CIEE College Study Abroad in Beijing, China

I had a great semester studying at PKU in Beijing thanks to the support and services provided by CIEE. From the excursions they planned for us throughout the semester, to our weekly tutoring sessions with graduate students, I feel that I have improved my language skills and cultural understanding of China incredibly. I was also always impressed with how available our program director was, as no matter the issue or the time she would be able to help us. I know there were a few hairy moments for others on the program and Ms. Jiang was always immediately available to help resolve the issue. I also think the office atmosphere was great, as anytime we needed help or wanted to chat or ask questions, we could go to the office and speak with any of the program employees there. It was also a great atmosphere to do homework or wind down after a long day of classes. I've been most impressed with the staff on the program.

If you want an authentic experience in modern China, you must go to Beijing. And if you want a study-abroad experience that combines a rigorous language program with a series of unforgettable cultural events, I can recommend no program more highly than CIEE’s Intensive Chinese Language (ICL) program at Peking University. My language skills and confidence grew exponentially as a result of the daily language classes. I also got to experience the real Beijing (and China) with excursions to places such as the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, and the Temple of Heaven. There were many opportunities to try fantastic food (I recommend Peking duck or anything with eggplant) and cultural activities (like calligraphy). On the other hand, there was plenty of time and resources available to plan my own excursions and activities. I was also impressed by the CIEE staff at Peking University, who were always there to hear my questions and concerns, or offer advice and recommendations for restaurants and attractions. If you have the opportunity to study abroad at this specific program, you should definitely take it.

Having the opportunity to enroll directly into Peking University's School of International Studies and Sociology Department was one of the most intellectually stimulating and academically enriching experiences I have been through. Having a good balance between challenging and welcoming, my professors helped to acquire a solid grasp of the learning material and piqued my interest in engaging in further study on issues related to democracy, development and trends of globalization. Overall, I would highly recommend this program for anyone wanting to not just learn about China, but learn about the world through China's lens.