Eligibility
Overview
Visa and Travel Documents
Getting There
AFS Orientations and Activities
Eligibility
To be eligible you must:
- Be between 15 years 0 months and 22 years 0 months old at the start of the program
- Have a minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
- Be in good mental, physical, and emotional health in accordance with the AFS Medical Evaluation Policy
- Have an open mind, willingness to be flexible, and the ability to adapt to new a culture, school, and environment
Overview
Participants in this program will be placed in either Changzhou, in the Jiangsu Province, or in Chengdu, located in the Sichuan Province. Your site will be assigned by AFS China.
All participants will reside with host families selected by AFS China.
60 hours of Mandarin Chinese language classes (3 hours per day, 5 days per week) will be offered by a professional language school. Beginner Chinese speakers welcome.
Chinese cultural lessons and activities will be offered in the afternoons. These may include Chinese painting, calligraphy, paper cutting, martial arts, and Chinese cooking.
Field trips and excursions to nearby places of interest will also be arranged.
Meals will be provided by the host family.
Program duration is 4 weeks.
A program leader, assigned by AFS USA, will be present throughout your stay in order to provide guidance and support.
Additional information will be provided to participants prior to departure.
Visa and Travel Documents
A visa is required in order for you to enter and reside in China. You will need to apply in the months prior to your departure. AFS will provide detailed instructions on how, when, and where to apply.
The visa application for the China Summer Language Study Program is relatively easy. It requires a visa application form, a parental consent form, and a visa application fee of approximately $130 (this fee is determined by the Chinese government and is subject to change).
You must have a valid United States passport in order to apply for your visa as well as travel internationally. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date.
Getting There
You and your fellow AFSers will fly together between New York and Beijing, the capital city of China. After you collect your luggage and pass through customs you will be met by AFS staff and volunteers and taken to the arrival orientation site there in Beijing.
After the orientation, you and the other students placed in your region will travel together by train (or by plane, if necessary) to your host community where you will be met by your host family.
AFS Orientations and Activities
In addition to the orientations that you will participate in domestically (the local Pre-Departure Orientation, Culture Trek, and the Gateway Orientation), you and your fellow AFSers will have several orientations while abroad.
The first orientation will take place upon your arrival in Beijing. This will be a 2-3 day orientation that is intended to prepare you for your first months abroad. This will be an international orientation and your opportunity to meet participants from around the world.
There will also be an evaluation camp near the end of your stay, a couple weeks prior to departure. This is your chance to reflect on your experience and to share with other AFSers. You will also prepare for the cultural readjustment that is a part of returning home.
In addition to the orientations, many local chapters organize activities for students and host families throughout the year. These will vary from chapter to chapter but may include parties or excursions to other cities or regions in China. Unlike the orientations, these activities are optional and are at the student’s expense.
