chinese immersion programs

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Lotu


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A Note from the Director

Learn Chinese

with a Homestay

1Lotus EducationalFoundation

Lotus Educational Foundation is a non-pro fit organiza tion based in San Jose, CA with an office in Beijing. We arededicated to intercultural exchange through language and custom learning. It is with great pleasure that I introduce Lotus'sLearn Chinese wi th a HomestayProgram.

Homestay accommodation is the cornerstone of all Lotus's language programs as we strive to completely immerse ourstudents in Mandarin . Lotus spec ially desi gned an assortment of programs fo r students from every age group and abili ty.Whether you are in high school or universi ty student , just beginning your Mandarin studie s,or a (one whointimately understands China) Lotus has an agenda that will suit your learning and travel needs.

Lotus is the oldest and most experienced homestay specialist in China. Our Learn Chinese with a Homestay Program has

attrac ted more than 700 students over the past seven years and we continue to expand. To date, we choose your hostfamily from a pool of ove r 1,700 loca l Chinese famili es.

In addition to being dedicated to education, Lotus also contributes to our communities. Each year we make a point todonate to various charities and relief efforts throughout the world. This past year all our proceeds went to the Sichuan

earthquake relief efforts. We even organize optional charity excursions for all Lotus students to promote mindfulness andcompassion toward the less fortunate.

I hope you will consider Lotus Education for your Mandarin language learni ng needs.

Sincerely,

Lisa ShengProgram Director


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The best way to learn a language is to have constantcontact with it in a completely immersive environment.Lotus's programs afford students a unique opportunity tosubmerge themselves in Mandarin by living with aChinese family. We designed Learn Chinese with aHo me st ay programs for those looking for deeperconnections to local Chinese culture, that for instance,you wouldn't find in a sterile hotel or internationaldormitory. Most often our students spend their morningsformally studying in a classroom and then the eveningtesting out their speaking and listening skills with theirfamilies.

In addition to the homestay, our programs often includecultural excursions, extracurriculars, and charityactivities. These extras not only enhance students'understanding of Mandarin, but also serve to educatethem about the profound traditions and current realitiesof China. Lotus steps outside the classroom to givestudents a well rounded more complete picture of Chinaand its standard language.

Lotus guarantees you will return from China with notonly increased language proficiency but a more intimatecomprehens ion of China and its people. After your stayyou will have made last ing connect ions with a peop le thatboast thousands of yea rs of history. Let Lot us be yourguide and start your adventure today!


The Best Way To

Learn Chinese

Lot us was e xcell ent ! My host s we re extremel y kind a ndgenerous to me! It wou ld have bee n much harder for me t o ge tthis flav or of Chinese life h ad I only stayed in hotels or dorms. Ileft Chi na with a great deal of respect and affec tion for thepeople I met .-David Picku s, Professo r of Arizona Sate University, joinedLotus's Homestay Program in 2004.


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Table of Contents

Our Homestay Families

Meet Our Families

Lotus Language Immersion Programs

College Programs

Beijing Language and Culture University

Beijing Normal University

High School ProgramsBackground Information

Small Class Learning

University Programs

Summer Study and Travel Programs

One-On-One Tutoring

Business Chinese Program

Teach and Stay Exchange

Customize Your Own Study Program

Background Information

Sample 5-Week Study and Tour ItineraryExcursions, Extracurriculars, and Volunteering

Excursion Highlights

The Lama Temple

The Great Wall

The Peking Opera

Extracurricular Samplings

Compassionate Cooking: Vegetarian Cooking Class

The Philosophy of Yin and Yang: Tai Ji Chuan

Hand Craft Studio: Traditional Chinese Craft-Making Class

Chinese Medicine Simpli fied: A Beginners' Workshop

Volunteering Features

Tibet: Xieqing Charity Orphan SchoolTai Zhou Wu Immigrant SchoolsCharity Bake Sale: FundraisingSenior Center Visits

Student Stories

FAQ: Homestay and Registration

About Us

Mission

Contact Information

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Meet OurHost Families


When it comes down to it, it's all about language immersion. If

you've come to China to study Mandarin, Lotus's Learn Chinesewith a Homestay programs are the best option. Unlike a lot ofother study abroad organizat ions, Lotus is not an islandprogram in whi ch st udents live with a fixed group of foreigne rswho often also speak English. Rather, Lotus strives to immerseits students in a living environment that constantly requires themto speak, listen, read and write Mandarin. In fact, we believe sostrongly in the benefit s of liv ing with a homestay that it 's the onlyliving option we offer t o our students. We place al l our students inhomestay families that know you are there to speak Chinese andare ready to help with anything from homework assignments todecoding Chinese proverbs.

As a fully integrated family member you will participate inthe daily ins and outs of Chinese living including eating mealstogether, watching TV, and bargain shopping. Important to note,though you are living with another family, you still will enjoy thecomforts of your own private bedroom.

To ensure you have a safe and positive experience, beforeallowing a family to host foreigners, Lotus conducts a thoroughinterview and security check. Our hosts are particularly excitedand welcoming toward foreigners. Should you have anyquestions or concerns, don't hesitate to ask your family! That'swhat they are there for. They welcome questions from curiousstudents and travele rs. Our Beijing staff will also be available atall times to assist you if necessary.

Visit our website to see each host family's accommodations including bed, bath,

living room and other facilities www.lotuseducation.org


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The distingu ishing characterist ic of our college program is the homestay accomodation. Unlike a lot of other

island study programs in which university students live with other students who often also speak English, our

program includes study at Be ij ing Language and Culture Universi ty , Be ij ing Normal Universi ty , or the

universi ty of your choice, and a homestay arr angement. All of our student s reap the benefits of going home

and practi cing what they learn in class during the day. We find thei r progress to be particularly fas t in this

total immersion setting.

College Programs


Please note that the schedules for the universities are not listed as the time changes from year to year. Please consult ourwebsite at www.lotuseducation.org for the most up to date information concerning scheduling and fees.

