The Chinese Language Institute

Welcome to Guilin!

Orientation Agenda

欢迎！

• Welcome to the CLI Community!
• The CLI Team
• Your Study Abroad (SA) Program
• CLI Daily Activities
• GXNU and CLI Center Housing Guidelines
• Health and Safety
• Getting Around Guilin

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Note: You will receive access to this slide deck via email within

two days. Please let me know if you do not receive this email.

1. Welcome to the CLI Community

Introduction to CLI

Welcome to the CLI Community!

An Introduction

Founded in 2009

• One student in fall 2009; class was held in a nearby apartment
• Our community has steadily grown since!
• We started moving into the CLI Center in 2011

Our Core Values

• We exist to build lifelong personal connections between China and the world
• We celebrate diversity
• We go the extra mile in service of our students and fellow team members
• We are a welcoming, family-based community

Welcome to the CLI Community!

An Introduction

Our Core Offerings

• College Study Abroad (SA)
• Semester abroad at GXNU, CLI’s university affiliate
• Four fixed terms per year (fall, winter, spring and summer)

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• Immersion Program
• Intensive language track
• 20 hours per week one-on-one Chinese with three teachers

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• China Seminars
• Customized group trips throughout China; can cover any academic topic related to China
• Let Anias know if you’d like to lead a group of students or friends through China!

2. The CLI Team

Team Member Introductions

詹雪宁 | Echo Zhan

CLI Co-Director

昕梅 | Anias Stambolis-D’Agostino

CLI Co-Director

潘姿 | Susan Pan

College Study Abroad (SA) Program Manager

林小梅 | Ruza Lin

Apartment and Dorm Manager

梁琨漫 | Anna Liang

Head Teacher, Academics

黄郁萍 | Abby Huang

Head Teacher, Scheduling

刘春平 | Summer Liu

Activities Manager

梁美伊 | Nikki Liang

Student Affairs Manager

3. Your Study Abroad (SA) Program

Aim for Fluency

Fall/Spring Semester

Weekly Class Hours

One-on-one Chinese Lessons at CLI

• 3 hours/week for Standard program (3 credits)
• 10 hours/week for Intensive program (6-9 credits, depending on your pace in passing levels)
• Class title: CHN 101.4, CHN 102.4, CHN 201.4, etc.

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Comprehensive Chinese Class at Guangxi Normal University (GXNU, 师大 shīdà)

• 4 periods/week (6 credits); periods are 90 minutes each
• Class title: CHN 101, CHN 201, or CHN 301

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English Content Courses at CLI/GXNU (two subjects taught in English)

• Course 1: 4 hours/week (3 credits; begins week three)
• Course 2: 4 hours/week (3 credits; begins week three)

Fall/Spring Semester

Choosing Your GXNU Classes

Ask for assistance anytime

• A Chinese language placement test will be given at CLI on or before your first day of class. After taking the CLI placement test, we will select a class section for you at GXNU.

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• The first week of classes at GXNU are “open,” so you may change levels as desired based on class ease/difficulty.

• Please let CLI’s SA Manager (Susan Pan) know if your home university pre-approved certain credits. This may affect what classes you are placed in, and you may need to contact your university if the results of your placement test differ from your pre-approved classes.

Fall/Spring Semester

Course Registration

You’ll need to do the following:

• Check in at the GXNU International Office, which is Room 109 in the Foreign Language Building (外语楼), during the first week of classes. The Foreign Language Building has a large coffee house in it.

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• GXNU teachers/administrators in the International Office will provide you with a checklist that needs to be completed within the first two weeks of class.

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• Your SA Program Manager, Susan, is here to help each step of the way.

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Summer Term

Weekly Class Hours

One-on-one Chinese Lessons at CLI (3 credits)

• 12 hours/week throughout term
• Class title: CHN 101.4, CHN 102.4, CHN 201.4, etc.

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Small Group Chinese Lessons at CLI (3 credits)

• Weeks 1-2: 8 hours/week; Weeks 6-9: 4 hours/week
• Class title: CHN 101.4, CHN 201.4, or CHN 301.4

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English Content Course at CLI (3 credits)

• Weeks 3-5: 8 hours/week; Weeks 6-9: 4 hours/week
• Class title: PSCI 303 / IR 302 — China in International Relations: China, the United States, and Australia

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Winter Term

Weekly Class Hours

One-on-one Chinese Lessons at CLI

• 10 hours/week

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Small Group Chinese Lessons at CLI

• 10 hours/week
• Class title: CHN 101.4, CHN 102.4, CHN 201.4, etc.
• 3 total credits awarded for combined one-on-one and small group coursework

Learning Chinese in Guilin

Conceptualizing the Process

Learning Chinese is easier than you think. Do the following consistently and your Chinese will improve dramatically:

• Stay focused in class.
• Self-study every day, ideally between 2-3 hours.
• Get out and engage in Chinese everyday, and always focus in on the Chinese spoken to you and around you.
• Surround yourself with Chinese (Chinese TV, music, movies, podcasts, etc.).
• Think in Chinese. Starting today, form a habit of sustaining significant periods in which you exclusively use Chinese in your internal dialogue! You can do this at any level.

