Immersive Mandarin Summer Program for Children
July 8 – August 16, for children ages 2-15
Early bird discount! Sign up before Monday, June 10, 2024 and receive a $50 discount.
Sibling Discount! Each sibling enjoys additional 2 hours of private tutoring class ($200 value)
This summer, we invite your child(ren) to explore Chinese language and culture in China Institute in America’s in-person “Immersive Mandarin Summer Program for Children” at our Lower Manhattan location! Over the course of 6 weeks, students will be brought back in time to Ancient China and live through the days marked by the Chinese Agricultural Calendar, also known as 农历 (nónglì). They will learn the customs and traditions of the four most important solar terms of the year: 春分 (Chūnfēn), 夏至 (Xiàzhì), 秋分 (Qiūfēn), 冬至 (Dōngzhì). These dates are known in English as the Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Autumnal Equinox and Winter Solstice. They signify the passing of each season and are accompanied by lively festivities pertaining to rituals, cuisine, clothing, etc. in Ancient China, some of which are still in practice today! With an emphasis on the spring and autumn, your child will love to learn about each day’s cultural significance while being immersed in an authentic Chinese classroom environment.
Our accredited educators are equipped to teach students at any language level to encourage students to gain more confidence and make significant progress in Mandarin within an engaging cultural context. Instructors will create a dynamic and interactive classroom experience which will incorporate on-theme culinary classes, musical instrument workshops, shadow puppet theatre workshops, Chinese literature for children, and more! Students will be carefully placed in age-appropriate groups amongst peers at similar language levels as they sharpen their language skills and gain fluency in reading, writing and speaking.
With flexible scheduling, we can accommodate families’ summer plans by offering the options to register for half-day, full-day, or weekly enrollment.
Read our summer program blog here, an example of a typical day schedule here and watch testimonials by parents here.
Sessions
Session 1: July 8 – July 19 春分 (Chūnfēn) Spring Equinox
一年之计在于春 “A year’s plan begins in the spring.”
In the Spring, 春分 (Chūnfēn) is a celebration of the changing seasons, transitioning from the cold winter months to the welcome arrival of warmer spring weather. This day is considered highly auspicious as the hours of the day and night become equal in time which symbolizes the balance between yin and yang. Chūnfēn also signals to agricultural workers to begin planting and sowing seeds in preparation for harvest season. In this first session, students will learn of the traditional festivities shared amongst Ancient Chinese people such as egg balancing game, flying kites, and reading Classical Chinese poetry which describe sceneries of the awakening earth as nature is stirred back alive and all can witness the first blossoms of the year.
Session 2: July 22 – August 2 秋分 (Qiūfēn) Autumnal Equinox
稻花香里说丰年 “In the fragrance of rice flowers, there is good harvest.”
The Autumn season is a highly prosperous but also busy season within the Chinese Agricultural Calendar as it represents the long-awaited harvest. The autumnal equinox – Qiūfēn 秋分 once again marks the balance between yin and yang for a second time in the year and warrants worship of the moon as it is deemed to be at its fullest and brightest. The people of China engage in rituals and traditions that believed to be the origins of the celebrated Mid-Autumn Festival. Students will learn how lanterns become lit and special dishes such as tang yuan and mooncakes are enjoyed by family members as they come together before the icy brace of winter. Children will learn of the unique ways to acknowledgment of seasons changing by smelling the fragrance of osmanthug or reciting ancient Chinese literature such as “一阵秋雨一阵寒 – Each autumn rain makes it colder.”
Session 3: August 5 – August 16 冬至 (Dōngzhì) Winter Solstice and 夏至 (Xiàzhì) Summer Solstice
冬至饺子夏至面 “Winter solstice brings dumpling, summer solstice comes noodles.”
For two weeks, participants will explore the cultural significance of Dōngzhì and Xiàzhì, representing the winter and summer solstices. Dōngzhì signals longer days, while Xiàzhì historically marks the peak of summer heat. Traditionally, dumplings are eaten Dōngzhì as it symbolizes the feeling of warmth, and noodles are favored during the summer solstice for their lightness. Though once significant to ancient China, these solstices are now less celebrated since the beginning use of the Gregorian calendar over the Nónglì calendar in 1912. Students will understand the historical importance of the solstices and its relevancy to the balance of Yin and Yang which were accompanied with preventative measures and ritualistic practices that lead aid to body’s health and human connection to nature.
Full Day (Ages 2-15)
Full Day Class (9:00 AM – 3:00 PM)
$1,299 for one half session (1 week)
$2,399 for one full session (2 weeks)
$4,748 for two sessions (4 weeks)
$7,097 for all three sessions (6 weeks)
An additional $50 non-refundable registration fee for new students.
Early bird discount! Sign up before Monday, June 3, 2024 and receive a $50 discount.
Sibling Discount! Each sibling enjoys additional 2 hours of private tutoring class ($200 value)
Book two sessions (4 weeks) enjoy additional 4 hours of private tutoring class ($400 value)
Book all three sessions (6 weeks) enjoy additional 6 hours of private tutoring class ($600 value)
Registration
Registration
(July 8 – July 12)
(July 15 – July 19)
(July 22 – July 26)
(July 29 – August 2)
(August 5 – August 9)
(August 12 – August 16)
Half Day (Ages 2-15)
Half Day Class (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
$749 for half session (1 week)
$1,399 for one full session (2 weeks)
$2,748 for two sessions (4 weeks)
$4,097 for all three sessions (6 weeks)
An additional $50 non-refundable registration fee for new students.
