Study Abroad in China: MIC Kunming | CET Academic Programs

Middlebury College & CET

The Middlebury School in China is the gold standard of Chinese language programs. Whether you choose an MiC program in Beijing, Kunming, or Hangzhou, you get the best of the best—Middlebury’s excellence in language teaching, and CET’s 30+ years of experience in China. You’ll apply through Middlebury and receive a transcript from Middlebury, but the program is open to students from all schools.

Local Roommates

Living with a local roommate is about more than just sharing a room. Your roommate can show you where to get the best mixian (rice noodles), the quickest way to get to Xi Shan for a hike, how to use Chinese social media. And since roommates uphold the same language pledge that you do, you can be sure that it won’t be long before Chinese slang is rolling off your tongue.

Rejuvenate in Kunming

Himalayas to the west. Tropical rainforests to the south. This is China like you’ve never imagined it before. Kunming, the “City of Eternal Spring,” is perfect for nature-lovers and travelers seeking cultural (and culinary!) diversity. A semester in Kunming will transform your Chinese, but it will also prepare you for China’s large international cities…when you’re ready for them.

	ARRIVAL DATE	DEPARTURE DATE	PROGRAM LENGTH	RECOMMENDED CREDITS	PREREQUISITES	APPLICATION DEADLINE
Spring	02/21/2018	06/09/2018	16 Weeks	16	4 Semesters of Chinese	October 1
Fall	08/29/2018	12/16/2018	16 Weeks	16	4 Semesters of Chinese	March 15
Academic Year	08/29/2018	TBA	32 Weeks	32	4 Semesters of Chinese	March 15

Begin Your Experience AbroadApply at Middlebury.edu

Daily Life in Kunming

Spend the day at the Stone Forest. Plan a lake-side barbecue with friends. Join a soccer team. Explore the local coffee culture. There are plenty of things to do in Kunming (and most are outside).

Yunnan University

The program is based at Yunnan University. YU’s lovely campus has everything you need—a library, sports facilities, stores, cafés. The campus is also a public transportation hub, making it easy to explore downtown Kunming and beautiful Yunnan Province.

Housing & Meals

You’ll share a room with a local roommate in YU’s international student dormitory. For meals, try the YU cafeteria, or take your pick of nearby restaurants.

CET Shanghai students eating food together

Add Winter Term to your Semester in ChinaLearn More at middlebury.edu

Chinese and the City

You’ll take a Kunming Impressions class that focuses on the city you call home for the semester. Some assignments have you reading about the city, and others get you out the door exploring it. You’ll interview locals about political issues, education policies, conservation efforts, or social concerns. You’ll visit a tea shop to learn about the tea industry. It won’t be long before you are a Kunming expert, with the Chinese skills to prove it.

One-on-One Tutorial

You tell us about what in China interests you, and we create a one-on-one Chinese language class about that topic. Be creative with your one-on-one! This is your chance to get a head start on senior thesis research, or simply learn the kind of Chinese that appeals to you.

Some Possible One-on-One Topics

Sino-US Economic Relations
Chinese Women Writers of the 1930s
Clean Energy in China
China’s Floating Population
Gender Studies in China
China’s Ethnic Minorities
Sports Culture in China
Traditional Chinese Medicine
History of China’s Tea Horse Road

Begin Your Experience AbroadApply at Middlebury.edu

Start to Specialize

At your level, it’s time to give your Chinese the specialized attention it needs. You’ll choose two electives. Classes are small, so you’ll have plenty of individual attention from the instructor as you steer your Chinese in a specific direction: anthropology, business, environmental studies, newspaper reading, Classical Chinese, social issues.

Total Chinese Immersion

As if taking an intensive load of Chinese classes weren’t enough, you’ll also uphold the 24/7 Middlebury Language Pledge. There’s no denying that the Pledge is challenging. But you won’t be in it alone. Students in this program are known for taking the Pledge seriously as a group. (And they are rewarded for their efforts at the end of the semester with excellent Chinese.) And remember, Chinese is not just for getting homework done. You’ll also have the chance to unwind in Chinese with weekly activities and co-curricular classes—try your hand at archery, go birding with YU’s most prominent environmental student organization, or learn calligraphy.

“One of the things about the city that has most (happily) surprised me is how green and outdoors-y the city feels. From the trees lining the busy streets, to the perfectly lush grass on Yunnan University’s campus (it’s actually against the school rules to walk on the grass), to the banana trees growing outside my dorm window, this attitude is an integral part of the city’s character.”
- Hannah Casper-Johnson, Georgetown University, Fall 2017
“We spent a lot of weekends with our roommates. One of my favorites was road tripping to 石林 (Shi Lin, the Stone Forest). We stayed at a guest house in a 彝族 (Yi ethnic minority) village, visited an anthropology museum, and climbed a mountain. On the way back we drove through the countryside, passing solar farms and tiny towns, listening to Bob Dylan. I sat next to a new Chinese friend and asked her all about her anthropology research in Yunnan.”
- Katie Mercer-Taylor, Oberlin College Spring 2016

Middlebury School in China: Kunming