Hampshire College

Program Availability: Fall Semester, Spring Semester, & Summer

Hampshire college offers a unique exchange program with two Chinese institutions, the Anhui Academy of Social Science and the Anhui Agricultural University, both located in Hefei, the capital city of Anhui Province.

This program provides up to six upper-level Hampshire students with the opportunity to study in Anhui. While there, students participate in an intensive language program in Mandarin Chinese, take part in community activities such as language exchange, Chinese art, and cooking, and pursue independent projects with faculty members for the two institutions. Students are able to choose from a wide range of subjects offered at the institution.

As part of the exchange, Hampshire hosts two scholars from Anhui throughout the academic year. While on campus, these scholars are valuable assets in assisting Hampshire students develop Chinese language skills and a cultural understanding of China.

Hampshire also has a summer intensive Chinese program in Hefei.  Click here to view a PDF with more information about this program. 

Jennifer Kane (F'06) and Reed Helms (F'05) playing the guzheng, a traditional Chinese musical instrument, during a demonstration for the intensive summer Chinese students, summer 2007.

Hefei Semester Program at AAU: Curriculum and Activities

Each student studies Chinese language for 12-15 hours per week, the equivalent of two intensive Chinese semester classes. Classes are tutorial or, when possible, 2-3 students who are at the same level. AAU assigns teachers from their Chinese language department to teach these classes. Many of these teachers have experience teaching Chinese to Hampshire students; some of them are certified to teach Chinese as a second language. All are familiar with the language materials used at Hampshire College and the Five Colleges.

Each student plans an independent study project. AAU assigns faculty in a related area to teach, arrange, and supervise the project. This project is equivalent to a semester-long learning activity. It will result in a project paper or other documentation by the student. Students may also undertake a community service activity. This activity is supervised and evaluated by an AAU faculty member.

Every student is assigned an AAU student guide to help them learn the ropes at AAU and to learn how to take care of daily needs and activities in Hefei, such as shopping, using public transportation, locating internet and phone services, etc. These student guides will also help students organize recreation and local outings.

The semester after being in Hefei, the student will participate in a project workshop (SS 299: China Project Workshop) to write up research notes, do further research, and produce a polished finished product based on the independent project carried out in Hefei. This final project will be presented to the workshop group.

Eligibility

Reed Helms (F'05) in his apartment while studying at AAU in spring and summer 2007.

How to Apply

You will need to complete and submit the Hampshire Exchange Program Application to the Global Education Office before the application deadline for the semester you are applying for.  Please contact the Global Education Office before completing an application.

Area Specialists

Kimberly Chang
Associate Professor of Social and Cultural Psychology
School of Social Science
413.559.5668
kchang@hampshire.edu

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