Why is thinking in Chinese so important?

Recall, recall, recall!

Why is thinking in Chinese so important?

Recall, recall, recall!

Each time you recall a word unaided, the rate at which you forget that word decreases. The closer to the point of no return you successfully recall the word, the flatter the “forgetting curve”.

% likelihood you can recall a piece of information

Recalls across time (e.g., hours/days/weeks/months)

Why is thinking in Chinese so important?

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Each time you think of a word, you recall it

and bring the “forgetting curve” back to 100%.

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Note: Reviewing flashcards and vocab lists

produce the same process of recall.

Why is thinking in Chinese so important?

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Finally, when you form the habit of thinking in Chinese, your thoughts flow directly into speech. You remove the otherwise necessary step of translation.

Your Study Abroad Program

CLI Language Pledge

Take the CLI Language Pledge!

• You’ll often see students and team members wearing language pledge bracelets.
• While wearing your bracelet, you may only speak Chinese: 今天我只说中文
• It is 100% all right (and even encouraged!) to politely decline speaking English with others! Just let your new friends know that you’re only speaking Chinese for the duration of the day/week/month. It’s up to you!
• It may be awkward at first. 没问题! Taking the language pledge will drastically increase your rate of improvement.
• Please take this pledge seriously.

A Note on Pleco

Step 1: Copy a block of Chinese characters in WeChat

Step 2: Open Pleco

A Note on Pleco

Step 3: Navigate to “Clipboard”, which will automatically populate with whatever you just copied.

Step 4: Select any character to see the translation. Pleco will automatically highlight and translate words and character phrases.

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Consider selecting the plus (+) button in the top center to add the word or phrase to your Pleco flashcards.

A Note on Pleco

Yes: Using Pleco to translate Chinese messages word by word is an excellent way to practice characters and learn new vocabulary.

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Try to read the message—to recall the characters—before using Pleco.

No: Using WeChat Translate is taking the easy way out! It enables a missed out-of-class learning opportunity—the best kind!

4. CLI Daily Activities

Practice What You Learn

CLI Daily Activities

Practice What You Learn, Learn What You Practice

Daily Activities Board

• Keep an eye on the activities board on the 2nd floor. Sign up whenever interested!

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Activity Request

• Want to try something new? Write your suggestion down on the suggestion sheet near the 2nd-floor activities board.

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Teach The Community!

• If you are interested in teaching CLI’s Chinese instructors and your fellow students about a topic you’re passionate about, speak with CLI’s Activities Manager to organize a special activity.

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CLI Daily Activities

Practice What You Learn, Learn What You Practice

SA Weekend Excursions

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• Join two complimentary weekend trips per semester!

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朋友 Program

Make Friends and Explore the City

Your Guides to Guilin

• If you need to go out for an errand (e.g. to buy groceries, mail a package, withdraw money, etc.), we encourage you to travel in style with a 朋友! Invite a 朋友 anytime, or speak with Nikki about arranging for a CLI 朋友 to accompany you.

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Your Conversation Partners

• CLI Pengyous are available throughout the day to help you practice what you’ve learned. If you see a 朋友 at the CLI Center, strike up a conversation!

朋友 Program

Make Friends and Explore the City

By taking part in the 朋友 Program, we ask that you and your 朋友:

• have at least one meal together per week outside of CLI. No other international students should take part, but your local 朋友 may invite his or her own local 朋友. The CLI student is responsible for paying for your and your 朋友的 meal, but your 朋友的朋友 pay their own way.

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• take part in at least two activities together outside of CLI per month. We strongly encourage that no other international students take part. 朋友 are expected to share the cost, if any, of the activity, but we also encourage you and your 朋友 to take part in free or low cost activities (visiting a park, arcade or shopping area; playing sports or board games together; etc.)

5. CLI Center and Housing Guidelines

Wishing You a Comfortable Stay!

CLI Center and GXNU Housing Guidelines

GXNU Housing

Water, Electricity, and Internet

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• CLI will provide you with a 200 RMB stipend for electricity and water. Please purchase electricity and water at the front desk of your building, then present your receipt to Ruza, your Dorm Manager, to receive your stipend reimbursement. Please always remember to turn off the AC unit and lights when you are not in your room.

