Contemporary Issues Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The Chinese classes at IES are tough, but very rewarding. I didn't realize how much I improved until I got back to my home university. That being said, these Chinese classes probably require a greater time commitment than other study abroad programs. It's difficult to compare the other courses in the Contemporary Issues program to my home university courses since these classes are taken individually in blocks. I found these classes to be really helpful for understanding China within a short period of time and not particularly demanding. Overall, the Chinese and area studies classes provide a nice balance.

On-site administration of your program

The staff did a great job of making me feel comfortable in the program and I always felt informed. The only issue I had was that the Contemporary Issues program is presented on the IES website like numerous courses are available, yet many of these courses were not offered due to low enrollment. So, I would not advise students to depend on taking a specific course with this program.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in a dorm with a Chinese roommate. Having both my fellow classmates and Chinese students around made for a great environment. IES has changed buildings so I can't speak for the current arrangement, but it was very convenient for me having a classroom / activity room just down the hall from my dorm room.

Finding food is your own responsibility which gives you a lot of freedom. There are many restaurants around the BFSU campus and almost all that I went to were very cheap and delicious. It's also cool being in Beijing because you can get food from around the world with a cheap cab or subway ride.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The program had some events to encourage this, but my best experiences with the local culture were through independent travel and exploring Beijing. I think the program could encourage more interaction within the dorm and around campus though.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The program's staff provides helpful information on staying healthy and they are really supportive when any health issues come up. Over the counter meds from home were very handy to have.

I always felt very safe. The worst I came across were scam artists.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Food and travel are both very cheap.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

The program has a language pledge which is effective at encouraging Chinese in conversation. It's not something to fear though, English is allowed during certain hours and off-campus.

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• Dorm

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• Local Students

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• Americans

• The people
• The food
• Travel opportunities (especially Tibet)

• Class availability
• Events to connect with Chinese students
• More guidance on the visa process

The Avid Adventurer