10 Reasons To Study Chinese At The Beijing Language and Culture University

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This article aims to share some of the reasons why I think coming to study Chinese at the Beijing Language and Culture University will be a great experience for you. Enjoy.

Many of us will live our lives rarely (if ever) venturing out of our own countries. Heck, many of us hardly ever venture out of our own towns or cities! Ask yourself: How is living like that going to help me get a broader view of the world and life in all its abundance? I can watch the news on TV or read it on the Internet, watch documentaries all day and check out blogs like this one, but is that really all I want my experience of the world beyond my front door to be limited to? For most of us, the answer will be a resounding "NO!"

1. Exposure to the Chinese culture and stepping out of your comfort-zone

By coming to a study abroad university such as BLCU, your eyes will be opened to an entirely new culture and people. China is a completely different world from the one most of us have grown up in in the West and, to a large extent, by studying in Beijing you’re still only getting a small window into the real China - but at least it’s a start. If you are lucky enough to travel around parts of China which are still isolated from the big towns and cities, where farmers plow the land all day and life is harsh, you will really begin to understand what China is all about. Not just that, but you will also learn more about yourself. You will see that in the depths of poverty and hardship people will still show you tremendous generosity and kindness, and it will open your heart as much as your eyes.

2. Making new friends

The opportunities for making new and lasting friendships at BLCU are unlimited. Everyone is there to learn and have fun but at the same time most people don’t know anyone else when they arrive - it’s no different from university. You will help others where you can and they will likewise do them same for you. This creates lasting bonds and you can leave BLCU feeling that, even if not for learning the language, coming to China was worth it just for the people with whom you shared the experience. At BLCU, everyone becomes a member of the same family and this is a wonderful feeling. Plus, you will have many opportunities to make friends with Chinese students who are also studying there.

3. Learning a new language

Even though I said going to BLCU is worth it just for the people you meet (and it is), most of us will go for the purpose of learning Mandarin (see my posts Building Good Study Habits At BLCU and 7 Study Tips For Success At BLCU). Whether you are just beginning with language or already at quite an advanced level, the classes and learning opportunities are there for you. The main advantage to studying Chinese at a Beijing university like BLCU is that you will be able to see the language in its every-day natural state. Walking around campus you may hear a lot of English but as soon as you step out of those gates and into the rest of Beijing, Mandarin is all you’ll get - and what you will have to rely on to survive! This throws you into the deep end and forces you to engage with the language at a level that you would probably never have to by studying in your home country or outside of China. Don’t get scared though - there is enough on campus to take care of your every day needs, but if you want to do some exploring around Beijing or just go out for a walk, you will have endless opportunities to practice the language. Not to mention that Chinese students are always (and in endless supply) looking for English language-partners!

4. Becoming independent

Many people who come to BLCU will be at the age where they have never yet been independent from their parents or lived on their own. This makes it a great learning experience whilst still ensuring it’s in a safe and comfortable environment. You may have to learn what it means to budget your finances and finally do all your own washing! Or, if you are older, it will be an experience in psychological independence as much as physical. You will be away from friends, family and relatives, but you can always - as so many students at BLCU do - take advantage of the great service offered by Skype to stay in touch with everyone back home. Either way, it’s a very positive experience that will help you grow (up!)

5. Getting the university experience

For those of us lucky enough to go to university it will probably be at around the age of 18-21 - but not for everyone. In my case, I hadn’t yet bee to university when I went to BLCU at the age of 20 and it was a great way for to me get the university experience that I felt I’d missed out on up until then. It may in fact prepare you in many ways for what university will be like should you ever choose to go. On the other hand, if you have already done the whole university experience, going to BLCU will give you the chance to experience the best parts of it all over again. Maybe this time you will approach it different - study harder, for example (or drink less!)

