Founded in 1956, Beijing Institute of Education (BIE) is one of Beijing's major institutions of higher learning for adults. BIE undertakes primarily junior college and undergraduate courses covering 58 specialties. It also provides in-service training for primary and secondary school teachers and administrators. There are 18 departments in BIE, including Chinese Language, Foreign Languages, Art, History, Psychology, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, Physical Culture, Educational Technology, Educational Administration, Vocational Education, and Internat ional Students' Department (ISD). BIE has 107 professors, associate professors and 150 lecturers as well as 92 guest or part-time professors from universities at home or from abroad. More than 6000 trainees are currently studying at BIE.

Located in Xicheng District in Beijing City, BIE enjoys an advantageous geographical position. It has advanced teaching and research facilities such as computer network (has been linked up with Internet), multimedia application, audio-visual facilities, library resources, psychology service etc.

BIE is an associated center of APEID (the Asia and Pacific Programs of Educational Innovation for Development), a member club of UNESCO in Beijing, a research center of Chinese population education sponsored by United Nations Population Fund and a project school receiving funding from World Bank. Attaching great importance to international exchanges, BIE, in recent years, has developed a wide range of academic exchange and cooperative programs with educational institutions of many countries such as the USA, the UK, France, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Korea, Russia etc.; it has hosted visits by educators and scholars from more than 20 countries; it has invited foreign lecturers and professors to the Institute to be engaged in or facilitate the teaching and research activities; it has also received international students from many countries to study Chinese language and culture.

The International Students' Department (ISD) is a teaching and research unit specially established by BIE for foreigners to study Chinese language and culture. ISD is located in BIE's Western Campus where the public transport facilities are very convenient. It has an excellent faculty of 6 professors and associate professors, 15 lecturers and other teaching staff, who concentrate on quality classroom instruction and individualized attention whenever it is needed. It has modern teaching facilities such as language labs, computer rooms, library etc. and other facilities like sports room, dormitory, dinning-hall, medical clinic and so on. Its various teaching programs aim at meeting the higher education needs of international students and Chinese students from overseas and helping them learn Chinese language and culture.

TEACHING PROGRAMS

1. Modern Chinese Program
Curriculum
In the curriculum, we attach importance not only on nurturing the students' basic language abilities (listening, speaking, reading, writing, etc.) but also on enhancing the students' ability to communicate with others in Chinese and improving their understanding of the Chinese society, economy, and culture. Therefore, we have made Language Practice as a required course. In each semester, our students will have plenty of language practice in forms of symposiums, discussions, visiting Chinese homes, schools, factories, historical places, etc.

There are four sub-programs under the Modern Chinese Program: One-year Elementary Chinese Program, One-year Intermediate Chinese Program, One-year Advanced Chinese Program, and Four-year Undergraduate Chinese Program. Students can choose the program according to their own needs and their own Chinese proficiency. The curriculum for each program is as follows:

(1) One-year Elementary Program
Objectives: After completing all the courses on this level, students will master 1600 Chinese characters and 400 grammar points. They will have the adequate language proficiency to survive in a Chinese-speaking world, or take the undergraduate courses on science and engineering in Chinese colleges.
Required courses: Reading and Writing, Conversation, Listening, and Language Practice
Elective courses: Correction of Pronunciation, and Introduction to China.

(2) One-year Intermediate Program
Objectives: After competing all the courses on this level, students will master 2500 Chinese characters, 900 grammar points and reach the HSK Level 6. They will have the language proficiency to take the undergraduate courses on various subjects in Chinese universities.
Required courses: Intermediate Chinese, Modern Chinese Pronunciation, Characters and Vocabulary, Intermediate Reading, Practical Writing, Watching, Listening and Speaking on TV Program, and Language Practice.
Elective courses: Chinese History, Chinese Tourist Geography, Introduction to China, and The Use of Chinese Computer System.

(3) One-year Advanced Program
Objectives: After completing all the courses on this level, students will master 3500 Chinese characters, 1200 grammar points and reach HSK Level 7 or above. They will have the language proficiency to work with Chinese or pursue advanced studies in Chinese universities.
Required courses: Advanced Chinese, Modern Chinese Grammar and rhetoric, Advanced Spoken Chinese, Advanced Writing, Advanced Reading of Newspaper and Magazine, and Language Practice.
Elective courses: Chinese History, Chinese Culture, Chinese Literature, Chinese Philosophy, Chinese Economics, Business Chinese, and Translation.

(4) Four-year Undergraduate Program
Objectives: This program is specially designed for the overseas students who want to study the Chinese language and culture in China. It intends to train the students from all over the world in the fields of teaching of the Chinese Language, translation, research of Chinese history and literature, and communication in Chinese. After completing all the courses in this program, the students will be able to speak Chinese fluently, understand China's political, economic, cultural, literary, historical and philosophical situations, and use the language to work on China-related subjects.

Length of the Program: The program requires 4 years. In this program, students earn academic credits and they may enter the second or the third-year level if their HSK scores permit. Students may also ask for at most two-year leave between academic years and when they resume their studies, their credits earned can be counted continuously.

Courses offered for students from the first year through the third year are similar to the courses in the Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced Program respectively. Courses for the fourth year are as follows:

Required courses: Advanced Chinese, Chinese Literature, Conversation on Special Topics, Advanced Reading, Advanced Writing, Language Practice, and Graduation Thesis.

Elective courses: Ancient Chinese, Methods of Teaching Chinese, Business Chinese, Translation, and Modern Chinese Society.

In addition to all the above-mentioned courses, students in each program can also choose the following courses as they feel like it: Chinese Music, Chinese Painting, Calligraphy, the Art of Beijing Opera, Chinese cooking, Chinese Gongfu, and Taijiquan.