Beijing Language and CultureUniversityB e i j i n g L a n g u a g e a n d C u l t u r eUniversity(BLCU)is the only universityin China that specializes in teaching theChinese language and culture to foreignstudents. More than 9,000 internationalstudents from 110 countries and over8,000 Chinese students study at BLCUeach year. All levels are welcome fromabsolute beginner to native speaker.

Beijing Normal UniversityThe Beijing Normal University Collegeof Chinese Language and Culturehouses 50 Mandarin teachers, including6 professors, 18 associate professors,and 21 instructors. Almost all thet e a c h e r s h a v e p r e v i o u s C h i n e s elanguage teaching experience. In fact,many of them taught Chinese overseas.

Choose Your Own UniversityIf you happen to have a particularuniversity in mind we are willing toarrange a homestay program with anyuniversity of your choice. Just let usknow!

Lotus Language

Immersion Programs


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Our high school programs are designed for students ages 14 to

18 interested in living with a homestay while studying Mandarin.

After a rigorous round of int erv iewing, we select only thosefamil ies who both mee t standard requirements and house aresident teenager. We find that teenagers especial ly mostcomfortably communi cate with their peers. We always want thedoors of communication open between our students and theirhost families so we do our best to make them feel as at home aspossible. Students a lso can rel y on our Bei jing sta ff at any time,day or night, should they need support. This program features avariety of activities including extracurriculars, volunteer events,and weekend excursions organized by Lotus and our hostfamil ies.

High School Programs


High School Program fee includes:

-Registration and all supporting paperwork.-Tuition fee and textbooks.-Homestay accommodation, which includes a privatebedroom, breakfast and dinner, computer and DSLservice.-Cultural activities, volunteer events and weekendexcursions in Beijing including lunch, transportationand admission fees.-Airport pick-up and drop-off upon arrival anddeparture.-Welcome Package: Chinese-English Dictionary, mapof Beijing, phone card of 100RMB and a mobile SIMcard.-Welcome dinner prepared by your host fami ly.-24 hour assistance and supervision from our Beijingstaff.

Everyone in the Lotus office has treatedme as a member of his/her family and Ifeel so priv il eged. I would li ke toformall y thank Lotus for giving me th iswonderful opportunity to study alanguage and culture I've always lovedand to get closer to some of the things

I'm most passiona te about .-Jeff Schultz, from Blanca HighSchool, joined Lotus's 4-week HighSchool Small Class Program in theSummer of 2008.


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W ith a maximum of five students per class, our High School

Small Class Program provides students an intensive, study-focused atmosphere for quick and effective learning. Our smallclass instructors hold teaching positions at renowned institutionssuch as BLCU, Tsinghua University, Peking University, and BNU.The program includes 20 lessons per week Monday throughFriday. Students will be placed into the appropriate classaccording to their Chinese level. More than an academic in classlearning experience, the High School Small Class Program alsofeatures a variety of activities, including cultural activities,volunteer events, and weekend excursions.

High SchoolSmall Class Program

Thank you very much for looking after Camilla. The host family was absolutely wonderful to her and she has

made great friends during her time in Beijing. I am very happy that her Chinese has improved, and am sure she

will continue studying this year. Lotus, all your staff has been absolutely wonderful. I will recommend your

homestay program to everybody in Italy! -Gea Apri l, mother of Camilla Apri l who joine d Lotus's Small Class

Program in the Summer of 2008.

We offer our high school students the chance to earn college credit by studying at BLCU or BNU for the summer. This

program is onl y open to beginners or groups of ten or more of the same language l evel. Please note that the schedules for

the universitie s are not list ed as the time changes from year to year. Please consult ou r website at www.lotuseducation.org

for the most up to date information concerning scheduling and fees.


University Study Program For High School Students


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Want to combine your need to study with your desire to travel? Lotus created a

program in which students study and live with a host family for their first mon th inBeijing and then spend the last one or two weeks travel ing. While study ing, student swill live with one of our host families. During the final two weeks of the programstudents get to put their Mandarin skills to the test as we take them on a tour of Xian andChengdu. We end the trip with a voluntee r excursion at the destination of the student s'choice. Some choose to head to an orphanage in Tibet while others take advantage ofour recent ly added option in S ichuan teaching English at rebuilt schools .

Kevin Liang with a group of Lotus students on a trip to the Lama Temple8Lotus EducationalFoundation

Summer Studyand Travel Program

My son did not speak nor wri te any Chinese before he came to China. His

tutor was able to start him from ground zero. When he returned from only a

month away he could converse and comprehend in very basic Mandarin,

which I think is phenomenal progress. Plus, at the end of the program, the

tutor provided us with a detail study report with a description of the study

plan, progress , and areas for improvement . We chose Learn Chi nese With A

Homestay because we wanted a safe, worry- free env ironment especially

since he had never been to China before . The hos t mot her took rea lly good

care of him. Throughout the program duration, I kep t in constant contact with

the Lotus office in Beijing via email asking any question or concern that

popped into my head. With the time difference, they always re sponded within

24 hours. Thi s really eased the mother i n me. I would recommend the Lotusprogram if you are seeking an enr iching cul tural experi ence with ful l

language immersion . We will not hesitate to part icipate again in the future.

-Wendy Liang, mother of Kevin Liang who joined Lotus's High School

Program in the Summer of 2006.


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Our One-on-One tutoring program offers students and travelers of anyage and level the opportunity to learn Mandarin Chinese with apro fessi onal tutor. What' s specia l about our tutoring serv ice is our tutorsare more than just instructors . They act as outlets to experience Chinalike a local. For example, if you feel like having a lesson in asupermarket to learn a bit about Chinese cuisine, feel free to go on a fieldtrip with your tutor to the local market . All of our tutors are native

Chinese college graduates with at least two years experience teachingMandarin as a foreign language. In fact , mos t of our teachers teach a tBeijing Language and Culture University, Tsinghua Uni versity, orBeijing Normal Uni versity. The tutor wil l customize an indiv idual studyplan based on your language level and des ired field o f study. Flexi bleschedules, professional service and personal attention are keyadvantages of this program.


