WLE Newsletter July-Aug 1999
As the provider of updated news on World Link Education’s activities, this monthly newsletter is aimed at giving friends, family of current students and those interested a bird’s eye view of life in Beijing. Contributors are World Link Education members of staff and students.
STUDENT PROFILE
Our current summer students are from: Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, UK, Switzerland, Indonesia, Philippines, Sweden, Turkey, USA.
STUDENT FOCUS: A birds eye view of our current student’s progress and views
Course Programs:
Insider’s Insight on Chinese Language Course: "The Chinese Language teachers at university are good and flexible. As soon as I talked to my teachers about making the lessons go quicker, they agreed and the classes progressed quickly. Zhang Lao Shi is my private tutor (referred by World Link), who comes every afternoon to teach me. He is a very good teacher. I am enjoying my time here."
Ellen Wiedenhoft, Swiss (CL4w:7/99), Pharmacist
Insider’s Insight on China Business Studies:"I am taking the Chinese Business and Language Course. Tuition is good. I like the submersion into the culture. In the US after the class you can only speak English, but here in China you can use your Chinese language skills in practice. So studying here is much more than just sitting in class. The teachers are excellent, so is my language partner. The business lessons are very enlightening and fieldtrips to joint ventures are interesting."
Kevin Lloyd, USA (CCB6w:7/99), Student Uni of Georgi
Insider’s Insight on Martial Arts Program:"I have enjoyed my time here in Beijing. The course Language and Martial Arts is what I expected, even more. There has been nothing to complain about. The teachers, both language and martial arts teachers are very skillful. Before coming to China I had a very small idea what Qi Gong is about, but the teachers have made it very clear to me. The atmosphere is very nice here. There are a lot of friendly people around both in the WLE Office and on campus. If any problems occur, there is the WLE staff to help you. They solve problems quickly and don’t leave things undone!"
Professor Laurent Page, France (CMA4w:7/99), French Teacher, Uni of Pusan, Korea
EXTRA CURRICULAR
Insider’s Insight:"China Life Seminars are very interesting, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Painting and Calligraphy. It is good to know there is always someone to help you; as early as the first minute in China when there is someone to meet you at the airport. They’ll (WLE staff) tell you what to do, where to go, etc.."
Sabine Fritz, Austria (CL6w:7/99), Student, Uni of Vienna
China Weekend Excursions
Educational Tours for our summer students include Hutong Tour, Drum Tower & Tea House (Jul 18), Great Wall (Badaling) & Ming Tombs (Jul 24), Tian’An Men & Forbidden City (Jul 31), Lama Temple and Bei Hai Park (Aug 7), Summer Palace (New & Old).
China Music and Arts Workshops
Every Thursday, sounds of WLE students singing, can be heard along conference center corridors, as they learn to sing various popular and folk songs such as the National Anthem of the People’s Republic of China and Inner Mongolian folk songs. Wang Lao Shi has over 35 years teaching experience.
Chinese Traditional Massage
Lan Dai Fu (Dr Lan) instructs students self massage techniques in their first seminar. Next three seminars entail manipulation and qigong. For the past eight years, Dr Lan a qualified practitioner consults patients at the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Cooking Workshop
On Monday, 9th August, fifteen wannabe Chinese chefs put their muscles and skills to work making jiaozi (meat filled and vegetarian) at the instruction of Jack "Shifu". They had a great time making and eating jiaozi that night.
SOCIAL EVENTS
On July 17th , the peking duck feast entailed a variety of nine local dishes, followed by tasting a drop of bai jiu. On behlaf of all the students, special thanks to Eric Shierman, Kam Sam Seng, Christian Eisert, John Netto, Mark MacWhinney, for entertaining us by singing English and Chinese songs throughout the night.
Chu ni shengri kuai le! Happy Birthday!
Ann-Sofie Widberg (26 July) Carol Chin (28 July) Darrell Doren (29 July) Tim Wang (12 Aug) Laurent Page (13 Aug).