6. Opportunities for travel

BLCU runs a lot of school trips to various parts of China throughout the year. These offer a great way of travelling with a group of like-minded people whilst having a Chinese teacher to help as a guide. The trips are also designed to be very inexpensive so that even students on a tight budget can manage to afford them. This can be a great alternative if you don’t feel you yet have the confidence to travel alone or with just a few close friends. For one thing, travelling through China can be VERY a tough and stressful experience, especially if you’re Mandarin is not up to a level whereby you can rely on it to get you from A to B (and out of emergency situations! - though you may be fortunate enough to never encounter one.) Personally, I recommend taking advantage of these school-run trips and getting out of Beijing for a while every now and then!

7. Affordable living costs and course pricing

China is cheap as chips, everyone knows that. Well, most of it is anyway. Studying at a university in Beijing such as BLCU is not THAT expensive, certainly not compared to institutions back home in the UK (where I come from). To give you a rough idea, my one-year Mandarin course (that’s two semesters) cost around 20,000 RMB (£2,000 - a lot cheaper than studying at uni in the UK, which costs a minimum £3,500/year and can be a LOT more than that depending on your course. UK student fees also made headlines earlier in the year due to the government increasing them.) That may sound like a lot but once you convert it back into your own currency you may be surprised. Don’t forget that BLCU also offer scholarship programmes for students who can’t fund themselves (I recommend you contact BLCU directly for more information on this - see my BLCU Contacts page).

8. Experienced teachers

All the teachers at BLCU are qualified to teach Chinese as a foreign language - many of them having taken their degrees at BLCU years ago before it became the hotspot for Chinese learners that it is today. I can personally vouch that the quality of instruction you will get at BLCU is absolutely top notch and I’m sure anyone else who has studied there would also agree. Do be prepared for a Chinese style of teaching though - it will be a lot of repetition and drilling exercises to ensure that all this new language information is impressed firmly onto your foreign brains! (Yes, some people can find it boring, but what did they expect - that learning Chinese was just somehow going to be easy? Go in with the right attitude and you will get a lot out of it - and be prepared to put in some serious work if you really want to see big improvements in your Mandarin skills!)

9. A great campus

The campus at BLCU is beautiful. Compared to a lot of Beijing, it’s much greener and far more accessable to foreigners - and it should be, that’s what it’s designed for after all. You will find a wide variety of cafes and restaurants offering different cuisines from around the world (and for a very good price), sport facilities, shops selling Western food and snacks, as well as everything else you need to take care of your basic living requirements. The campus is brimming with life and at peak hours it can be so busy that it’s almost impossible to ride a bike through the swarms of students coming and going to lessons or to have lunch. (See BLCU Photos on this blog)

10. Work opportunities (teaching English)

Although it’s not strictly aloud without a valid working visa, the truth is that many foreigners still teach English at language centres and privately during their time at BLCU (see my post Earn Money Teaching English While At BLCU). This can be a great source of income as you can earn upwards of 150 RMB (£15) per hour. Although it is not something I ever did, there is a huge demand for English teachers and will continue to be for a long LONG time - not to mention that it’s incredibly easy to find work in the BLCU and Wudaokou area. A lot of people I knew during my time at BLCU were teaching English regularly and making good money from it, to the point that if you get enough work you can finance yourself entirely from it - and maybe even have some savings to take home!

The Beijing weather

How can I not mention the Beijing weather when talking about the BLCU experience? It’s an integral part of it! In winter Beijing can be one huge freezer, dropping to under -20°C at its worst, whereas in summer it gets incredibly hot - very much to the point of being uncomfortable. The year I was there (2010), China saw some of its worst heat waves in decades, with the temperature climbing to around 40°C if I remember correctly. The climate is also very dry, often causing chapped lips. You will soon find the need for a good lip balm and moisturiser once there. It can also be incredibly windy and sandstorms carrying sand all the way from Mongolia can be frequent during certain months. Don’t let you put this off though as Spring and autumn are great times to be in Beijing and make it worth enduring the winter and summer months. Just be prepared!

I hope you have enjoyed reading a bit about what I think makes BLCU a great university. Studying in China is a brave step but, for anyone who takes that plunge, the rewards can be great. If you have any comments please leave them in the comments section and I look forward to hearing your thoughts. What do you think make BLCU such a great place to study at?

One last thing...

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