One-On-One Tutoring

Thank you for the wonderful experience my daughter and I had in

Beijing. Being able to be immersed once again in Chinese helped

Meredi th speak and understand the language more fully and app ly the

knowledge gained from her high school Chinese classes. Meredith

found her tut or helpful , responsive and knowledgeab le. Meredi th had

specific goals she wanted to attai n to hel p her with her continuing

study of Chinese and the tut or helped her achieve those goa ls. On our

daily wonderings and sight seeing through Beijing after her lesson,

Meredi th confiden tly spoke Chi nese in al l situati ons . It ce rtainly was

nice for me to be able to have someone about who could speak the

language! -Laura & Meredith, from the US joined Lotus's One-

On-One Progr am in the Summer of 2006.


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If you're trying to make it in business in China it'shard to get far without having contact with locals.

Because our program allows you to live in the samehouse as a Chinese family, you are able to buildrelationships and network with other business menwho often desire to help foreigners establishthemselves as professionals in China. LearningMandarin is crucial today and it will be even morecrucial tomorrow. Even basic Chinese can help seallasting partner ships with Chinese affil iates. LetLotus guide you through the language learningp r oc es s b y i mmer s i ng yo u i n a Man dar i nenvironment complete with a homestay family,professional tutors and teachers.

Business ChineseProgram

I highly recommend Lot us. I had an excellentexperien ce. I found the program to be very well-organized. All of the teachers, through both theuniversity and One-On-One tutorial program, wereexcellent.-Brent Smith, American bor n Managing Directo rof the Developing Bank of Singapore'07.

Nicole Figley teach ing her fa mily English.

Our Teach and Stay Program is a perfect option for thoselooking to keep their budget low. We have host familieswilling to offer free homestay accomodation to students whomeet the following requirements:

-You would be willing to work as an English tutor for yourfamily members for one hour each day.

-You are a nat ive English speaker.

Teach and

Stay Exchange

The Teach and Stay Program was the perfect setting for me topract ice my Chinese. It worked out tha t t o f ulf il l the one -ho urof tutoring I was expected to give them, I just went back andfor th bet wee n Eng lish and Chines e in my conversa tions wit hthem, giving them English practice while they helped me withmy Chinese. Also, the many conversations we had talkingabout the cultural differences between the US and Chinaproved ve ry enl igh tening.

-Matthew Cecil, from the University of Colorado, joinedLotus's 8- Week Teach an d Stay Program in th e Summer of2005.



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Customize Your OwnStudy Program

Lotus is dedicat ed to providing the best service possible to our students . If you areinterested in creating an individual study abroad program or a tailored program for yourstudents con tact Lotus with your trave l and learning requirements. We will put toge ther aper sonal study plan for you and/or your group.

Choose Your Home stayLotus chooses you r host family from a pool of over 1,700 quali fied Beijing residencies. Itis for this reason that we are able to satisfy our students' specific living requirements.

Whether you request to live in Beijing's unive rsity di strict of Haidian or with a family thathouses a son of a similar age to your student, we can make it happen.

Group Study at any un iversity in Beijing

For groups of 15 or more with similar interests and language level, Lotus can arrange aclass at Be ijing Language and Cu lture Univers ity, Beijing Normal Un iversi ty, or any otheruniversity in Beijing. All students passing the final exam will receive an official transcript,which is transferable for college credit at universities in the United States.

Small Group and StudyFor groups with three or more people Lotus can arrange a small class course with ourpro fessi onal Chinese teachers. You can choose the t ime , length of study, and location!

Study and Travel Outside BeijingDo you want to travel outside Beijing? Lotus can arrange a trave l and study program.

After you complete your studies in Beijing, simply choose the destinations and we willmake the plans! We have experienced travel guides on sit e eager to bring students to thedestinations of their interests.

Mix and Ma tch Study Program sWant to have 20 hours of class in the morning and then extra tutoring sessions in theafternoons? Our One-on-One tutoring service combined with our college program wouldwork perfectly. Our point is, feel free to combine any of our exist ing programs to fit yourneeds!

An Importa nt Note.. .Who We KnowIn China, we say it's all about theguanxi (relat ions) you build with others. Over the pastseven years Lotus has worked hard to build relationships with other businesses andassociations interested in sharing their customs with foreigners. We have connections

with a number of universities and a variety charity organizations/efforts throughout China.We also have relations with a very highly regarded traditional Chinese medical clinic inBeijing. Our circle of friends stretches from teacher s and lecturers whose studie s span awide array of disciplines including martial arts, calligraphy and religious studies.



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Day 1: Arrive a t Beiji ng Airport /Feast at your welcome dinner prepared by your host family.Day2: Meet and Greeton the fir st day of Class/Enjoy a night ou t at the Peking Opera.Day3: Chinese Class/Mee t your new outlet to Chinese culture- Your Tutor!Day4: Chinese Class/Participate in aguohua demo, the art of Chinese painting.Day5: Chinese Class/Join us at the Beijing office for ajiaoz i (dumpling) cooking class.Day6: Hop on our private bus and take a ride to cl imb the magnifi cent Great Wall.Day7: Relax and get to know your homestay, your new family in China.

Week 1

Day1: Chinese class/Soak in the sites and histori cal signif icance of the Lama Temple.Day2: Chinese class/Volunteer teach at a local orphanage. This is a great opportun ity to help out some less fortunatechildren that love meeting foreigners!Day3: Chinese cl ass/One-On-One tutoring session: Learn how to ask directions: pretend to get lost and find your way inyour neighborhood.

Day4: Chinese class/Watch a tradit ional acrobatics performance. Carefu l, they flip!Day5: Chinese class/Visit the very popular Bei jing Zoo and see a panda (or two).Day6: Excursion to Tiananmen Square and the renowned Forbidden City.Day7: Take a load off at your homestay.

Week 2

Day1: Chinese class/ Visit Beiji ng's newest edition, the Olympic Park.Day2: Chinese class/ Brush up on your calligraphy (shu fa) with another demo.Day3: Chinese class /One-On- One tutoring session: get familiar with Beijing food culture by visiti ng the local grocerystore wit h your tutor. Also get a lesson in bargaining!Day4: Chinese class /Learn a bit about Chinese history at the Capital Museum.Day5: Chinese class /Make some new Chinese friends at a student panel discussion.Day6: Take a stroll around the Summer Palace/Soak up the scenery a t the Temple of Heaven.Day7: Join your host family for a reunion with some relati ves and friends .

