INTENSIVE CHINESE LANGUAGE TUTORING - China 2007 High School Summer Programs (800) 321-4353

Dali University is one of the most prestigious institutions in Yunnan province, and currently hosts over 500 international students from 15 countries studying Chinese as a foreign language at the undergraduate and graduate level. In cooperation with this respected school, Rustic Pathways has created a customized two-week program which immerses you in Mandarin Chinese with a focus on conversation. The program is designed to accommodate any level of proficiency, from beginners seeking an accellerated first introduction to the language, to students seeking to major in Chinese at University. This allows you to settle in and begin your studies at whatever level you find comfortable. The school itself is located in the foothills of the Jade mountains, overlooking the of the picturesque city of Dali, just minutes from the center of town. The 44 hours of class time during each two-week session provide you with the opportunity to truly embrace this amazing and intricate language, while at the same time having a great time with both your classmates and instructors in a beautiful, traditional Chinese setting.

One-on-One Private Instruction
Our expert staff have created private one-on-one tutoring classes for those students who want personalized instruction and tutoring to rapidly advance their proficiency in Mandarin Chinese. Each study day will include 4 hours of private instruction from the staff at Dali University, some of the most qualified educators of Chinese as a second language in the region. Rustic has worked together with Dali University to develop relevant and refined curriculum for students of all levels. Though instruction will cover all areas of the language, students in this one-on-one intensive program can choose which areas of the language they would like to focus on. In addition to other daily activities, there will be ample opportunity for individual and group study time each evening.

Stay as Long as You Want
Come immerse yourself into one of the largest and most widely used languages in the world, while you live, work, and enjoy your time in the beautiful city of Dali. Located in the mountains of Yunnan Province, Dali is unequaled in its serene beauty and majestic culture. Since you can choose to study for 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks, you have the opportunity to dive as deep as you want into the Chinese language and into the Chinese way of life. The program we have developed in conjunction with the Dali Foreign Language School allows you to immerse yourself into the Chinese culture both in and out of the classroom, while at the same time leaving plenty of time to get out and discover the surrounding beauty and wonders of traditional Yunnan.

Your Home in China
The small Old Town of Dali is a picture-perfect image of China. The people and landscape have a unique beauty to them that is quickly disappearing in other parts of the country. Stepping out onto the cobbled streets in the morning, you are surrounded on one side by the Jade Mountains, whose 12,000 foot snow-capped peaks tower above this little city and stretch all the way into Tibet. Turning around you then face the beautiful crystal waters of Erhai Lake, whose shores hold the tales and lore of thousands of years of history within the little scattered villages and temples. The city of Dali where you live, called ‘Old Town’ by the locals, is an ancient walled city that dates back more than 3000 years. Its small pedestrian streets are lined with beautiful waterways and blossoming trees, providing a cool, tranquil backdrop to the laid-back atmosphere. The largest minority group in this region are the Bai people, whose colorful faces brighten the markets where they sell produce, clothing, and handicrafts. Hundreds of small cafes and shops are nestled into the traditional stone structures of the city, and there are endless opportunities to shop, meet new people, and explore the small streets of this magical place.

The Countryside
Outside the stone walls of Dali lie dozens of hidden wonders to be discovered. Biking around the lake and exploring the small untouched villages that line the shores of Erhai, you will experience what it was like to live and work around these mystical waters over a millennia ago. The bright markets scattered throughout the picturesque villages here punctuate the lush landscape with their colorful wares. Joyful smiles brighten the streets. And what trip to China would be complete without a few visits to breathtaking temples nestled within the Jade peaks or tucked into the Erhai landscape? Inside the classroom you benefit from professional, one-on-one language tutoring. Outside of class, you will find endless opportunities to immerse yourself in the true beauty and serene bliss of the people and places of Dali. For those who want to advance their language skills quickly and enjoy the Chinese culture, this is the perfect blend of experiences!

Your Language Development
To fully understand a foreign language, there is no substitute for immersing yourself into its foundations. Rustic Pathways provides you with this opportunity - study, learn, laugh, and live the Chinese lifestyle. Upon departing this magical place, you will find your heart and soul filled with the understanding of a new language, images of a beautiful city, and the smiling faces of the lasting friendships you made along the way. You will also have a new-found compassion for this ancient, diverse, and enchanting land of eternal spring. We look forward to welcoming you to China!

For more information e-mail Jamie Spates at jamie@rusticpathways.com, or Bryan Haggerty at bryan@rusticpathways.com

Day 1 – Tuesday
San Francisco: After meeting and greeting your flight leader and the other students joining the Yunnan Explorer, we’re off to Hong Kong! This is an easy, non-stop ride across the Pacific – and most students find that after dinner and a movie, they’re able to manage dozing off to sleep for a while. So sit back, have a chat with your new friends, and enjoy the flight!

Day 2 – Wednesday
This day is ‘lost’ as you cross the International Date Line. But don’t worry– you’ll get it back when returning home!