Early bird discount! Sign up before Monday, June 3, 2024 and receive a $50 discount.
Sibling Discount! Each sibling enjoys additional 2 hours of private tutoring class ($200 value)
Book two half-day sessions (4 weeks) enjoy additional 2 hours of private tutoring class ($200 value)
Book three half-day sessions (6 weeks) enjoy additional 4 hours of private tutoring class ($400 value)
Registration
Registration
(July 8 – July 12)
(July 15 – July 19)
(July 22 – July 26)
(July 29 – August 2)
(August 5 – August 9)
(August 12 – August 16)
Age Groups
Mandarin Munchkins & Toddlers
(ages 2-5)
Through music, movement, games, and other interactive, teacher-led activities, toddlers will gain impactful early exposure to Chinese language and culture in an immersive language classroom. Our teachers are talented and creative early-childhood educators, with experience engaging with young children through clear and direct communication, fun songs and dances, interactive animation, and more. Young children will learn to respond to basic instructions and use simple expressions in Chinese while continuing to develop critical social and emotional skills through communication and interaction with their teacher and classmates.
Children
(ages 5-10 years)
Pre-teens and Teens
(ages 10-15 years)
In an immersive language classroom, students will actively participate in the exploration and discussion of fun educational themes that explore China’s past and present. During the 6-week through the four solar terms, students will further their understanding of Chinese culture by moving through all four seasons in China. Moreover, students will explore the local cultures of the cities through foods, traditions and customs, traditional and modern architecture, and historical sites. In addition to becoming familiar with topics related to each session, students will learn to read and retell stories, express their feelings and emotions, and discuss opinions in spoken and written Chinese in words, sentences, and short paragraphs.
Read and See More about Our Summer Program:
Read our summer program blog here and watch testimonials by parents here.
FAQ
Not this year. Our 2023 summer program will be held at China Institute, located at 100 Washington Street, New York City. We plan to resume our immersive Mandarin summer program to China in the future.
Our program has many unique features. We want to emphasize three: First, we are the only immersive Mandarin summer program in New York City that offers young students maximum exposure to authentic Chinese language and culture through content-based activities, housed in the School of Chinese Studies at China Institute. Our goal is to strengthen students language skills while advance a deeper understanding of Chinese cultural traditions and values, as well as the new development in China today. Second, our program creates a simulating learning experience to three storied cities in China, which offers students opportunities to explore various dynamic aspects of China. Last but least, cultural specialists and artists join our program’s teaching team to further enrich our curriculum through special workshops (e.g., Chinese music instrument) and field trips (special guided museum tours on Chinese arts and exhibits) for students to take advantage of the rich Chinese cultural resources in New York City.
We offer half-day and full-day options and students have the choice to join our program for one week up to six weeks during the summer. We are flexible with the schedule, and you can sign up for any week according to your availability. We include various interactive classroom activities, such as story-reading, singing, painting, science experiments, art-craft projects and musical workshops. In addition, students will have field trips on Fridays to museums and cultural sites in New York. Please note field trip is half-day only. Our parents will drop off and pick up their children at the museum.
$50 Early bird discount valid thru June 12, 2023!
Each sibling enjoys additional 2 hours of private tutoring class ($200 value)
What’s more! We give additional private tutoring hours!
Book 2 full-day sessions enjoy additional 4 hours of private tutoring class ($400 value)
Book 3 full-day sessions enjoy additional 6 hours of private tutoring class ($600 value)
Book 2 half-day sessions enjoy additional 2 hours of private tutoring class ($200 value)
Book 3 full-day sessions enjoy additional 4 hours of private tutoring class ($400 value)
FAQ
Not this year. Our 2024 summer program will be held at China Institute in America, located at 100 Washington Street, New York City. We plan to resume our immersive Mandarin summer program to China in the future.
Our program has many unique features. We want to emphasize three: First, we are the only immersive Mandarin summer program in New York City that offers young students maximum exposure to authentic Chinese language and culture through content-based activities, housed in the School of Chinese Studies at China Institute in America. Our goal is to strengthen students language skills while advance a deeper understanding of Chinese cultural traditions and values, as well as the new development in China today. Second, our program creates a simulating learning experience to three storied cities in China, which offers students opportunities to explore various dynamic aspects of China. Last but least, cultural specialists and artists join our program’s teaching team to further enrich our curriculum through special workshops (e.g., Chinese music instrument) and field trips (special guided museum tours on Chinese arts and exhibits) for students to take advantage of the rich Chinese cultural resources in New York City.
Each sibling enjoys additional 2 hours of private tutoring class ($200 value)
What’s more! We give additional private tutoring hours!
Book 2 full-day sessions enjoy additional 4 hours of private tutoring class ($400 value)
Book 3 full-day sessions enjoy additional 6 hours of private tutoring class ($600 value)
Book 2 half-day sessions enjoy additional 2 hours of private tutoring class ($200 value)
Book 3 half-day sessions enjoy additional 4 hours of private tutoring class ($400 value)