CET Harbin: Summer At-a-Glance

1 year's worth of
Chinese in one summer

Personalized, summer-long one-on-ones

Full-time language pledge

Live with a Chinese student

One-on-two drills
& small-group classes

Out-of-class learning and assignments

Overnight excursion to a new city

Summer

Take on an individually-focused, research-driven curriculum designed specifically for advanced-level students ready to work towards their fluency goals. And with a full-time language pledge, local roommates, and peers equally as determined to make great strides, you head home with significant language gains and the study habits to set you up for long-term success.

Academics in Harbin

Summer
Snapshot

Pre-requisites: 4 semesters of Chinese
1 year's worth of Chinese in one summer
Self-designed One-on-One Tutorials
One-on-Two Drill courses
Full-time language pledge
Out-of-class learning & assignments
Host University: Northeast Forestry University

Curriculum & Syllabi

CET Harbin offers two tracks: standard and research. The research track is available only to very advanced students who have the Academic Director’s approval. Students take a One-on-One Tutorial, a One-on-Two Drill course, and two content course electives to meet the recommended 10 credits.

One-on-One Tutorial

You choose a topic and the Academic Director handpicks a knowledgeable teacher to work with you throughout your summer.

HB/LANG 401: One-on-One Tutorial (2 credits)
HB/LANG 406: One-on-One Tutorial (Research) (4 credits)

One-on-Two Drill Course

You are placed into this 2-credit course with another student who is at the same Chinese level:

HB/LANG 321: One-on-Two Drill Course

Please note: Research track students do not take this class and instead take 4 credits of the One-on-One Tutorial.

Content Course Electives

You choose two of these 3-credit content courses:

Take your Chinese to the next level

Harbin as your classroom. Your One-on-Two drill course focuses on getting you out of the classroom to put your Chinese to work in the city. You might bargain for fruit at a local market. Or interview passersby about China’s payment apps. It’s all about fine-tuning your pronunciation and grammar in real world settings.

Content with context. Content courses go beyond learning vocabulary and grammar. Your Business Chinese class might interview a bank manager about financial development in China. The Conversation Seminar might interview local lawyers about human rights in China. No matter which electives you choose, your coursework is designed to challenge your skills in more advanced contexts.

Design Your One-on-One

Choose a topic and the CET Harbin Academic Director handpicks a professor to guide your studies for the semester. Learn the technical vocabulary needed to delve deep and begin projects that could develop into a thesis topic or graduate research once you’re home.

Previous One-on-One Topics

Belt and Road Initiative
China's Feminism, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Traditional Chinese Medicine
China's Ethnic Minorities
Urban Development
Chinese Environmental Conservation
Chinese Ink Painting
Chinese-Korean Relations

Housing and Meals

Dormitory
On-campus housing
Live with a Chinese student
2 people/room
En suite bathroom, communal kitchen, paid washer access
Paid wifi access, A/C, bed linens, basic furnishing, mini fridge

Living Like a Local

Local Roommates. You share a room with a local student from Northeast Forestry University (NEFU). Learn which apps locals use every day or where the best study spots are near campus. Attend university events or explore the city’s hidden gems together. Living with a local roommate not only brings language into your home life, it also gives you instant insider’s access to the city. Learn more about living with a local roommate.

Eating in Harbin. For meals, take your pick of the budget-friendly campus cafeterias, try the nearby row of food stalls, or find your favorite neighborhood restaurant. And don’t forget to try disanxian (a potato, eggplant, and pepper dish) and dalieba bread to get a delicious experience that is unique to northeastern China. Learn more about accommodating your dietary needs in Harbin.

Life in Harbin

Students come to Harbin for full immersion. In this second-tier Chinese city, you enjoy a population with fewer English-speaking foreigners, a textbook accent, and an entire city that can serve as your language classroom. Become a regular with your favorite street food vendors. Make the most of mild summer temperatures with a picnic along Songhua River. Meet up with friends and local roommates for dinner and a night of karaoke. And on weekends, test your language skills on the road as you explore more of China via high-speed rail.