THIS MONTH’s CHINA TRAVEL
WLE Xi’An Weekend Tour (Fri, 20 July to Mon, 2 Aug)
For 1,300 rmb (US$ 156) per student, the tour package, was excellent value. Round trip train tickets, four star overnight accommodation, lunch at local restaurants, dinner and breakfast at the hotel, tours and admission fees to all attractions and English speaking guide. The educational tour included visiting the over 2,000 year old Terracotta Warriors, Dayuan Pagoda, Historical Museum, Hua Qing Hot Springs and Tablet Forest. A tour to the factory and seminar on the technique of making the terracotta warriors was included. Lunch on the last day was a jiaozi feast where students savored, Xi’An local food plus 18 varieties of Jiaozi (dumplings).
Shaolin Temple & Zhengzhou (Henan Province) Weekend Trip (Fri, 6 Aug to Mon 9 Aug)
Insider’s Insight by Jason from the US:
"The Shaolin Temple trip was excellent! Interesting places to see especially the wushu performance that was extraordinary and impressive. It was amazing to see the monks perform the "one finger stand" (he stood up with his whole body weight on one finger!). We were told that the monks practice by jabbing their finger through the trunk of a tree. The tree was there over 1,300 years old, and was filled with holes! We were ready for more vigorous training by the Shaolin Temple monk. He taught us qigong. The other places we visited such as the Yellow River and Xiangguo Temple were great scenic places."
Jason is from Sacramento, US. He is studying long fist (wushu) at WLE’s martial arts 4 week summer program. He has been studying over five years of martial arts in the US.
FAREWELLS
Summer Palace Farewell (Jul 2nd)
World Link’s 1 semester and 12 week students enjoyed their farewell held at YiHeYuan the largest imperial garden in China. It was built as a summer retreat for the Qing Dynasty (2644 to 1911) and reconstructed in 1903. Our 43 student onboard a boat in Kunming Lake took in the serene and beautiful sights of this magnificent retreat. Mark, Joel and Tim jumped into the lake for an invigorating swim. It was a thoroughly enjoyable farewell, marking an end to their China experience, for now?
TOSHKO KADAMA (CL8w:4/99)
From Shimane, Japan she graduated from Hyogo Educational University with a Master Degree of Education. In 1997 at the age of 60, she retired from teaching English. In 1995, she attended the World Conference on Women in Beijing. From the WLE team, "We wish you all the best in your future endeavors, and admire your determination and strength of character. It was a pleasure having you with us in Beijing, Toshiko and we look forward to seeing you back here again !"
Toshiko wrote of her time in Beijing (April to June?99) To read her letter, click into Insider’s Insight ?Toshiko Aug 3, 99"
ERIC PRIEST (CL5w:12/99; CCB & CL1s:9/99)
Eric was our newsletter editor who made us proud when he appeared on national TV (evening news), interviewed by CCTV regarding the Chinese embassy bombing. Asked about his feelings towards the incident - whether he experienced any violence or untoward reactions from the locals, he replied in fluent Chinese. Eric joined us in December as our 5 weeks student and stayed on for our one semester course. World Link placed Eric in contact with Dean Sheun, Chief Representative of Rock Records, (one of the largest record companies in Asia). Eric actively shared his creative ideas on expanding the Chinese music industry. He played a major role in setting up "English Corner" with the People’s Liberation Army medical staff, where students interacted with medical staff using English. He departed after completing "C" (Advanced) level Chinese to return to Chicago where he will be commencing his Law degree at the Chicago ?Kent College of Law. "We wish you all the very best , in your future path in the Law!"
JACOB SETTERBERG (CCB12w:9/99; CL5w:12/99 & CL1s:9/99)
Jacob affectionately known as the "Swedish Viking", has been with us since September last year and at the end of the course, undertook two further course intakes (5 weeks and one semester). He completed an MBA in Queensland, Australia prior to commencing WLE’s Chinese Language and China Business Studies. Due to job commitments, he recently returned to Stockholm. During his time here, Jacob undertook an internship with one of Volvo’s Joint Ventures, and learnt much about local work ethics and work environment in China. His last words departing the office was "I’ll be back".
"Jacob, nin de hanyu lao shi, Lushlife, Xijiao fu wu yuan, he Hidden Tree hen xiang ni. Kuai hui lai ba!"
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