To this end, we combine a proven language curriculum based on Beijing Language University's New Chinese Reader and Short-Term Spoken Chinese series of textbooks with our own extensive set of supplementary material that not only provides students with the opportunity to rapidly acquire a facility with the Chinese language, but provides a firm foundation for long term study of Chinese language/culture.

Our courses are organized as follows (click here for a complete sample schedule in pdf format):

Four Week Curriculum Sample Schedule

Intensive Chinese Language Class (Conducted in the Morning) - Includes comprehensive language course and oral fluency course. Students of differing language ability will be assigned course material appropriate to their level. The intensive language course is held for four hours every morning and combines core language and applied language instruction, enabling students to rapidly improve their Chinese proficiency and overall ability to communicate in the Chinese language within a short period of time. (Included in Basic, Extended, Plus, and Total tuition packages. Click here for a comprehensive overview of our tuition packages and tuition rates.)

Language Enrichment Course (Conducted in the Afternoon) - Includes language and culture class, character writing class, pronunciation class, and reading class. The language enrichment course is designed to extend and enrich what students acquire during morning core language classes, enabling students to gain a deeper and more specific understanding of the Chinese language while achieving a firmer grasp on the language from a number of different perspectives. The language and culture course serves as the anchor of our enrichment sequence, using culture as a vector for more thorough language instruction. Poems, ballads, traditional expressions, prose, and other content-rich sources will be used with the objective of increasing students' language ability via an increased understanding of underlying culture. (Included in Extended, Plus, and Total tuition packages. Click here for a comprehensive overview of our tuition packages and tuition rates.)

Practical Lecture Course (Elective - Conducted in the Afternoon)- With the aim of increasing the student's language fluency and awareness of Chinese culture, history, and art, a range of electives are offered in the afternoons for the tuition plus and total program students. The number of electives offered varies depending on program duration and may include the following:

Chinese Character Writing: Classes introduce the radical system, bushou, composition of characters, stroke orders and basic characters.

Chinese Songs:Singing is an excellent way to improve language skills and vocabulary. Classes introduce Chinese songs including traditional folk and current pop songs.

Chinese Painting: Classes introduce elements of the traditional art of Chinese watercolor painting under the guidance of a professional artist.

Traditional Chinese Massage and Traditional Chinese Medicine: Classes introduce the ancient Chinese concepts and beliefs of what constitutes the human body and illness, and include diagnostic methods and treatments using herbal medicine and massage.

Taiji Quan (Taichi): Classes introduce this relaxing and gentle martial art aimed at improving health and overall physical and mental fitness. The basic Yang Taiji style is taught.

Calligraphy: Classes introduce the various calligraphy styles and features, participants then focus on perfecting one style of this ancient art form.

Chinese Cooking: Students can pair up with Chinese students to exchange cooking tips, language and culture. Such exchange programs have sown the seeds of many lasting friendships. Students can meet at mutually convenient times etc. (Included in Plus and Total tuition packages. Click here for a comprehensive overview of our tuition packages and tuition rates.)

Extracurricular Activities

Every weekend GCE will organize a rich and diverse set of extracurricular activities, including student banquets and opportunities to sample and appreciate China 's unique cuisine and understand ancient China 's rich and fascinating "epicurean culture." Students will have the opportunity to visit some of Beijing 's finest museums, areas of cultural importance, recently completed Olympic facilities, and other characteristic buildings and sites, as well as modern Chinese corporations, factories, and handcraft workshops. Additionally excursions will be held to notable ancient ruins as well as areas of natural beauty, enabling students to appreciate the charm of China 's capital.

During Chinese holidays, students will be taken to Chinese households to get a real feel for how local Chinese celebrate traditional Chinese festivals, as well as sample relevant holiday food. Through these rich and diverse extracurricular activities, students will be able to appreciate Chinese culture and the Chinese way of life during the course of their studies. At the same time, extra-curricular activities enable students to apply what they have learned in the classroom in a fun and engaging context - a natural way to increase one's proficiency in the language.

The standard curriculum features four, eight, twelve, sixteen-week, etc. courses. Accommodations can be made for students who wish to study for longer or shorter periods of time.

Faculty and Teaching Tools

GCE's teachers all have degrees in teaching Mandarin Chinese as a foreign language. Up-to-date, carefully selected materials are used in class, giving participants valuable information on modern-day Chinese culture and society while at the same time developing their language and communication skills.

Proficiency Exam

• Students are asked to indicate their level of Chinese by stating their knowledge of vocabulary (expressions) on the application form. Final placements are made when students complete a written and oral placement exam upon their arrival in China.

Click here for more details regard to Levels.

Application

For GCE's application guide, click here
For GCE's application form , click here