Experience China with CET

Around the city. Spend an evening singing karaoke with your roommate. Shop for souvenirs in the Hongbo underground mall. Take a taijiquan (taichi) class or level up your table tennis skills. Visit the Daowai district to eat traditional Harbin foods and explore the Baroque architecture with a uniquely Chinese feel. Explore Stalin Park and learn about the city’s Russian influences. And there’s even more to see on your own.

A Weekend Away. Take a break from intensive language study to explore China’s less-explored provinces. Each term is different, but you might venture into Inner Mongolia and take in the vast grasslands or head to Beidaihe to enjoy the relaxing hot springs and spend a little time on the coastal beach. Enjoy worry-free travel with CET-hosted travel that lets you unwind while exploring with fellow students and local roommates.

Student Resources

"The experience provided by CET Harbin is truly unique, even among language immersion programs in China. Besides the excellent teachers who tailor each course to students' individual needs, living alongside Chinese roommates and adhering to the language pledge creates a truly immersive language environment. You learn just as much from your environment in Harbin as you do in the classroom."

— Justin Yannix,
University of Chicago

"My favorite moments were talking with my classmates and roommates while doing my homework at night. We would talk about everything from Chinese and American differences to problems of a college student. I remember thinking this kind of experience was so precious and unique. I was improving my Chinese without even realizing it because I was enjoying moments like this."

— Elise George,
Washington & Lee University

"The academic rigor of this program was very high, and there was a lot of interesting and useful content covered in each of our four classes that was supplemented by nightly homework that solidified what we learned each day. And the weekends punctuated each busy week with fun, planned excursions."

— Amy Zhang,
Yale University

"I feel more confident when I'm speaking Chinese than I ever have before. Even if I don't know exactly how to say what I want to, I feel like after these 10 weeks, I have learned that it doesn't matter how many mistakes it takes—I'll be able to find a way to be understood."

— Rebekah Vecchiarelli,
University of Rhode Island

"One of the things that I think really stands out about this program is that you can choose two elective courses which allow you to focus on certain areas of study in Chinese. And I found that all of my teachers, as well as the on-site CET staff, were always willing to help and answer any questions I had."

— Ethan Hill,
Oberlin College

"Before coming to Harbin, I don't think I could have done the things I am doing now with Chinese. Now, after nearly two months of the language pledge and challenging classes, I can discuss more complex topics in Chinese and engage with locals. The individualized curriculum is stellar in its ability to help me personally with my academic goals."

— Adam Hureau,
Washington State University

Explore more 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 Harbin (and China!) with you.

Program Fees

Summer

$8,190

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 through GeoBlue that even includes medical evacuation coverage.

Activities & Excursions

The activities and excursions that we arrange are included in your program fee. All you need to do is remember to bring your camera!

Course Materials

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

Transcript

You receive a transcript jointly issued by CET and NFU at the end of the term. You also have the option to request a School of Record transcript from the University of Minnesota for an additional fee if necessary.

More on finances

Program Fee Breakdown. Of the total program fee, $6,790 goes to tuition and fees, and $1,400 goes to housing and other student life fees.

Local Cost of Living. Day-to-day cost of living in Harbin is generally cheaper than that of most places in the United States. Within China, Harbin’s status as a second-tier city means things are often cheaper than in Beijing or Shanghai but can still vary greatly depending on your lifestyle.

Estimated out-of-pocket expenses:

additional resources

How to Apply

Eligibility

• Pre-requisites: 4 semesters of Chinese or the equivalent
• 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 Evaluation Form

Though you take an in-depth placement exam on site, the language evaluation form in your CET Compass account helps staff get a better idea of your abilities before your arrival.

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
DEADLINE

March 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 and program enrollment keep us from reaching that goal. If you’re concerned about needing to enroll in one particular course, please contact us!

CET Harbin: Summer At-a-Glance

Summer