Week 3

Day1: Chinese class/Try your hand (and foot) at our Chinese Mar tial Arts clas s.Day2: Chinese clas s/Get crafty sewing and gluing at our tradit ional arts hand-craft class.Day3: Chinese class/One-On-One tutoring session: take a stroll through a nearby park to learn about basic trad itionalChinese gardening aesthetic with your tutor.Day4: Chinese class/Wander the narrow hutongs to get a glimpse of courtyard living.Day5: Chinese class /Attend a traditiona l Chinese medicine workshop at a local clinic.Day6: Travel to the Beij ing suburbs to volunteer your acting skills at the Senior Center.Day7: Say your goodbyes to your host fami ly (though we're sure you'l l be back to visit) at dinner and hop on a train .

Week 4

Day1: Arrive in Xian/Explore the first Emperor of China' s burial grounds and the awe-inspiring Terracot ta Army.Day2: Climb the Tang Dynasty Wild Goose Pagoda/ Visit the Shaanxi Hi story Museum/ Walk along the ancient city wall.Day3: Fly to Chengdu/Go out for some early S ichuan hot pot and get some rest .Day4: Travel to Chengdu's out skirts to teach at local schools rebuilt after the Sichuan earthquake.Day5: Fly to Shanghai /Relax and crui se down the Huangpu River/Snap some pictures atop the Observa tion Deck of theOrienta l Pearl Tower.Day6: Pack up and get some last minut es souvenirs at the popular Nanjing Shopping Street .Day 7: Say your goodbyes toZhongguo (China) and promise to come back and visit us again!

Week 5

The destin ation, group size, and curricul um can all be changed acc ording to your needs and interests. We are very flexibl e!

Sample 5-Week Study & Tour Itinerary



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The Lama Temple

Today, the Lama Temple orYong He Gongstands as one ofthe largest and most important Tibetan monasteries in theworld. This trip is included in all our packages, no matterthe length of time you plan on staying in China. OurBeijing Staff provides a guided tour through the manyhalls and pavilions that boast a Han-Tibetan architecturalstyle. We focus our tour on the influence of Buddhism inChinese history. For instance, we begin every tour byasking our students why Chinese say "embrace Buddha'sfeet." It doesn't take more than a few minutes before ourstudents join in with other temple visitors, lighting

incense and learning tradit ional prayer hymns. We endthe excurs ion with a delici ous vegeta rian lunch at a nearbyrestaurant.

Excursion Highlights

All of Lotus's Immersion Programs include trips tovarious monuments and testimonials to traditionalChinese culture. During our guided tours, we do ourbest to provide our students with an insightful, detailedunders tanding of the his tor ical and cultural significance of these sites. All our tours includeadmission tickets, transportation and meals. All youhave to do is show up ready to l earn!


Excursions,Extracurriculars&Volunteering

The first weekend of my stay coincided with a Lotusexcursion to the Beijing Lama Temple. Lisa Shengand her staff ran an excellent tour. As a guide Lisanot only explained to us the significance of whatwas there, but also illustrated how the practice ofBuddhism has influenced Chinese language andculture. In a short visit such as it was, I learnt agreat deal. And something I c ouldn' t but not ice wasthe character and motivation of fellow Lotusstudents. I thought it reflect ed well on Lotus .- Thomas Smithurst from Australia joined Lotusin the Winter of 2006.

The Lotus organized excursion to the Lama Templewith a vegetarian lunch afterwards was one of themany highlights of my time in Beijing. The Lotus

staff act ed as our per sonal tour guides providinginteresting information about the temple's historyand Buddhism's history in China. The staff wentabove and be yond by making t he tour fun wi th gamesand prizes. The restaurant we ate lunch at was alsoexcellent.-Emily Ow, from the University ofWestern Ontario, Canada, joined our BLCUProgram in the Summer of 2005.


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Badachu

Autumn is the best season to go hiking in Beijing's

Western hills and Badachu Park is the place to do it.

Nes tled bet ween Cuiwei, Pingpo, and Lushi hills this

beautiful park attract s massive amounts of visitors

(foreign and local) each year. Badachu means Eight

Great Sites, and refers to its' eight well preservedancient Buddhist temples and nunneries. These ancient

temples and nunneries were built at the end of the Sui

Dynasty, and were later renovated during the Song, Yuan,

Ming and Qing dynasties.

The Peking Opera

Extremely prevalent during the Qing Dynasty, this form

of traditional Chinese theatre attracts students and

travelers of all ages and interests. We give our visitors a

chance to get back stage and view the actors and

actresses preparing for the performance.


The trip to the Great Wall was very exciting! Being on

the Great Wall is an experience not many people have.

Thank you Lotus for giving me the opportunity to go

visit the Great Wall! In the future, I would like to go to

Beij ing once more through your program. -Paul

Iinuma from Hawaii State University joined Lotus

during the Summer of 2008.

The Great Wall

A trip to China would not be complete without a visit tothe Great Wall. Built, rebui lt and maintained from thesixth all the way to the sixteenth century, visitors fromall over the world come to China to walk along this

UNESCO World Heritage Site. Almost all our students,no matter age, language level or area of interest end upvisiting the Great Wall during their s tay.

ExcursionHighlights


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Extracurriculars: A Sampling

Lo tus is dedicated to a well-rounded education. That 's why, in addition to of fering various kinds of

Mandarin classes, we also give our students the opportunity to partake in after-school activi ties that

not only further their study of the language, but enhance their understanding of the customs and

culture of China. We want out students to walk away from Lotus with more than just a knowledge of

Mandarin . We want them to know China .