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• Jugs of drinking water are available for 7 RMB at the front desk of your building. Your first jug of water is complimentary.

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• Your room is already WiFi equipped, and CLI will provide you with a China Mobile data card to improve your internet speed.

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CLI Center and GXNU Housing Guidelines

GXNU Housing

Service and Maintenance Needs

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• If there are any maintenance issues in your room (i.e., something is broken or doesn’t work) or with the dorm’s living environment (e.g., noise levels, public space issues, etc.), please first go to the building’s front desk to apply for repairs or ask for help. If problems persist or are severe, tell your SA Program Manager, Susan, and/or Ruza, your Dorm Manager, as soon as possible.

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• CLI’s 阿姨 (āyí) will clean your room every Wednesday. Ayi typically washes sheets every two weeks.

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CLI Center and GXNU Housing Guidelines

The CLI Center

The CLI Center

• Shared work and living space by students and CLI team
• 1st and 2nd floors are open to CLI students 24/7
• WiFi Password: studycli
• Want to use Facebook and other Western websites at CLI?
• Feel free to use the VPN on the 1st and 2nd floor computers
• www.astrill4u.com (back door to Astrill VPN website)
• Quiet hallways after 10:30 PM
• No alcohol consumption in the CLI Center
• Zero tolerance drug policy

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CLI Center and CLI Art Gallery

Front Door Access Codes

• The access code to the CLI Center and CLI Art Gallery classroom space front doors will be updated on the 1st of each month
• We'll post the new access codes to the CLI-Guilin WeChat group around the 27th of each month and again on the 1st when the codes are updated
• If you haven't joined the CLI-Guilin WeChat group yet, chat with me or one of your teachers to do so
• If you prefer not to use WeChat, no worries! Just ask a CLI community member for the new access codes around the 29th or 30th of the month
• Be sure not to share the access code with anyone outside of the CLI community

6. Health and Safety

Stay Safe and Alert

Health and Safety

Know Your Surroundings

• As with every city, crime and safety can be an issue in Guilin, too
• Always remain aware of your surroundings
• Always travel in pairs or in a group
• If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, threatens you or touches you inappropriately, walk away and immediately call for help
• Be extra careful when crossing the street
• Always carry your cell phone
• Expect occasional firecracker noises
• Emergency contact card
• Call us anytime, or use card to take a taxi back to CLI

Health and Safety

General Information

• Do NOT drink tap water
• Drinking water is located in two small water jugs in the CLI second floor kitchen
• Drink as much as you want — stay hydrated!
• Buy bottled water outside of CLI as needed
• If you are feeling unwell, inform Anias as soon as possible
• Ask Anias for help anytime, but note that we are not medical experts and cannot give medical advice!
• CLI teachers and interns are not trained to deal with health and medical issues and are instructed to relay all medical issues to CLI’s Co-Directors (Echo and Anias)
• Note that medical facilities and personnel are not of the same caliber in Guilin as in major international cities; if you have a serious medical issue, we recommend seeing a doctor in an international city like Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, etc.

Health and Safety

General Information

• We highly discourage all CLI students from purchasing, renting, operating, and/or riding on electric scooters and/or motorcycles during your enrollment. If you insist, please speak with Nikki, in which case you will be required to sign a CLI waiver form.
• Special considerations:
• Toilets – always carry tissue paper with you
• “Hello!” and curiosity toward foreigners
• Call Echo or Anias in any emergency situation or to report incidents of harassment, etc.
• Echo: 139-7830-6934
• Anias: 159-7732-9802

7. Getting Around Guilin

Never Stop Exploring

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Getting Around Guilin

Exploring The City

• Utilize bike rentals and public transportation
• If you ride a bicycle, always wear a helmet
• Active nightlife and lots of restaurants to choose from
• Points of interest and fun activities:
• “Cultural Walking Street”
• Sports
• Hiking
• City Center
• Dong Xi Xiang
• Tourist attractions in Guilin
• We are happy to make recommendations!

Note on International Travel from China

This Includes Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan!

• From a customs and border perspective, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are administratively separate jurisdictions from Mainland China.
• Every few years, a CLI student will travel to Hong Kong or Macau during their program and be blocked from re-entering Mainland China because their Chinese visa was single-entry!
• If you’d like to travel internationally from China (including to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan), please do two things before you leave Guilin:
• Confirm that your Chinese visa is either two-entry or multiple entry. If your visa is single- entry, once you leave Mainland China, you will not be able to re-enter until you re-apply for a new visa. Administratively, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are NOT part of Mainland China.
• Inform Susan of (1) where you plan to travel and (2) your travel dates.

谢谢！