accommodate this diversity: 1. The Immersion Program provides the fastest path to Chinese fluency through intensive one-on-one lessons; 2. College Study Abroad provides for-credit study at CLI’s affiliate institution, Guangxi Normal University, and gives students the full college study abroad experience while also providing CLI’s comprehensive support, one-on-one Mandarin instruction, and weekly learning-based activities; 3. China Seminars are fully customizable educational travel experiences in China designed by faculty leaders in conjunction with CLI; 4. Teach in China provides English-teaching positions in Guilin to individuals who seek to build competitive professional skills and learn Chinese at their own pace.
We work with each student at CLI to provide a completely customized learning experience. To help you meet your goals, we employ a variety of strategies, including one-on-one language instruction with three unique instructors, small-group class options, subject course offerings based on academic interest, regular formal and informal assessments, a language pledge option, and immersionbased housing opportunities. With CLI’s core values of learning through engagement and interaction, formal classroom instruction is always complemented by daily conversation with native Chinese speakers outside the classroom, activities throughout that week that are designed to immerse students in Chinese language and culture, and local and regional travel excursions.
MEET SOME OF THE TEAM. Dedication is what binds the CLI Team together — we have devoted ourselves to building cultural bridges between China and the rest of the world, and we love what we do. Each member of our international team has extensive China experience and profound professional and academic interest in the PRC. Our primary goal is to help you understand China and Chinese by sharing our knowledge and expertise with you in every way we can.
ROBERT FRIED
BRADFORD FRIED
ECHO ZHAN
罗中立
费博拉
詹雪宁
CO-FOUNDER
CO-FOUNDER
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Robert first arrived in China in the summer of 2007 and has since devoted himself to making the country more accessible to the Western world. In 2009, he co-founded CLI while studying advanced Chinese in Beijing. His long-term dedication and leadership has helped establish the organization as a leader in Chinese language and cultural education. Robert graduated summa cum laude from Virginia Tech with a BA in Political Science and Communication Theory and also holds an MBA/MA joint-degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Robert is fluent in Mandarin.
With more than 12 years on the ground in China and 11 years working in higher education, Bradford brings a depth of experience unique among Americans living in China. Bradford is the longest serving foreign professor at Guangxi Normal University, CLI’s university partner. In 2012, he was promoted to the university’s Director of International Staff, making him one of a select few American university administrators in China. Bradford holds a BA in Philosophy from Lewis & Clark College as well as an MA in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language on a fully funded fellowship from Hanban, the parent organization behind the Confucius Institute. Bradford is fluent in Mandarin.
Echo is from Baoding, Hebei. She grew up in a typical Chinese village, and although her hometown is near Beijing, its traditional essence has been preserved. Echo earned her BA and MA in Chinese Literature at Guangxi Normal University. She loves reading works of literature in both Chinese and English. Echo joined CLI in 2010 and remains one of the longest tenured members of the team. Echo has played a major role in developing educational programs as CLI’s Head of Teaching Staff, and in 2014 she became Director of Operations. Echo is constantly seeking to learn about the different cultures and ways of thinking that students from all over the world bring to CLI.
BRYAN YONG
AVRIL GAO
MINGMING LIU
勇立莹
高丽萍
刘明明
CHINESE TEACHER
CHINESE TEACHER
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR
Bryan is from Harbin, Heilongjiang, in the cold, snowy reaches of northeast China. Bryan holds a BA from Guangxi Normal University and has been teaching Chinese since 2009 — he was one of CLI’s very first Mandarin instructors. Bryan is well known among students for never letting mistakes slip, yet always keeping a smile on his face as he corrects them. Bryan enjoys the warm southern climate of Guilin and loves participating in CLI events and excursions.
