CET Beijing: Janterm Study Abroad

Janterm: At-A-Glance

25 hours/week of intensive Chinese language

One-on-ones with an instructor

Full-time language pledge

Out-of-class learning and assignments

Janterm

Janterm study abroad students at CET Beijing are progress-driven learners committed to taking on a challenging five weeks of Chinese language learning. This condensed term abroad offers all the advantages of a full semester—intensive classes, a language pledge, a local roommate—but in a quarter of the time. Janterm can be taken on its own or paired with a spring semester in Greater China.

Academics in Beijing

Janterm
Snapshot

Pre-requisites: None
25 hours/week of language learning
Daily one-on-one sessions
Full-time language pledge
Out-of-class learning & assignments
Host University: Capital Normal University

Curriculum & Syllabi

You take one comprehensive Chinese language course for 5 credits.

Intensive Chinese Language

You are placed into one of these 5-credit courses:
• BJ/LANG 102: Novice Chinese
• BJ/LANG 152: Novice High Chinese
• BJ/LANG 262: Intermediate High Chinese
• BJ/LANG 352: Advanced Chinese
• BJ/LANG 452: Advanced High Chinese

Give your Chinese the boost it needs

Intensive language learning. Study Chinese language with some of the best teachers in the field. We flood you with new material, but we also make sure language is not taught in isolation. Each week, classes study a particular theme, with an out-of-the-classroom language practicum every Wednesday. You might chat with village farmers living in the outskirts of Beijing one week and attend an environmental fair the next.

Practice makes perfect. Daily one-on-one sessions give you the opportunity to nail down anything you might be struggling with in class. Interviewing locals for your assignments means building your cultural understanding and applying what you learn out in the real world. Your commitment to a 24/7 language pledge pulls it all together, giving your Chinese the boost it needs to continue on to a spring semester in China or continue your studies back home.

Housing and Meals

Dormitory
On-campus housing
Live with a local roommate
2 people/room
En suite bathroom, communal kitchen, paid washer access in shared laundry room
Wifi, A/C and heating, basic furnishing, bed linens, weekly linen change, mini fridge available for rental

Living Like a Local

Local Roommates. You live with a local student from Capital Normal University. Let them show you their favorite spots for keeping warm around the city. Learn which apps to download for daily life in Beijing or learn what’s trending on Chinese social media lately. Sharing a room with a local roommate brings language learning into your home life and gives you insider’s access to the city. Learn more about living with local roommates.

Eating in Beijing. It’s the perfect time of year for Beijing-style hot pot. Craving other flavors? Living in the capital city means you have access to regional cuisines from all over China. Take your pick of the city’s many cheap eateries, try out each of the campus cafeterias, cook up a meal in the dorm’s communal kitchen, or order food for delivery with your roommate. Learn more about accommodating your dietary needs in Beijing.

Life in Beijing

Known locally as: 北京 Běijīng
Population: 21.89 million
Local Currency: Chinese Yuan, aka renminbi
Famous for: The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, 798 Arts District, the Summer Palace, northern Chinese accent, major transport hub, hutong (traditional alleyways)

Historical and cultural sites meet the modern comforts of a globalized, first-tier city. As the country’s capital, Beijing hosts communities, cultures, and cuisines from all over China. And there’s plenty to do while you’re here. Wander the hutongs and see everything from traditional tea houses and artfully-curated shops to snack-filled streets. Meet with friends for a night of karaoke. Shop for silk gifts at the historic Qianxiangyi Silk Store. Go to a jazz show. And on the weekends, explore more of China via high-speed rail.

Experience Beijing with CET

Around the city. Experience the grand, ancient architecture of the Forbidden City from within its walls, then hike up the hill in Jingshan Park for one of the best views in the city. Try ice skating at the Summer Palace. Go see a comedy show in Chinese. And to top it all off, experience even more of Beijing on your own with your weekly cultural reimbursement stipend—you could see a Chinese movie in theaters, visit one of Beijing’s 170+ museums, or even bond with local students over a game of badminton. The possibilities to explore are endless!

Every program tells a story

See Beijing through the eyes of students and staff.

Student Resources

"Remember field trips as a kid? CET has that too, and they are incredibly fun. Each week has one excursion out and about Beijing with your class, equal parts sightseeing and practicing Chinese with locals. As someone afraid to talk to strangers even in English, this was without a doubt the most nerve-racking and scariest part of CET for me. I nearly ran away multiple times, but I had to survive to write this blog."

— Nicholas Chou,
Carleton College | Janterm student

READ NICHOLAS'S BLOG

"As someone majoring in a foreign language and looking to work internationally, it is so important that we encourage students to partake in these types of programs. The immersion can't be beat and you can only truly begin to understand another's culture when you experience it alongside them."

— Naomi Nerlien,
New College of Florida | Janterm student

"My favorite experience in a hutong was learning about cricket fighting. One of my CET teachers set up a special activity for me and a few other classmates to meet one of China’s current best cricket fighters. While I had seen cricket fighting in a Chinese movie, I had no idea it was such a popular and well-established sport."