Compassionate Cooking:

Lotus Vegetarian Cooking Class

During every study session, Lotus opens it's kitchen to studentsinterested in learning how to make traditional vegetarian Chinesedishes. The variety of vegetables, fruits and soy available in Chinamakes being a vegetari an extremely easy (and delicious ). In addition,

as an earth-friendly organization, we advocate vegetarian eating habits.In the past students have prepared anything and everything fromdumplings to Wotou, a popular dessert rumored to be a favorite of QingEmperor Cixi . In addition to being able to enjoy their cooking efforts

after the lesson, many students bring recipes back home to give theirfriends and family a taste of China.

Visit our website at and download ourrecipes!www.lotuseducation.org



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The Philosophy of Yin and Yang:Tai Ji Chuan

Maste r ing the a r t o f Ta i J i meansestablishing a balance of yin and yang,fundamental elements of classical Chinesescience and philosophy. Some say everymovement, simple or complex, is based oncirucular motions which mirror the shape ofthe yin yang. Other practitioners claim itsabout cultivating from a state of motion to astate of stillness. Our teacher has beenpract icing Tai Ji Chuan since chi ldhood anddeeply enjoys sharing the philosophy andhands on l essons with enthusiastic students.

Chinese Medicine Simplified:

A Beginner's Workshop

In an effort to make others aware of the richheritage of China we are offering atraditional Chinese medicine workshop.Interested students will visit a Chineseclinic and watch doctors utilize methods likecupping and acupuncture. Join us and watchor get treated.

Hand Craft Studio:Traditional Chinese Craft-Making Class

During every study session Lotus invites hand-made craft (shou gong) andcalligraphy specialists (shu fa) to our offices to give students a demo. Inthe past we have made everything fromzhong guo jie (Chinese decorativeknots) to ornamental jiaoz i (dumplings). These crafts and calligraphypieces make perfect souveni rs for friends and re latives .

MoreExtracurriculars



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VolunteeringFeaturesAs a non-prof it organization, Lotussponsors and organizes a number ofvolunteer activities. By exercising suchvalues as filial piety and compassion,we hope to not only raise our students'awareness of world issues, but toencourage them to become contributingmembers of society. In Chinese we call

it (she de), meaning you give andyou get. Our ul timate miss ion is tobridge lasting friendships across ethnic,economical and cultural boundaries.

Xieqing Charity Orphan School, Tibet

Xieqing Charity Orphan School is a private school situated on a

beautiful gra ssland in Ganzi Tibet an Autonomous Prefect ure in

Sichuan province, southwest China. As a sponsor of the orphanage,

Lotus arranges trips for students interested in volunteer teaching.

The orphans are extremely grateful and excited to make foreignfriends and get a glimpse of the world outside their own. Lotus

seeks volunteers who are mature, independent and in good health

for this journey. For more detail s, please consult our website.

Charity Bake Sale Fundraising

Lotus students and host families participate in a great deal of

charity fundraisers. For example in accordance with the Dragon

Boat Festival, Lotus joined in with well known charity

organiza tions to make and sell Zongzi (bamboo leaf-wrapped

rice dish) to raise money for less fortunate students in rural areasof China. Lotus also made Niangao during the Chinese New

Year to build water cellars for impoverished communities in

Gansu Province. In addition to teaching them how to make

customary holiday treats, we expose our students to current

troubles facing many Chinese. We find everyone, volunteers

included, benefits from these fundraising activities.

Tai Zhou Wu Immigrant Schools, BeijingThe Lotus volunteers at the Tai Zhou Wu Immigrant School can be

found doing anything from drawing pictures to playing music to

teaching English. The kids are receptive to just about anything as

seeing a new (especially foreign) face brings them great happiness.

The school was established to help immigrant children of poor

working families who cannot afford to send their children to

government subsidized schools. Teachers and volunteers utilize

the limited resources to make the place as stimulating as possible

for young learners.


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Each semester we organize a volunteer trip toHe Bei Lang Fan

Yang Shui Wu Xiang Senior Center in the suburbs of Beijing.Lotus arranges this excursion with two objectives in mind.First, we hope to widen the world perspectives of our studentsby giving them a glimpse of how others live. Second, we hope topromote the Confucian ideal of (xiao dao) or filial piety;that is to be dutiful to one's parents and treat elderly peoplewith respec t. This value is ingrained in Chinese cul ture.

Lotus Educational Foundation has given students the opportunity to t ru ly see the way other peoplelive and thus expand their minds and increase understanding. They have done this through providinghomestay families as well as charity excursions to places such as senior homes and orphanages.

Part ic ipat ing in both kinds of activi ties is st il l a rari ty in China. The majori ty of fore igners vis it ingChina are wealthy tourists who will never get a taste of the real, nitty-grittiness of China, or foreign

students who all too easi ly get sucked in to a comfortable li festyle of l iv ing in dorms or apartments ,going to class occasional ly, and eating and partying for scarily low prices. They may leave Chinaafter one year without ever si tting down to eat dinner with a Chinese family or gaining an awarenessof how both government and non-governmental organizations are addressing poverty issues that still

pose a signif icant obs tacle to the country 's ri se in to the class of developed nations. I par ticipated intwo charity events in nearby Hebei province through the Lotus program. One event was to a seniorhome, and was specifically open to all students in the Lotus program. The other event was to a

children's orphanage. Both volunteer experiences impressed me deeply. I really encourage currentand futur e Lotus s tudents to make the most out of t heir time in China and to value any oppor tunities tounderstand Chinese people on a deeper level. -Stephanie Lin, from Columbia Universi ty , joined

Lotus's 20- Week Fall BLCU Program in 2006.

Volunteer at a Senior Center!


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Students' StoriesTake a look at some feedback!

Isaac Harle y, from Unive rsity of Oklahoma, joined Lotus's 5-Week Winter Program at BLCUin 2004.

I had a great time studying the Chinese language and culture in Beijing at BLCU during the winterof 2004. The Lotus staff in Beijing helped immensely, as they placed me with a wonderful familyand periodically checked in and out with me to make sure everything was going smoothly, andhandled det ails (such as arrang ing rides to/from the air port, enrolling me in my classes , showing mehow to commute to the University) that would have left me, as a near absolute beginner in Chinesetotally lost. I went to Beijing knowing only a few indispensable phrases in Chinese, and I left beingable to have simple conversations.