Avril was born in Yulin, Guangxi, to a family with a legacy of teaching — her parents and grandparents were all teachers. Greatly influenced by her father, who taught Chinese for more than 40 years, Avril has been drawn to literature and language throughout her life. Avril earned her BA from Guilin Electronic Technology University in 2004, and she began working in education the following year. In 2010, she joined the CLI Team, where she continues to cultivate her interest in linguistics and pedagogy. In addition to teaching Mandarin, Avril develops new courses and teaching strategies, practices, and materials.
Mingming is from Harbin, a bustling Chinese city in the snowy northeastern province of Heilongjiang. After studying Accounting and Financial Management at Harbin University of Commerce, Mingming went on to graduate from Heilongjiang University with a BA in Business Management and Business English. Upon graduation, she held a sales director position for two years before bringing her experience and outgoing personality to CLI in 2012. Mingming has a passion for exploring new places and experiencing new cultures. She’s also an excellent cook (but rarely cooks), and she knows all the good restaurants in Guilin.
SUNNY XU
MARGARITA MO
BRYAN HERBERT
许云花
莫琳
林恩
HEAD OF TEACHING STAFF
LOCAL COORDINATOR
DIRECTOR OF ENGAGEMENT
Sunny is from Zhoukou, Henan, and holds a BA in English from Guangxi Normal University. Sunny joined the CLI Team in 2010. After excelling as a full-time Chinese teacher for four years, she was promoted to Head of Teaching Staff and now leads CLI’s academic department and its curriculum development and teacher training programs. Sunny is dedicated to bringing practicality into language learning curriculum and maintaining the immersive qualities of the CLI student experience. She is constantly developing new ways to motivate students to take what they learn in the classroom and apply it to their daily lives in Guilin. Sunny enjoys hiking and traveling to southeast Asia.
Margarita is from Guilin, Guangxi, and holds a BA in Education from Guangxi Normal University. She has worked for several domestic and international organizations developing programs to bring educators and travelers to China, and in 2010 she joined the CLI Team as a Chinese teacher and Local Coordinator helping to arrange CLI’s China Seminars. Margarita is fluent in Chinese, English, and Spanish. She has a passion for languages and traditional Chinese medicine. In her free time, Margarita enjoys exploring the world’s diversity of cultures. Most recently, she has traveled to Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
Bryan began his Chinese learning experience in 2010 and soon decided to journey to China to immerse himself within its language and culture. Before joining the team full time, Bryan was an Immersion Program student at CLI for six months. He is now determined to help CLI students realize their highest language goals by assisting in any way possible throughout their learning experiences. Bryan is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and plans to continue elevating his language ability over a lifetime of learning. Bryan graduated from James Madison University with a BBA in Management.
A LOOK INSIDE CLI. At CLI, we recognize that different people have different learning styles and that accommodating a spectrum of needs means having a spectrum of options. Because your living environment is a key component in your learning experience, we offer a variety of living arrangements: a private room at CLI, a private apartment in Guilin, a homestay, an apartment with Chinese roommates, or, for Study Abroad students, international dorms at Guangxi Normal University.
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WHERE IT ALL HAPPENS. Guilin was chosen as CLI’s home for a multitude of reasons — it’s warm; it’s far away from China’s big, polluted cities; it’s simple to navigate; local residents are friendly and engaging; the cuisine is excellent; and the city has been famous for its breathtaking natural beauty for more than a thousand years. Guilin maintains China’s rich traditional culture yet boasts all the comforts brought on by the PRC’s rapid modernization.
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IMMERSION PROGRAM
COLLEGE STUDY ABROAD
CHINA SEMINARS
TEACH IN CHINA
IMMERSION PROGRAM This is CLI’s core language learning track. With fully customizable short- and long-term study opportunities, the program delivers complete language immersion in an environment carefully designed to maximize learning speed and effectiveness.