— Sadie Sadler,
Middlebury College | Janterm student

READ SADIE'S BLOG

"The teachers that I was so privileged to have at CET Beijing were excellent, in and out of the classroom. They were always willing to help, regardless of the subject matter. The office faculty made themselves available to you throughout the day leaving their door open and encouraging students to stop by, even if it was just to chat."

— Abigail Dickstein,
Kalamazoo College | Janterm student

"One thing I’ve noticed here is when a group of people order, they will order a variety of dishes and share them. Originally, I didn’t know what to expect when they told me we were eating duck, but I think if you have the chance to try a Beijing staple like this, you should definitely take at least one bite."

— Alyson Mina,
Colby College | Janterm student

READ ALYSON'S BLOG

"Our language placement test was very straightforward and I felt like I was placed in the correct class for my level. I really liked learning about issues that are currently relevant in China and the language used to describe them."

— Adam Wright,
Oberlin College | Janterm student

"I learned a lot about myself and felt as though I made a lot of big life changes while I was abroad. I not only left China with a number of skills that will benefit me later in life, but I felt like I achieved one of my biggest goals before I left, which was to push myself out of my comfort zone each day. I tried a lot of new things, made great relationships with new people, and left feeling like I understood myself more."

— Kaylee Henderson,
Kalamazoo College | Janterm student

Explore more Study Abroad resources:

On-the-ground support

Navigating a new city, country, and culture is a big challenge worth taking—and we’re here to help you along on this adventure. Our on-site team is bilingual, provides round-the-clock support, and is passionate about sharing their love of Beijing (and China!) with you.

Program Fees

Janterm

$5,690

What's Included

Tuition

All of your classes and program-related learning are included with your tuition.

Housing

We arrange for you to live in a dormitory with a local roommate. Your program fees go toward rent, furnishing, and other management costs.

Staff Support

From pre-departure to orientation, from on site to re-entry, CET provides you with the support you need every step of the way.

Visa Fees & Support

We guide you step-by-step through the visa process. You’ll need to do the legwork, but we pay the consular fees if you obtain your visa through the service we recommend.

Insurance

You’re provided with a comprehensive insurance plan that even includes medical evacuation coverage.

Activities & Excursions

The activities and excursions that we arrange are included in your program fee.

Course Materials

Your textbooks and course supplies are covered and waiting for you on site.

Transcript

You’ll receive an official transcript jointly issued by CET and CNU. If your home institution requires a School of Record transcript, CET is able to provide one through the University of Minnesota.

More on finances

Program Fee Breakdown. Of the total program fee, $4,552 goes to tuition and fees, and $1,138 goes to housing and other student life fees.

Local Cost of Living. Day-to-day cost of living in Beijing has increased in recent years and is now generally considered on par with that of large US cities. Some meals and transit options are often cheaper, but western comforts (restaurants, coffee, etc.) cost about the same as or more than they do in the US.

Estimated out-of-pocket expenses:

View the CET Beijing budget sheet for a more detailed estimate of costs.

additional resources

"While it was challenging at times, by the end of the program, I found myself speaking much more fluidly and quickly. At the beginning of the program, I had to think out each sentence in my head first before saying it, but by the end of the program, I was able to speak without thinking so hard about each individual word."

— Sabine Gross,
Oberlin College | Janterm student

How to Apply

Eligibility

• Pre-requisites: None, open to all language levels
• Must be 18 or older at the time of program participation
• Open to students from any US college or university
• GPA: 3.0 or higher is recommended, students with lower GPAs will be asked for a faculty recommendation to supplement their application

Online Application Form

This is a brief form that asks for basic information and has a few short answer questions about why you want to study abroad.

Passport Information

Upload a scan of your passport to your CET Compass account. This should be a single scan that includes the signed signature page and the photo/personal details page. Don’t have a passport yet? Let us know and we can help advise you.

Language Level Recommendation

This is an online form that your current or most recent language instructor completes to help us get an idea of your language level. Use the link in your CET Compass account to send the recommendation request.

Study Abroad Office Recommendation

This is an online form that your study abroad office completes to let us know you meet the requirements to study abroad. To send the electronic form request, simply enter the name and email address of your study abroad advisor in the designated fields of your CET Compass account.

Official Transcript

Your CET Compass account has specific instructions for submitting an official transcript.

Application
Deadlines

Janterm:

October 1

Have a question? Get in touch!

Tara Strauch

Student Services Coordinator
202.349.7325
[email protected]

Price Subject to Change:

CET reserves the right to increase quoted charges at any time without prior notification, based on increased instruction costs, exchange rate fluctuation, or other cost increases beyond CET’s control.

Our goal is to offer every course every term, but sometimes factors like faculty availability, student course rankings, and program enrollment keep us from reaching that goal. If you’re concerned about needing to enroll in one particular course, please contact us!

Janterm: At-A-Glance

Janterm