U.S. high school students: Apply for Chinese Bridge Summer Camp

April 12, 2013 | Events, UToday
By Cathy Zimmer



UT’s Confucius Institute is accepting applications for the 2013 Chinese Bridge Summer Camp for American high school students.

High school students who participated in the UT Confucius Institute's Chinese Bridge Summer Camp last summer posed for a photo in China.

High school students who participated in the UT Confucius Institute’s Chinese Bridge Summer Camp last summer posed for a photo in China.

This two-week program is structured to enhance understanding between American and Chinese high school students. Through a combination of classroom study and excursions, students will have an opportunity to expand their Chinese language skills while experiencing China’s rich culture, tradition and history.

“This camp is sponsored by Hanban (Confucius Institute Headquarters) and is offered in cooperation with various Confucius Institutes in the U.S. It provides American high school students an opportunity to experience Chinese language and culture during the summer,” said Dr. Minhua Wu, assistant director of the Confucius Institute. “We look to involve the children of UT’s faculty and staff in this summer camp.”

Student applicants must be enrolled in accredited public/private high schools and meet the following criteria:

• U.S. citizenship;

• Ages 14 to 18, enrolled in grades ninth through 12th, or beginning grade nine in fall 2013;

• Excellent academic record and strong interest in Chinese language and culture;

• Physically capable of international travel; and

• Some knowledge of the Chinese language preferred; however, a beginning Chinese tutorial course will be available for those with little or no experience.

Qualified students should submit an application, a personal letter on why they would like to participate, and one recommendation letter from a teacher or other personnel. Applications can be found at utoledo.edu/cisp/Confucius_Institute/index.html.

Materials should be turned in to Confucius Institute Office in Snyder Memorial Building Room 1060 by Saturday, April 20.

The participants will be divided into different delegations. After arriving in Beijing, the groups will go to other cities in China and attend Chinese language and culture classes, engage in cultural and sports activities with their Chinese friends, and experience Chinese language and culture.

During the camp, students will study Chinese language and culture (paper cutting, calligraphy, brush painting, tea ceremony, martial arts), participate in various sports and cultural activities (informal basketball matches, international student get-togethers, host family experiences), and visit points of interest and sites of natural beauty in China.

Selected students will be required to cover the cost of a round-trip airline ticket, processing fee, international travel insurance and visa application fee. Hanban will take care of the China costs on accommodation, transportation, activities and sightseeing for students and teachers while in China.

“The Confucius Institute here at The University of Toledo has participated in the past with the Chinese Bridge Summer Camp. In 2012, we sent 10 students and one chaperone from area schools,” Wu, said. “This year, we plan to send a group of 20 students and two chaperones.”

Since the program was launched in 2007, a total of 3,100 American high school students have been invited to participate in the summer camp in China. The Confucius Institute Headquarters will welcome 700 U.S. high school students and teacher-leaders to participate in the 2013 summer camp program.

For more information, contact Wu at 419.530.7750 or minhua.wu@utoledo.edu.

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