Written by Nicholas Chou (Carleton College), Student at CET Beijing, Janterm 2026
Have you ever wondered, how much can my Chinese skills improve in one month? Here’s your golden answer: a lot. Like, enough that I now dream in Chinese songs and C-dramas… which I feel equally terrified and victorious about. CET’s Janterm may seem short, but don’t be fooled, it’s basically a boot camp for your brain. Leaving Beijing, you’ll be both a better speaker and dancer.
I know you probably don’t want to read all 1,201 words I’ve used to ramble about myself, so I’ve broken this blog into bite-sized sections. Skim if you want, I won’t take it personally. But if you do read all of it, that would make me happy…
School… But Make It Fun?
Daily Class
Unfortunately, we still go to school. More unfortunately, it’s every day. Students are split into levels, so don’t worry about feeling too beginner or advanced. My tiny Class B had just two students! Despite this, however, I really like this arrangement. My teachers could really focus on my individual improvement. Imagine a private gym, but you’re reppin’ verbs and tones. In addition, we all got to know each other beyond the classroom: I’m still messaging both teachers (and my classmate) in America today.
Lesson topics range from farm culture to Gaokao (the exams that make SATs look like a light snack). And every day, about 3–4 hours of homework follow you like a devil on your shoulder tempting you away from that nap. But honestly, it was worth it. I now casually drop words I learned about crop development and Chinese idioms in my conversations. One of my favorites is mǎmǎhūhū, literally meaning “horse horse tiger tiger” but actually used to convey “so-so.” People are impressed. Or confused. Probably both.
Like me, you might’ve started sweating after seeing “Language Pledge” on the CET website. Is it really 24/7? Yes. No English allowed. You can whisper to your parents in English or sing in the shower like you’re in a college dorm at 2 AM, but if a CET member catches you… prepare for a stern warning!
Interviews, 1:1 and 1:2
In my opinion, this was the most intensive and improving part of school. It’s like a TED Talk mixed with speed dating (bad analogy, sorry). After classes, each student gets 25 minutes of 1-on-1 private tutoring with a teacher, then 25 more minutes of 1-on-2 private tutoring. These lessons have their own individual topics separate from class, such as ordering food or visiting a museum. These “interviews” are used as a space for open conversation with your teacher, where you can practice the flow of a natural conversation (basically gossiping, in my classmate’s case).
Skits, “Chinese Table,” and Chinese Application Excursions
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.
Every Friday, we would perform a class skit in front of the program. The skit integrated our grammar, new words, and of course, amazing acting. One of my favorite skits is about an elderly citizen and college student who argue about dancing and kung-fu. After these skits, each CET students and their teachers would go to a free and amazing lunch. Here, I tried all of Beijing cuisine’s specialties, my favorite being Peking Roast Duck!
Dilly Dally
Like regular college, weekends are open for homework time, which for me translates to sightseeing and eating time. Due to our short schedule, however, only three weekends are truly available to explore the city, with the last being reserved for finals. Thus, I recommend that you and your classmates plan ahead and utilize these days to the fullest. Here are some solo and group excursions I’ve enjoyed:
Class Excursion #1: The Great Wall
The Great Wall was one of three CET-planned excursions that we got to go on. Every student and their roommates froze their butts climbing up the Mutianyu section of the wall. The wind at this altitude is deadly cold, so make sure to bundle up extra!
Class Excursion #2: The Forbidden City/Jingshan Park/Tiananmen Square
This place was very big. We got very lost. The Forbidden City is, in my opinion, the best location that accentuates classic Chinese architecture. As someone who enjoys history, museums, and architecture, it was a treat discovering and exploring so many hidden alleys, palaces, and gardens.
Jingshan Park is literally a street across The Forbidden City. After about a 20-minute walk, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset view of Beijing. Much unlike American parks, you’ll often see elderly citizens dancing, playing games, and singing all around. As foreigners, senior citizens are more than welcoming for you to dance and sing with them. They’re very curious too: expect the frequent, but always flattering “your Chinese is very good!” and a million questions about your country.
Beijing Zoo
We spent almost three hours at the zoo and didn’t even get to see all of it! Beijing’s Zoo is world-famous for their giant pandas, which only cost about $0.50 more than the already cheap $1.25 ticket.
One of the best parts about the zoo is the integration of nature/parks on its campus. You can stroll through the beautiful bridges, lakes, and forests to hide the dreaded feeling of being lost. Once you get tired of watching the pandas sitting on the bamboo they are simultaneously eating, the area is known for its other various museums and other attractions that could take up an entire day.
National Museum of China
This was part of a Class B excursion. After learning about farm culture in China, my class and I visited a special farm exhibit in the museum. This exhibit focused on pop art and murals. The museum itself was absolutely massive, and we didn’t have time to explore it all. I need to spend another full day just to see all the exhibits!
What’s Next
After all the lessons, excursions, and adventures in Beijing, our next stop on our CET journey is Harbin! I can’t wait to experience the city famous for its ice sculptures, Russian-influenced architecture, and winter wonderland. It’ll be a completely different side of China from Beijing (even colder, if that’s somehow even possible), and I’m excited to put my Chinese skills to the test while navigating a new landscape. I already feel more confident ordering the same “Braised Beef with Noodle Soup” at the cafeteria everyday.
Of course, Harbin also comes with the reality of upcoming finals. With only a few weeks left, it’s time to consolidate all that speaking, listening, and writing practice into some serious late-night-CET-basement sessions. I’m excited, though, I’ve really had the chance to talk to and learn about my classmates in our basement at 3 AM. 1/3 gossiping, 1/3 eating take-out, and 1/3 doing homework.
On top of that, we have a super fun project: creating and performing a song entirely in Chinese at our CET banquet. I’ve been working on the lyrics and a silly dance, trying and horribly failing to rhyme in Chinese. It’s a little intimidating to picture performing in front of teachers and classmates, but I’m equally excited!