Whitney Sw edlow, from Florida State Unive rsity, joined Lotu s's 5-Week One-O n-One Program in the Fall of 2007.

My time with the Lotus Educational Foundation study abroad program in Beijing was outstanding. From the minute Iarrived to the minute I left, Lotus was there to assist and to answer any question I could imagine. My host family wasfantast ic. I had a 24-year -old host sister (Xu Wei) who was s tudying English, and she made it her personal goal to act as mydictionary, tutor, and translator throughout my stay. Xu Wei took the initiative to introduce me to all of her friends andfamily , and before long I had not one Chinese mom, but four! By the time I left China, my Chinese famili es called me "sar"(Third Child with a Beijing accent) and I called them "Mama" and "Baba." They took me to eat family meals, see amazingand important sites, taught me to play Mah-jong, and allowed me to spend time with them and practice my Mandarin. Itwas very difficult to leave. I had to make many promises to return in the future.

Zoe Quan , from Harvard Univer sity joined Lo tus's 4-Week Summer Program at BLCU in 2003.

Thanks to Lotus, my Chinese has improved significantly, in ways that would not otherwise have been possible. Yourprogram not only accelerated my learning of the language by constant exposure to its use in day -to-day living, but alsogave me a much better understanding of the rapid changes that are now occurring in contemporary Chinese culture. Iappreciated your willingness to accommodate my schedule, your arranging for tutors geared towards my specific business

needs. Your in-country support helped me to concentrate on the work at hand, with minimal lo ss of time spent on attendingto administrative and logistical matters. I whole-heartedly recommend your offering to others who wish to learn andunderstand Chinese through immersion.

Richard Hickey, from York Un iversity, UK, joined L otus's 8-Week Program i n 2005.

Would I recommend living with a homestay? Definitely. Compared with friends who stayed in dorms at BLCU with otherinternational students, my Chinese improved more. Plus, there is far more incentive to learn if you can practice every day.My fami ly was extremely ni ce. The food was tasty, and it was good to see what realBei jingers eat every day. They were allremarkably patient with my faltering Chinese. The flat was comfortable and located close to BLCU. They even lent me abicyc le, which I came to love riding.

Amanda Wong, from the University of California, Berkl ey, joined Lotus' s 4-Week BLC U Summer Program in 2006.

My host family was excellent. They made me feel at home right away. I feel that it would have been difficult for me to getthe whole immersion experience by only taking classes at BLCU, as the foreign students normally use their own language

once class gets out. But by having a host family to come home to every night, direct application of the lessons learned inclass was immediately available.


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Lisa Hughes, from Villanova University joined Lotus's 6-Week Summer Program atBLCU in 2004.

My host famil y was incre dibly welc oming and consta ntly asked if I was comforta ble andif I needed anything. Ms. Ting even took me out one day and helped me get a cellularphone and find a bic ycl e. I gr eatly appre ciated her ass ist anc e with bot h. Also , whe n Iwould ask help with any thing they would always tell me not to worry. Ms . Ting's moth eralso came and stayed with us for the duration of my stay. She was quite possibly thecutest woman ever! She was an incredible cook too. I cannot say enough about howhelpful a nd welcomin g they were. They weren't picky about when I came home (I had myown set of keys) and would simply ask things for informational purposes. I had abea uti ful room, and access to the phone and the int ernet . Aga in I canno t say eno ughabout how wonderful this family was and I would recommend them to anyone lookingfor a pleasurable time abroad in Beijing.

More Stories

Adrian LeCesne, from Yale University, joined Lotus's 12-Week Fall Program atBLCU in 2006.

I have done the homestay program with Lotus twice, and I feel the second time reallymade me appreciate the conveniences of the first and how nice the families have beenboth times . The ladie s at the Lo tus office in Beijing are sweet and caring, and the groupactiviti es are fun and wholesome . If you want to get to know a few Chines e people in aper sonal way, and wou ld like someone to trans late the many idi osyncrasies of Chines eculture t o you, Lotus is ce rtainly a suitable plac e to start.

Leo Carter, from Rice University, joined Lotus's 1-Week One-On-One TutoringProgram and 4- Week Program at BLCU in 2007.

Living with a homestay made me use the language everyday, all day long. I was forced tocommunicate with people that couldn't communicate with me in my own language, so itwas great- the best way to learn. Also I have to say my tutor was great, she was veryfriendly and spoke English. She helped me with everythin g. I highly r ecommend Lotus.

Wesley Wong, from the U.S. joi ned Lotus 's 4-Week S ummer Program in 2006 .

Doing everything by email and fax and not meeting anyone in person when yourpla nning a tr ip hal fway around the wor ld wou ld mak e anyone nervous. But Lotus dideverythin g they said they would and then some. They greeted me at the airpor t, they tookcare of the hassle of registering for school (which can be difficult if you didn't speak aword of Chinese), they took th e time to answer any questions I had about li ving in Chinaand most of all they were extremely honest and straight forward about everything. Ialways felt I had a safety net if any mishap would occur. Unexpecte d things andproble ms happen of course like the time I l ost my wallet and had t o have al l new info andcards sent to a safe address (Lotus offices). Lotus even made a point of hand deliveringall my care packages from the U.S. so I wouldn't have to go to their office.

Davide Ben-Dror, from Haifa University, Israel, joined Lotus's 6-Week SummerProgram at BLCU in 2004.

A week has passed since my return from China and my stay with Lotus. I look back atthose six weeks with great pleasure. The time I spent in Beijing in general and with myhost family specifically, the Huaiyuan family, was very good. Their hospitality, the timethey devoted to helping me, and the family feeling they created at their home made thedifference. Thanks to their warm welcome my time in Beijing went from being justanother la nguage abroa d program to a wonderful and fasc inating experience of gett ing toknow Beijing , the Chinese pe ople in general and the Huaiyuan family in particular.


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Robert Sachse, from the University of Redlands joinedLotus's 4- week One-On-One program in the Summer of2006.

