Delaware Governor's School for Excellence in Chinese Language and Culture 2008
June 15-July 27, 2008

The University of Delaware, the Office of the Governor of the State of Delaware, and the Delaware Department of Education are happy to announce the second annual Governor’s School for Excellence in Chinese Language and Culture scheduled for June 15-July 27, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Final dates may change slightly.) The Governor’s School for Excellence in Chinese Language and Culture is an intensive, six-week long academic program designed to immerse students in Chinese language and culture. The State of Delaware recognizes China’s growing importance in the 21st century global community and wants to prepare our students to better understand China. The Governor’s School for Excellence in Chinese Language and Culture is supported by a grant from the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

We will select 20-30 academically talented high school students for this exciting and challenging program. The students will participate in five weeks of structured Chinese language instruction and cultural studies and live with host families as well as dormitories. Approximately ten days of the program will be spent on a study tour to Xian and Shanghai. This exciting opportunity is open to high school students that meet the following qualifications:

• Students must be over the age of 14 and under the age of 19 at the program’s start date, scheduled for June 15, 2008. This opportunity is open to rising tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade students as well as recent graduates who are under the age of 18 on June 15, 2008.
• Students must have taken one academic year of structured Chinese language instruction (Mandarin). Students who take Mandarin Chinese classes outside of school or who are privately tutored are encouraged to apply.
• Students must have an overall grade point average of 2.5 at the time of the application.

We encourage open-minded, inquisitive, and academically talented students to apply. Alumni of the 2007 Governor’s School in China may apply, but preference will be given to first time applicants to the program. Students who live outside the state of Delaware may apply however, priority will be given to residents of Delaware.

Program Overview

The theme of the 2008 Governor’s School in China is Understanding Modern China: Tradition and Transformation, with a special emphasis on China’s hosting of the 2008 Summer Olympics. The school is comprised of the following carefully designed mix of learning activities:

1. Over one hundred hours of Mandarin Chinese instruction at the intermediate and advanced level, including individualized tutoring;
2. Lectures (in English) on traditional and modern Chinese culture;
3. E-journal group writing exercises;
4. One month of home stays with Chinese families experienced in hosting foreign and American students;
5. Interaction with Chinese student “buddies” from our partner high school, Number 2 High School of Beijing Normal University, one of the most prestigious high schools in China;
6. Volunteer activities in Beijing and;
7. Cultural excursions in and around Beijing to reinforce classroom instruction, with one extended trip to Xian and Shanghai to better understand the cultural, economic, and social transformations taking place in China.

Upon their return to Delaware, students are required to share their experience with their peers and community groups through two presentations to each student’s high school or community group. In addition, there will be structured alumni activities to encourage students to continue their study of Chinese language and culture.

The Delaware Governor’s School for Excellence in Chinese Language and Culture is sponsored by

• Office of the Governor, State of Delaware
• Delaware Department of Education
• University of Delaware
  • Center for International Studies
  • Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
  • Division of Professional and Continuing Studies

The Governor's School for Excellence in Chinese Language and Culture is financially assisted by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State under the authority of the Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961, as amended.

For more information, write to governorsschool@udel.edu.