Academic advisers will be assigned to students in the Modern Chinese Program.

Graduation

For the first three sub-programs, a student who has completed all the courses and passed exams required by each program will receive a Modern Chinese Language Diploma for the respective level.
For the Undergraduate Program, a student who has earned all the credits required (48 credits for each of the first three school years and 56 credits for the last school year) will receive an Undergraduate Diploma in Modern Chinese Language.

2. Short-term Program

Objectives: This program is designed for overseas students who want to spent a short time in learning Chinese language and culture or other skills in China. Students are welcomed to come in groups with at least 6 people.
Length of the program: 2 weeks to 6 month. Those who want to join the camp can decide the time themselves.
Courses: Elementary Chinese, Conversation, Listening Comprehension, Chinese Culture, and Language Practice.
Individual or group students may also put forward their own training or learning plans. We will do our best to meet their special needs. Presently, we provide services such as receiving visiting scholars to our institute, and helping overseas academic or educational organizations to visit Beijing or exchange information; we offer special training courses on Chinese culture, Business Chinese, the Use of Chinese Computer System, Chinese Calligraphy and Painting, Chinese Music, and Chinese Cooking.
A diploma will be issued to the students who pass the exams by the end of the study.

3. Teacher-training Program

Objectives: This program is designed for the overseas teachers of Chinese who want to improve their Chinese proficiency and teaching competence in China. It also intends to create opportunities for teachers of Chinese from all over the world to learn from each other and cooperate with each other in the field of Chinese teaching.
Length of the Program: one to three months.
Courses: Chinese Teaching Methodology, Language Teaching Practice, Teaching Material Compilation and Assessment, Tests on Chinese Language Proficiency, Chinese Literature, Modern Chinese, and Composition.
A certificate will be issued to the students who pass the exams by the end of the training.

4. Summer/Winter Camp

Objectives: This program is designed for people from abroad to study Chinese language and culture, and to learn the development of modern Chinese society and education. It also intends to create opportunities for people from all over the world to exchange ideas and understand each other better.
Contents: Meeting with Chinese students or people of the same occupation, Learning modern Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, fine art, music and dance, Chinese Gongfu, Lectures about Chinese culture, and Sightseeing.
Length of the camp: 15 to 45 days, which can be decided by those who want to join the camp.

PREREQUISITES FOR APPLICANTS

1. All applicants should be in good health and obey Chinese Laws and regulations as well as the school regulations of BIE.
2. Age and Schooling Record Requirements:
(1) Students in the Undergraduate Program: Below 35, with a record of senior high school or above.
(2) Other students in the Modern Chinese Program: Below 55, with a record of senior high school or above.
(3) Students in the Short-term Program: Below 60, with a record of senior high school or above.
(4) Students in the Teacher-training Program: No limitation, as long as they are active overseas teachers of Chinese.
(5) Members of the Summer/Winter Camp: No limitation, as long as they are students from
universities, high schools or elementary schools or they are working staffs from any line of business.
(6) Visiting Scholars: No limitation, but with a title of lecturer or above.

HOW TO APPLY

1. Application for the Modern Chinese Program
Applicants may contact the International Students' Department (ISD) for the BIE Application Form for International Students. After filling out the form, they should return it to the ISD along with the following materials:
(1) Diploma and school record of senior high school or college (in English)
(2) A copy of health certificate with recent photo
(3) Two guarantee statements signed by each guarantor, one of whom must be a Chinese citizen in China.
(4) The name, address, occupation, and phone number of the guarantor in China.
(5) A non-refundable application fee of 30 US dollars remitted by telegraphic transfer or sent by his Chinese guarantor. Upon acceptance of the credentials and application fees, the JW202 Form (Visa application form for foreign students coming to China) and Letter of Admission will be sent to the applicants, and they can show them to the Chinese embassy in their country to get an "X" visa.

2. Application for other programs

Students who want to take short-term classes should apply to the ISD two months prior to their arrival in China. They should state their plan and time for study, numbers of persons and ask for Application Form from BIE. After being accepted, they should send the Application Form and a non-refundable application fee of 30 US dollars per person (No application fees will be charged for those who apply to join the Summer/Winter Camp). Then they will get the JW202 Form from BIE, with which they can go to the Chinese embassy to get an "F" or "X" visa.

TIME OF ADMISSION

1. The Modern Chinese Program enrolls students in both March and September every year. The applicants must send the application material to the ISD two months before the semester starts.
2.The Short-term Program and the Teacher-training program enroll students three times a year: March to May, June to August, and October to December. Group applicants are welcomed to suggest their preferred time of study.
3. The applicants may suggest the opening dates for other programs.

IMPORTANT NOTES

1.Students have to be registered at the ISD as soon as they arrive in China. At the registration table, they have to show their passport, and hand in the JW202 forms, Health Certificates with original blood tests for Aids and Syphilis, Admission Notices and 4 passport-sized photos.
2. Students have to obtain their Residential Permit in the Beijing Public Security Office in ten days. Otherwise, a fine may be imposed.
3. Students may be met at the airport or train station if arrival time and flight or train numbers are informed in advance.
4. During or at the end of each semester, the ISD could arrange travels for the group students.
Fees for travel could be negotiated according to the itinerary.

Application for Admission of the Chinese Language

Program in the Beijing Institute of Education

DATE OF APPLICATION
Y M D APPLICANT SIGNATURE:

Contact: Li Yali

Tel: 86-10-68352701 86-10-68350066-5364

Fax: 86-10-68352314

E-mail: bie@bjedu.gov.cn

Website: www.bjie.ac.cn

Address: Internation students' Departmen t, No.2 Wen Xing Street, Xi cheng District, Beijing, China

Postal Code:100044