Day 3 – Thursday
Arrive at Hong Kong International Airport, where you’ll meet your program leaders and have time for a long awaited stretch. You will have a few hours in the airport before connecting onwards. Next, we’ll grab our bags (preferably small and manageable!) and check-in for our connecting flight to Kunming. The flight takes about 1 ½ hours, and then you will be setting down in mainland China! Arriving into Kunming International Airport, you will meet up with the rest of the staff awaiting your arrival, and hop on a bus for the 4.5 hour ride up to the city of Dali, and Dali University. Once arriving into Dali in the evening, you will head up to Dali University to get settled into your home while studying here in China. Dali University is located about a 10 minute walk from the city gates of Old Dali, and you will be living in the newly completed western style guesthouse located within the University, know as the Teahouse. After dropping your bags off and washing up from the long flight, you will head into Dali for your first dinner in China! From here you will head back up to the Teahouse and rest up for the night – welcome to China!

Day 4 – Friday
Today is a day to get settled into your new environment. You will have some time to rest up from the day of travel from the USA, unpack and get settled into your rooms, and most importantly – explore the city of Dali. With its small pedestrian streets lines with cafés and market stalls, small streams and flowering trees, you will enjoy getting to know this beautiful corner of the globe before starting up your classes in the morning. Enjoy exploring Dali with your new friends and staff for the day, enjoy some great meals in the city, get oriented to the lovely mountain air, and get ready to start immersing yourself in your Mandarin classes early tomorrow.

Day 5 – Saturday through Day 13 – Tuesday
The schedule while here in Dali and at the University will be structured primarily the same for each day. Classes will be held in the mornings, and the daily study schedule will look like this:

7:00am: wake up for optional Tai Chi class which will be help on top of the Old City Walls. This will last 1 hour, and is a great way to start the day in Dali, watching the sun come up over Erhai Lake, with the Jade Mountain Range behind you.

8:00am: Breakfast

9:00am – 12:45pm: The first 3 hour-long sessions of class will be held at Dali University. Each session will have a 15 minute break between them. On the first day of class, there will be approximately a 1 hour orientation and survey to gauge your Mandarin proficiency, in order to determine the best starting point for your one-on-one classes for the Intensive Chinese Language Program. So classes will begin 1 hour later on this first day, and then for the remainder of the 2 week course, they will begin at 9:00am.

12:45pm – 1:45pm: Break for lunch. All meals will be taken together as a group, and students will eat in Dali at a variety of restaurants. All the meals will be eaten together as a group with the staff, and the variety of traditional Chinese & local hill tribe dishes make up a fantastic array of foods to be enjoyed.

2:00pm – 3:00pm: The fourth session of the day at Dali University.

3:00pm – 7:00pm: There will be a multitude of afternoon activities that will be offered in the afternoons for students attending this program. There are some optional activities which students can partake in, such as Chinese calligraphy classes, traditional Chinese painting classes, Chinese kung-fu lessons, and additional afternoon Tai Chi lessons. In addition to these, there will be afternoon outings to explore the surrounding countryside. You will have the opportunity to hop on a mountain bike to explore some of the small villages located around Old Dali city, bike down to Erhai lake for an afternoon swim, take a boat ride out onto the Lake to get a better view of the countryside from out on the water, and of course hop in for a dip, visit the local hill tribe markets on various afternoons coinciding with their lunar calendar schedule, hike up into the Jade Mountains to swim in the glacial pools, visit some of the mountain monasteries, and of course, time spent exploring the various markets and quiet streets of Old Dali city.

7:00pm-8:00pm: Dinner will be taken in Old Dali city.

8:00pm- 10:00pm: After dinner you will head back up to the Teahouse at Dali University and settle in for the night. There will be between 1 and 2 hours of Mandarin homework assigned each day, and during this time you will have a chance to work through your assignments with your classmates.

10:00pm – 11:30pm: The day comes to a close. You will be back in the teahouse, and will have finished up your homework assignments for the day. You are free to hang out with the other students inside the Teahouse, chat about the day’s activities, practice your ever-growing Mandarin proficiency, and enjoy wrapping up another day.

11:30pm: Lights out. It’s an early start each day, and you’ll be ready for a good night’s sleep!

Day 14 – Wednesday
Today is the last full day in Dali. You will have completed your 44 hours of class time the previous afternoon, and on this last day you have some free time to say good bye to your new found home. There’s time for some last minute shopping, beginning to pack up your things, spending one last day with your new friends, enjoying a few last meals of Chinese & local dishes, and wrapping up your time here in Yunnan Province.

Day 15 – Thursday
Today it’s an early start. After breakfast it’s time to pack up everything and get ready for the journey onward! At 8:30, you will hop on the bus and begin the 4.5 hour journey back down to the city of Kunming. Once arriving into Kunming, you will either be flying to Hong Kong to connect back to the USA, or connecting onto another Rustic Pathways program. Say goodbye to the friends you have made, the adventures you have had, and the country you have come to know – China!

An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the scheduless of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.