IMMERSION PROGRAM
COLLEGE STUDY ABROAD
CHINA SEMINARS
TEACH IN CHINA
IMMERSE YOURSELF The Immersion Program is CLI’s core language learning track. With up to 20 weekly hours of oneon-one Mandarin instruction, small-group class options, daily learning-based extracurricular activities, a language pledge option, a variety of housing options, and travel excursions to remote parts of China, CLI’s Immersion Program is carefully designed to maximize retention and learning speed, allowing students to improve their language level as rapidly as possible.
“THE BEST PART OF CLI’S INTENSIVE CHINESE PROGRAM IS THE ONE-ON-ONE TEACHING. IT BROUGHT ME FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO SPEAK AT ALL TO THE POINT WHERE I COULD UNDERSTAND THE PEOPLE AROUND ME AND HOLD CONVERSATIONS IN JUST FIVE WEEKS.”
THE BEST WAY TO LEARN CHINESE
ACTIVITIES AND TRAVEL EXCURSIONS
CLI’S PENGYOU PROGRAM
One-on-one instruction coupled with a rich learning environment is the fastest way to learn Chinese. Your daily one-on-one lessons with three unique CLI instructors will provide you with a personalized framework that you can use to advance and validate your Chinese language skills hour by hour, day by day, and week by week. Begin on any Monday of the year and immerse yourself in Chinese language and culture with CLI as your guide.
In addition to your 20 weekly hours of one-on-one and small group instruction, CLI organizes excursions and weekly activities designed to immerse students in Chinese language and culture. Join other CLI students and team members for bamboo boat rides down the Li River, hikes up Guilin’s breathtaking Karst Mountains, photography excursions to the Longji Rice Terraces, cooking lessons with Chinese chefs, teahouse talks, visits to Buddhist and Daoist monasteries, and more.
At CLI, we strive to provide a learning environment that leads to lifelong friendships. To cultivate friendships and engagement, CLI offers its Pengyou Program as an optional add-on to your Immersion Program at no additional cost. If you choose to participate in the Pengyou Program, CLI will match you with a student from our local university affiliate who has also applied to join the program, and this student will act as your local friend, resource, and language partner.
INCLUDED IN TUITION Immersion Program tuition includes 20 weekly hours of one-on-one and small group Mandarin instruction, a comprehensive orientation, 24/7 support and emergency assistance, high-quality housing accommodations (private room at CLI, private apartment, homestay, or apartment with Chinese roommates), travel excursions and weekly activities, the Pengyou Program option, and visa assistance.
KASEY Virginia Tech, Summer 2014
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Reviewing the day’s lesson with Sunny; CLI Immersion Program students on an excursion to a countryside village in Guilin; speaking drills at the CLI Center; group excursion to a Buddhist monastery community in northern Yunnan; writing practice with Bryan; CLI teachers sharing a story.
COLLEGE STUDY ABROAD Study abroad with CLI and enjoy weekly activities and events, travel excursions, and one-on-one Chinese lessons at CLI while enrolled full time at one of China’s most beautiful institutions of higher learning, Guangxi Normal University (GXNU). Have the time of your life and emerge speaking Chinese!
“THE WAY THAT CLI OPERATES HAS GOT TO BE THE BEST METHOD TO LEARN CHINESE. ONE MONTH IN GUILIN WAS MORE PRODUCTIVE THAN AN ENTIRE YEAR OF COURSEWORK IN A NORMAL COLLEGE CLASS.”
IMMERSION PROGRAM
COLLEGE STUDY ABROAD
CHINA SEMINARS
TEACH IN CHINA
THE CLI-GXNU PARTNERSHIP Since 2009, CLI has partnered with Guangxi Normal University (GXNU) to offer a one-ofa-kind college study abroad experience in Guilin. Students enrolled in a university who would like to earn college credit for a full term or an academic year may apply. Non-degreeseeking students may also apply. In addition to GXNU coursework, Study Abroad students will attend between three and 10 weekly hours of oneon-one Chinese language training at CLI.
