German, Chinese immersion programs have new cultural experiences in store for URI

02/12/09 - The University of Rhode Island might resemble Germany this summer as the German Summer School of the Atlantic holds its 29th annual cultural immersion program for students wishing to learn the language.In addition to the German program, URI will host the first Chinese Summer Immersion Program as well.

"With this program, you typically learn better than in the average year," Norbert Hedderich, professor of German studies at URI and director of the German Summer School, said. "The intensive nature of this program allows professors to do things they can't do in the regular school year. It opens up the possibilities."

During the German school, participants live on campus in the International Engineering Program House during a three- or six-week program, where they are totally immersed in the German culture and language. Students pledge to only speak German for the duration of the program.

Held from June 21 to July 31, the program is taught mostly by professors from Germany.

Hedderich said about 50 students will participate and students will come from all around the country.

"URI students are not in the majority," Hedderich said. "Of 50 students, there are 10 URI students usually."

In addition to learning the German language, students can partake in cultural activities during the six weeks, including theater, writing or watching subtitled German films for beginners.

Intermediate and advanced students have the opportunity to take certification exams from the Goethe Institute, which promotes German study abroad and is partially sponsoring the school along with the German government and the Max Kade Foundation.

During the program, students take one core class made up of two, three-week sessions. Hedderich said there are four hours of instruction, then cultural activities in the afternoon. He added all skill levels are welcome in the program, adding that each of the four different levels enrolls at least 10 students.

The program will cost $3,600 for the six-week program and $2,050 for the three-week program. Costs include tuition, room and board in a double room, registration and cultural activities. Students pay the same fees regardless if one is from URI.

"Everyone who is there is there because they want to be there. They're goal orientated. They want to get something out of the six weeks," Hedderich said.

Like the German school, students participating in the Chinese summer program will also live at URI, taking beginner or intermediate intensive courses in Mandarin Chinese.

Though students of the Chinese program will similarly be immersed in the Chinese culture, they will live at URI for four weeks and then at the Zheijang University in Hangzhou, China, for four weeks.

In China, students live in the International College dormitory at Zhejiang University, which Papa says is a modern dorm for international students.

The Chinese program is offered through the URI Chinese Language Flagship Partner Program and the IEP.

Participants will earn eight credits during the eight-week program.

According to Erin Papa, the coordinator of the program, the Chinese program is modeled after the German Summer School.

Papa said the grant URI received from the Language Flagship made the Chinese Summer Immersion possible.

Papa said URI began the program because there is a need beyond the regular semester for learning Chinese.

"Flagship Scholars aim to reach superior-level proficiency in the Chinese language by the time they graduate," Papa said. "Since most of our students come into URI with no background in Chinese, summer study is necessary."

According to Papa, the program is also important for students in the International Engineering and International Business Programs, who must acquire a higher level of proficiency to complete the B.A. and B.S. dual degree.

"Students are not only taking Chinese to fulfill their general education requirements, but also to make themselves more competitive in today's global workplace," Papa said.

Papa said the Chinese summer school differs from the standard study abroad experience since students learn the language intensively before traveling to the country.

"Giving students the opportunity to concentrate fully on Chinese in this immersion experience helps them to build a base in the Chinese language before going to China. When they arrive, they are able to immediately put their language skills to use," Papa said.

During the Chinese program, participants will spend four hours each morning on language training, followed by cultural activities, which include Chinese calligraphy, Tai Chi and visits to the local Hangzhou industry sections in China.

The Chinese program is held from May 19 to July 19 this summer and will cost $5,500 for URI students and $7,000 for non-URI students. The fees include tuition, room and board at URI and in China, round-trip airfare, visas, insurance and weekend excursions while in China.

Both programs are accepting applications now. The application deadline for the German school is June 1. For more information on the German program, visit www.uri.edu.iep/dssa. The deadline for the Chinese summer school is April 14. For information on the Chinese program, visit www.uri.edu/iep/chinese/summer.html.