I came to China to learn Mandarin as quickly as possible. Idecided a homestay program would be most appropriate. TheLotus Educational Foundation provided outstanding servicebefore, dur ing and after my trip in Chi na. I wa s ple ased wit hthe degre e of freedom I was able to e xercise while in China as apar ticipan t in th e One -On-One tut oring pro gra m. Not only wasmy schedule flexible, but my tutor was understanding, smart,

and very funny. I had more than plenty of time to explore thecity; I even signed up a t a local h ealth club to upkeep the acti velifestyle I have in the USA!

Philip Shellhaas Export Complianc e Office, Lenovo Inc , joined Lotus'sOne-On-One Program in 2005.

"I'm not your typical student, and wasn't sure Lotus could accommodate myBeijing wo rk schedule and my very basic, be ginning lev el languagerequire ments. I work for a computer company. Though my office is in theUSA, I sp end a consider able amount of time in Beijing. Lotus was able tofind me a homestay and a tutor in ve ry short noti ce. I was thoroughlyimpressed with their efficiency and attentiveness, and their superborganizational support and resources.

Miranda Chien-Hale, from Los Altos High School, joined Lotus's 4-Week High School Small ClassProgram in the Summer of 2008.

My Lotus Summer benefited me in many ways. Firstly, I furthered my study of Mandarin. The smallclasses give each student a lot of attention to improve his/her Chinese. By the end of my stay in Beijing Ifound myself understanding simple conversations. I am extremely happy with how much my Chinese

improved in such a short time. Second, the home stay aspect of my trip helped me grow as a person. Inaddition, the Lotus staff was extremely welcoming and kind. If you are serious about learning Chinesethis program is for you.

Jnai Gaith er from Carleton Colle ge, joined Lo tus 's BLCU Program in the Fall of 2003.

Lotus is an excelle nt program. Be fore I left, I made frequent call s to Lotus's headqua rters in California.My calls were returned promptly a nd were always friendl y. I greatl y appreci ate all the time and patiencethey had wi th me. My two families in China were wonderful. They were very gracious and did anything intheir p ower to keep me happy. They definite ly aimed to please. I had a lot of fun with both famil ies andthey taught me a lot. The y were al so very well ver sed in Chinese c ulture and history. I will never forgetmy family a nd hope to stay in touch with them afte r I return t o the States. Lotus is an excellent programthat puts t he students f irst. I highly recommend t he program to a nyone who wishes to get an insi ders' viewof China. Thanks for everything, Lotus!!!

An Lam, fr om the U.S. joined Lotus's One On-One Program in 2005.

My host f amily was a perfec t match for me. Along with learning Chinese at home, my t utor spent a lot oftime tea ching me a lot of practical Chin ese. She took me around the city, we ate in great re staurant s, andshe also taught me a lot of famous Chinese stories. By t he end of my trip, I felt a huge improv ement in mycomfort i n buying food, taki ng a taxi aroun d and having general conver sations with the locals. I was alsoglad to have Lotus guide me through t he proce ss of tryi ng to blend in and learn t he ways of the Chine se.

Jason Cheng from George C. Marhsall High School joined Lotus's 4-Week Summer Program in2006.

With the Lotus program, I stayed with a host family that forced me to speak Chine se. In the university'sdorms, you a re constantl y speaking Engl ish. The students I met at the university all said that they didn't'get much out of the c lass; mainly because they only spent four hours a day speaking Chinese and the re stof the ti me talking to c lassmate s in English. B esides that, you get to learn about how Chinese people livetheir eve ryday live s. Overall , the Lotus program helped a lot and I would rec ommend it to anyone.


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View more student stories and video

testimonials atwww.lotuseducation.org

Randy Baum, from Kansas University joined Lotus twice, once in 2003 andthen again in 2004.

The Lee host family was charismatic, clean, lively, and an invaluable tool to myunderstanding China. From observing the way in which couples interact withthemselve s and with their frie nds to the manner in which the bill is dealt with at arestaurant, living w ith my host-fami ly has broadened my unde rstanding of China.In a classroom, when class ends, you speak your native tongue. With a family,you often speak Mandarin, and depending on your speaking ability, you maynever speak your native tongue at all. This technique is beneficial to not onlyyour speaking, but to your listening ability, knowledge of the usage of idioms,spoken Chinese, and slang. Soon you might even find that you are actuallythinkingin Chinese. Th at language le vel is called "fl uency."

And more Stories

Selena Russ , from Smith College, joined Lotus's 7-Week Summer Program

at BLCU in 2005.

My experience with Lotus was fantastic! They attended to every email andquestion. As for my host family, I never expected such caring and selfless

generosity. I really felt like I was part of the family from the very start. They

helped me get settled and brought me around to different parts of the city when

they went out as a family. The tutor was also very attentive and useful as Iadjusted to Bei jing life.

Justin Allen, From Texas, USA, join Lotus Fall Quarter program at BLCU

2003

The experience has been great! I have learned a significant amount of Chinese in

a short amount of time. The on site sta ff always checked up on me. They took me

to many interesting sites around Beijing during the weekends. My family was

comforta ble and easy going. Lotus, you spoiled me!

George Mohyla, from the U.S. joined Lotus's 6-Week Summer Program at

BNU in 2006.

My host family was perfect, period. They opened their home and hearts the

moment I stepped into their modern apartment. My family invited their friends

over seve ral time s for part ies which gave me the opportunity to make new frie nds.

When we weren't eating home cooked meals, we were out eating local specialtiesthat I never would have found on my own. My family helped me with Chinese,

shopping and transportation. They just made everything so easy and I highly

recommend Lotus to others.

Katherine Michonski from the University of Chicago joined Lotus's 6-WeekSummer Pr ogram at BLCU in 2005.Lotus is an excellent program for anyone who would like to learn Chinese - thecorrect way. While classes provide students with the necessary grammarbac kground, famil y li fe gi ves homestay par ticip ant s constant listeni ng and o ralpract ice tha t any nat ive speaker recei ves whe n lea rning a language. Thiscombination intensifies your language study giving you an unbelievableadvantage over the rest of the class.

Meagan Smith , from the Unive rsity of Michigan, joined Lo tus's 5-Week One -On-One Pr ogram in the Summer of 2005.