CURRICULUM All CLI Study Abroad students are enrolled full time at GXNU. Students attend up to 20 weekly hours of for-credit coursework covering subjects ranging from Chinese language, history, and culture to politics and economics. In addition to Chinese language courses and English-taught courses at GXNU, all CLI Study Abroad students are also enrolled in three to 10 weekly hours of one-on-one Mandarin instruction at CLI.
PROGRAM DATES
PENGYOU PROGRAM
INCLUDED IN TUITION
CLI’s Study Abroad program runs on a full-term or academic-year schedule. Winter and summer sessions are taught exclusively at CLI, while fall and spring semesters are taught jointly at GXNU and CLI. To have the opportunity to attend GXNU courses, students must begin their coursework in early March (spring semester) or early September (fall semester).
At CLI, we strive to provide a learning environment that leads to lifelong friendships. To cultivate friendships and engagement, CLI offers its Pengyou Program as an optional add-on to your Study Abroad program at no additional tuition cost. If you choose to participate in the Pengyou Program, CLI will match you with a GXNU student who has also applied to join the program, and this student will act as your local friend, resource, and language partner.
College Study Abroad tuition includes full-time enrollment at GXNU, housing accommodations (GXNU international dormitory, private apartment, homestay, or apartment with Chinese roommates), three to 10 hours of one-on-one Mandarin instruction at CLI, comprehensive orientation, 24/7 support and emergency assistance, travel excursions and weekly activities, the Pengyou Program option, and visa assistance.
ALLISON Virginia Tech, Summer 2011
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Practicing Chinese characters on the blackboard; getting used to China’s preferred mode of student transportation: the bicycle; practicing the art of Chinese calligraphy in a CLI elective course; GXNU campus with its stunning Karst Mountain backdrop; language exchange with GXNU students; jumping for joy on a group excursion to the Great Wall in Beijing.
CHINA SEMINARS Each year, CLI partners with schools and organizations around the world to host unforgettable educational and professional experiences in China. Our team of China experts will help you design a fully customized program that explores any academic topic and achieves each of your educational goals — and we’ll be there to implement the program with you every step of the way.
IMMERSION PROGRAM
COLLEGE STUDY ABROAD
CHINA SEMINARS
TEACH IN CHINA
“TRAVELING WITH CLI WAS ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE AND UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES I HAVE EVER HAD . MY TRIP WAS ENRICHED SO MUCH BY THE VAST ARRAY OF EXPERIENCES I HAD AS A RESULT OF CLI’S CONNECTIONS.”
INTRODUCING CHINA
ACADEMIC TOPICS
China’s importance in the world is growing every day — and the importance of understanding China is growing with it. CLI’s China Seminars help students of all ages discover China by introducing them to little-known countryside villages, world-renowned natural landscapes that have come to symbolize China, and China’s global metropolises, complete with towering skyscrapers, a dazzling array of city lights, and some of the highest economic growth rates in the entire world.
Our extensive professional and academic network throughout China allows us to develop programs focused on virtually any academic topic. Through our popular business-focused seminars, we have introduced students to a variety of leading businesses in China, as well as dozens of small and medium-sized companies and factories. Additional topics have included economics, history, political science, environmental sustainability, architecture, urbanization, ethnicity, and more.
CREATED BY FACULTY LEADERS CLI’s core value of personalized attention means we never start with cookie-cutter templates — we start with an indepth conversation with the faculty leader so we can understand the needs and interests of the students. For the well-seasoned sinologists: You think it; we make it happen. For firsttime travelers to China: Our team of China experts is ready to guide you along the path to discovering China.
YOUR CHINA NETWORK
COMPREHENSIVE LOGISTICS
At CLI, we let the interests of our students and the vision of our faculty leaders guide our capabilities. CLI has organized academic and professional lectures, meetings, events, and activities with a diversity of individuals, including government officials, village elders, Buddhist monks, Daoist experts, factory managers, college professors, local student peers, and executives from major Chinese corporations like GE China, MTV China, Amazon China, Club Med China, and Sinopec.
