NOTE: Current dates are approximate. Check back in January for exact dates.

Mandarin is the world’s most widely-spoken language. With China on the rise as a world power, the ability to speak Mandarin is a tremendous asset and skill that stands out to employers. All it takes is a month in China to open up a world of career possibilities!

The Harbin Intensive (HIT) Program is a 4-week language study program that teaches spoken Chinese to absolute beginners. Students coming with the U of A delegation will first be evaluated by HIT faculty and then assigned to language classes appropriate for their level. You’ll be joined by non-native learners at roughly the same level from all over the world!

Your learning is accelerated as you find yourself immersed in Chinese culture and daily life. HIT incorporates a mix of written homework, dictation exercises, field trips, and real-world engagement to make your education comprehensive. All HIT faculty have an M.A. in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (TCFL), and U of A faculty are on hand to observe classes and guarantee quality.

During the four weeks of the course, classes will run from 8 a.m. to noon every weekday; students should also be prepared for another 2-3 hours of homework per day. However, despite the workload, there is still plenty of time for having fun! Most students also spend time shopping, dining out, clubbing, and even taking weekend trips as far away as Beijing.

The goal of HIT is to equip you with basic fluency in Chinese – placing you on a course to navigate exciting opportunities in education, business, and travel.

Program Specific Eligibility Requirements

Open to students of all Mandarin levels

See the How to Apply page for general CLIC eligibility criteria.

Application Procedures

Apply with your home university to receive your travel grant.

Complete an application with the China Scholarship Council.

Complete an online registration form with CLIC: https://clic-horizons.symplicity.com.

Application Deadline

Travel grant deadlines vary for Canadian universities. Check with your home university CLIC contact.

Application with the China Scholarship Council application and CLIC online registration. Check our How to Apply webpage.

Contact

Jing Li
Harbin IT
11 Siling Street,
Harbin 150001 P.R.China
+86-451-86412647
[email protected]

Discipline: Literature

Major: Chinese Language and Culture

If this program is not available at your university, contact your home university CLIC liaison and see if they can add it!