After only one month of living with my host family I could speak and understanda great deal and could contribute to dinner conversations. I speak severallanguages, each of which took seve ral years to lea rn and master. I can say withconfidence that one month in China with Lotus was more helpful than two yearsof class time with any other language I learned. Lotus's program was invaluable

to my Manda rin educatio n and I cannot thank them enough!


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How safe are homestays in China?All of our potential families undergo a thorough interview and security checkbefore we al low them to hos t studen ts. We make sure our famil ies' resid enc iesare located in closed communities with 24-hour security service.

Will I hav e my own room?Yes. Every family has at least on e spare room. Your room will be fully fur nishedwith a bed, desk, wardrobe and air-conditioning.

Are meals included in the homestay?Breakfast and dinner are included in the regular homestay. If you apply for theTeach and Stay Exchange, though it is very rare, the family may not offer youmeals.

Will I have access to a computer with inte rnet?Yes. Each family ha s their o wn compute r with DSL at home.

In what langu age will we commu nicate at home?Your host family unde rstands you came to China to improve your Chinese. Theywill communic ate with you in Chinese at home. Most familie s can also explainthings in English if necessary.

Can I join in on the family's act ivities ?

Of course! Your family will be very happy to have you as part of their family.Most of our students beco me lifelong friends wit h their familie s.

How far away will the homestay be from sc hool?

The standard homestay families are located either walking distance or within 30minutes by public transportation away from school. Teach and Stay familiesmay be farther from study places.

Can I choos e a host fami ly before I arrive in China?Yes. You may choose a family from the sample families posted on our website.While individual family placement is based on first come, first served basis, wewill do our best to accommoda te your first cho ice. Please note th at we have adatabase of over 1,700 host fami lies. We list only a small sele ction on ourwebsite. We recommend you provide us with as detaile d informatio n as possible

on the reg istrati on form so we can best match you with a suitable h omestay.

How do you select the most suitable homes tay for me?

We base our selecti on on your registrat ion informat ion. For instance, studentsapplying to our high school program will live with a family that houses ateenager of simila r age. Busin essmen will live with a host that ha s a profess ionalbus iness bac kground.

What if I can't get alon g well with my host fami ly?This very sel dom happens. However , if you decide you would like to move, wecan change your host fami ly for you.

FAQS


Questions About The Homestay


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Questions Concering Chinese

Immersion Programs

I am a high school student. What progra ms are available to me?We have four opt ions for high schoo l learner s. Firstly , students may a ttend BNU orBLCU as beginners. Second, if you prefer a more intimate environment and plan tohave class with less than five students, we of fer the Small Class Program. For thoseinterested in combining study with play, we suggest the Summer Study and TravelProgram in whi ch students pra ctice the ir Mandarin for four weeks in Beij ing and thentravel for the remaining one o r two weeks to Xian, Shanghai, or Chengdu. Lastly, wealso organize One-On-One Tutoring sessions any time for those with schedules thatdo not coincide with group programs.

I am a college stud ent. What programs are available to me?Though Lotus orga nizes special pr ograms for students who study at BLCU and BNU,two top universities for foreigners studying Mandarin, we can also arrange for ahomestay while you study at any university in Beijing. As with our high school

students, we also offer the Summer Study and Travel Program as well as the One-On-One Tutorin g Program.

I am an absolute begi nner in Chinese; am I eligible to apply for your program?Half of our applicants are beginners. We have programs suitable for learners of alllevels.

Is there an age requir ement for your programs?There is no age requirement. In the past Lotus hosted students as young as seven allthe way to seventy years of age. We have programs for high school students, collegestudents and profess ionals. If you have an interest in learning about the languageand cultur e of China, you a re welcome!

Can I rece ive universi ty credit for course wor k conducted in your program?If you attend a university, you will receive an official certificate and transcript thatmay or may not be transfer able to your home university. All universitie s havediffere nt policies. The High School Small Class Program and the One-On-One

Tutoring Program do not offer transferable credit.

How can I register with your program as an individual applicant?Please fill out our online application form at http://www.lotuseducation.org/registerand follow the Registration & Paymen t procedure .

What if I have a p roblem while studying in China?Our on-site staff is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help with any problemor concern tha t you may have.

I am a Chinese t eacher in the U.S. Do you have progra ms for my stude nts tostudy in China as a whole group?In additio n to the high sch ool and univer sity programs listed in our brochure, we alsocan customize a group study program according to your group size, budget, andMandarin lev el. We can arra nge everythi ng from homesta y accommodat ion toexcursion l ocations an d volunteer a ctiviti es. We suggest you contact us via e-mailand we wil l do our best to fulfill your requirements .


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Lotus Educational Foundation

www.lotuseducation.orgwww.homestay.com.cn

California Office1173-D South De Anza Blvd.San Jose, CA, 95129Tel: 408.996.1929Email: [email protected]

Beijing OfficeSuite 1201, C#XiWu Plaza,12 Suzhou St. Haidian District, BeijingTel: 86.10.8287.2866Email: [email protected]

Contact Us

Lotus Educational Foundation is a non-profit organization based in SanJose, California, with an office in Beijing. As the oldest and mostexperienced provider of homestay accommodation we design qualityMandarin Immersion Programs at an affordable price for our studentsand travelers. Since our opening in 2001 our organizat ion has grown byleaps and bounds as the homestay option becomes more and moreappealing to those students who take their Mandarin seriously.

About Us

The mission of the Lotus Educational Foundation is to fosterinternational cultural exchange through language education andhomestay service. Ultimately, we hope to bring peace and understandingto different cultures as we forge friendships through homestayarrangements.

We are also particularly interested in restoring and preserving China'sthreatened cultural heritage. As such, our extracurriculars and culturalexcursions reflect our desire to educate foreigners about the richtraditions of China.

Lastly, as a non-profit, Lotus also feels its primary purpose is to giveback t o l ess fortuna te member s of our global community. Lot us supports

a variety of charity organizations and relief efforts throughout China andabroad. We find all those who volunteer with us, even if for just one day,walk away with impressions that last a lifetime.

Our Mission


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chinese immersion programs

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