Planning and implementing the logistics that underpin programs in China can be time-consuming and tedious, especially given language barriers and China’s relatively underdeveloped service industry. We believe an educator’s skill set should be focused on what truly counts: maximizing the learning components of each student’s experience. That’s why CLI develops the itinerary with you and provides comprehensive predeparture assistance as well as facilitates all travel logistics.
GRACE Flint Hill School, Spring 2012
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Students and faculty exploring the old city in Dali; group shot on the streets of Beijing; exploring the legendary Longji Rice Terraces north of Guilin; enjoying a traditional Guilin hot pot on the bank of the famous Li River; a student silhouetted by traditional Chinese lanterns.
TEACH IN CHINA Teaching English in China is a fun and enriching experience — and it’s right at your fingertips. CLI makes teaching in China a safe, enjoyable, and valuable professional experience by providing a reliable English teaching job in Guilin at your preferred academic level.
IMMERSION PROGRAM
COLLEGE STUDY ABROAD
CHINA SEMINARS
TEACH IN CHINA
TEACHING IN GUILIN After years of living, studying, working, and traveling in China, CLI’s American directors have come to realize that there is no place quite like Guilin. With a comfortable combination of upbeat city life, smalltown community feel, breathtaking natural scenery, an excellent Chinese language learning environment, and friendly people at every turn, we truly believe Guilin is the perfect location to experience China and teach English.
“THROUGH TOTAL IMMERSION IN BOTH A WORK AND STUDY ENVIRONMENT, CLI’S TEACH IN CHINA PROGRAM HAS GIVEN ME A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFER WHAT I’VE LEARNED IN THE CLASSROOM TO PRACTICAL USE IN MY OWN LIFE.”
WHY CLI? Finding a safe and trustworthy option to teach English in China can be a difficult and timeconsuming task. CLI makes it easy. The CLI Team knows the ins and outs of teaching in China, and we have established a diverse network of partnerships in Guilin that includes institutions at the elementary, middle, high school, and university levels — both public and private — where administrators enthusiastically welcome new teachers from abroad to their English departments.
TEACHING OPTIONS
WHAT WE PROVIDE
LEARNING CHINESE
Teach in China participants are offered a five- or 10-month contract guaranteeing a carefully selected and reliable English teaching position in Guilin. Countryside positions within two hours of downtown Guilin are also available. Placement location and grade level vary depending on availability. Teachers should expect to teach between 15 and 18 hours per week, but no more than 20, with an additional 10-hour weekly minimum of class prep time.
CLI Teach in China participants are provided with the following: a monthly salary ranging from 3,500 to 5,000 RMB, a private apartment, 24/7 emergency assistance, teacher training, and visa assistance. Teach in China participants are members of the CLI community, which grants them access to Chinese language learning opportunities and resources at CLI, opportunities to network with other CLI students and community members, and opportunities to participate in CLI activities and excursions.
One of the most important skills you can acquire while living in China is the ability to communicate using the world’s most widely spoken language — Mandarin Chinese. As CLI is primarily a center for Chinese language and culture studies, you will have countless opportunities to learn Mandarin while in Guilin. A major advantage of joining our Teach in China program is your unlimited access to CLI’s Chinese language learning environment and community.
ALEX Virginia Tech, 2013–2014
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Journey to China and learn Chinese. It’s easier than you think. At CLI, we’ve devoted ourselves to helping students discover China and learn Chinese, and that’s what we’re passionate about. Set out on your path to Chinese fluency by reaching out to us anytime, and we’ll respond to you within two business days.
PHONE
ONLINE
UNITED S TATES
1.888.781.8383
info@studycli.org
CHINA
WEBSITE
+86.0773.218.0150
www.studycli.org
THE CHINESE LANGUAGE INSTITUTE W W W. S T U DYCL I.O R G