Overseas Study

Flagship students are expected to participate in as many overseas experiences in China as possible.

Below is a summary of the programs offered through the Flagship Qingdao Center.  In the last year of a combined degree, a capstone experience consisting of a semester of direct-enrollment courses in Nanjing University and a six-month internship arranged through the Qingdao Center completes the full Chinese Flagship experience.

Level A (ILR Level 1›1+; Intermediate-Mid to Intermediate-High)

  • Qingdao Level A strongly emphasizes spoken Chinese through observation, inquiry, participation and presentation. By observing what Chinese people do, solving questions, being involved in social activities and sharing experience, students develop intercultural communicative competence (*ICC). With this object in mind, learning activities are arranged so that students have rich opportunities to watch and participate in daily interactions with local people, to get around in China and to make friends by speaking Chinese. Reading and writing activities are designed to complement the designated speaking activities and the presentation of these learning activities. Successful students achieve Advanced Low proficiency in listening, reading and speaking. Their writing proficiency also reaches a similar level.

Level B (ILR Level 1›2-; Intermediate-High to Advanced Low)

  • Designed to create opportunities for learners to apply U.S.-acquired language knowledge to community-based interaction with Chinese natives.
  • Emphasis is on establishing personal relationships with Chinese individuals; coursework planned to support this goal (e.g., reports on community interviews, reading materials that support conversations with natives, etc).
  • Coursework focuses on linguistically and culturally preparing students to engage in routine and formal situations, both socially and intellectually.

Level C (ILR Level 2›2; Advanced-Low to Advanced-Mid)

  • Same as Level B, but slightly higher ability level

Level D (ILR Level 2›2+; Advanced-Mid to Advanced-High)

  • Designed to introduce learners to accomplishing professional goals in China by tasking them with creating and completing short-term community practicum.
  • Coursework prepares students to use Chinese to conduct research and complete projects.

Level E (ILR Level 3; Superior)

  • For learners who have completed all U.S.-based Chinese Flagship coursework and have been accepted into the Flagship Capstone Year.
  • Experience self-initiated activities in China (e.g., finding housing, setting up a short-term community service project)
  • Designed to teach learners how to be perceived as a positive element in Chinese work environment.
  • Emphasizing self-managed language and culture learning.
  • Give learners maximum freedom to create and fill local internship positions while having programmatic support should they require it and a rigorous reporting responsibility.