The Definitive Dali Experience

  China

• All Other Areas in China: 
Dali

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: June 22 - July 8

Description:
There are only a few select places in China where you are the big fish in a small pond. A nation with well over 1.3 billion people, more than 4,000 years of history and an incredible ability to tailor the land for human benefit has helped cities like Beijing and Shanghai grow to host over 10 million people each. While these cities capture the headlines and are the face of China in the 21st Century, it is easy to become a small fish in a big ocean.

Big Fish, Small Pond Education
Then there is Dali in quiet Yunnan. Most people outside of South East Asia have never heard of Yunnan and for that reason it has peacefully grown into the perfect destination to study Chinese. Besides our stand-out Language Immersion and Intensive programs at Dali University, this year we are also offering The Definitive Dali Experience. This is a senior program that specifically helps students whose Chinese is already at an advanced level and have already traveled to China. In this program, students will attend classes at Dali University in the morning and then each afternoon the students will participate in an activity that will have a theme attached to it, which will teaches students how to use Chinese on a practical, street-ready level.

These activities will vary day to day, however it will always include one of the following components: community service (i.e. Pollution and Social Progression in China), round-table discussions with local leaders (all conducted in Chinese -- i.e. An Introduction to Politics in China) or a side trip (i.e. Seeking out Religion in China.)

You Won't be Left Out at Sea!
In addition to all of this, the students will also be using multimedia tools to help improve their Chinese. Over the 2009-10 academic year, the students who are enrolled in this trip will receive monthly videos that will help keep their Chinese fine-tuned and supplement their classroom work with the vocabulary that Chinese people use on a daily basis when conducting business or hanging out with friends. Then, when the students arrive, each day a student will have the opportunity to videotape a conversation they or their friend has and then when we return to sleep in the Old Town of Dali, itself with well over 1,000 years of history, we will rewatch the conversation and help clarify points we didn't understand or highlight the parts where a student succeeded.

The Big Fish in Shuanglang
Your class time at Dali University will be split into two sessions with a break to Shuanglang, a 1,000 year old fishing town on the other side of Lake Erhai. Where Dali Old Town offers a great assortment of local leaders, businesspeople and baristas to talk to, Shuanglang is a town full of local Bai culture and rock climbing. Yunnan is the melting pot of China and Dali plays host to several different minority cultures, the most prominent being the Bai. As you stay in a lodge located right next to the lake, the unique Bai culture surrounds you at every turn. In Shuanglang we turn in our books and pens into open hearts and minds. Each day we will wake to explore a different facet of this kaleidoscopic village, so whether it's visiting the local community center to help senior citizens stay active in their wise years, planting young saplings with local middle school students or engaging the local culture by helping them cook a traditional Bai meal you will walk away with different impression of the China you see on the nightly news.

Are you Experienced?
This trip will also be personally lead by the Country Manager who has spent the past 10 years as a mentor for students and can safely put them into situations each day where they would have to use their Chinese in a creative and advanced context. In total, this trip offers 28 hours of group class instruction by University professors and 18 hours of community service. Since this trip is so unique, there is very limited space so you should sign up as soon as possible.

*This trip connects easily with all of our other programs in South East Asia.

Highlights:
LEARN from native speakers in a small group setting and receive 28 hours of class time. It's the perfect way to help your Chinese language skills blossom.

STUDY with a small group of students who have similar language skills. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced speaker, you will study with peers who are at your level.

LIVE in the beautiful, picturesque city of Dali, where you will enjoy the wonders of real Chinese culture both inside and outside the classroom.

EXPLORE the amazing mountain ranges and glassy lakes that form the breathtaking backdrop of Yunnan Province, and meet the colorful hill-tribe people who call this region home.

CHOOSE to study for two, four, six, or eight weeks and build your level of Chinese proficiency as the summer progresses.

Cost in US$: 3,895 + 595 USD Internal Air

Experience Required: yes

This program is for senior students.

This Program is open to American Participants.

Participants Travel to China in Groups

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Rustic Pathways's Mission Statement: Rustic Pathways is a pioneer in providing superior quality travel and service programs for students and families in some of the world's most welcoming countries. Rustic Pathways demands professionalism and integrity across all of its operations, insists on quality in all aspects of its programs, and places the safety of its students above all other considerations. We enrich the lives of our students and our staff, benefit the parts of the world we serve, and build cultural bridges that lead to greater global understanding and cooperation.

Year Founded: 1983