Custom Group Programs: Visiting China as a Group

With China's booming economy and rapid emergence as a world power, interest in Chinese culture and language has never been greater. Foreign people have flocked to China in recent years to learn more about its fascinating culture and history. And just as the Chinese have embraced English as an important global language, so have western people begun to embrace Mandarin for similar reasons. Availability of Chinese language courses in western countries has been growing steadily.

There is no better way to learn about China and its language than to visit. Many educators and government institutions from around the world understand the value of immersion and there has been a dramatic increase in the number of foreign groups visiting China in recent years. The specific objectives of these organizations vary but often include an interest in Mandarin language development and a broader understanding of Chinese culture and society. Group visits to China offer a special opportunity to reach these goals by offering the group's members a chance to study/learn in a real-life context. Group visits offer much more than the typical tourist experience can. They allow the participants to really get to know the Chinese people while living and studying in an environment conducive to learning and understanding.

Xu Bo Can Design a Program that Fits Your Group's Needs

We have experience developing and offering group programs tailored specifically to the needs and desires of an organization. In putting together a group visit program you can let us know what your objectives are and we will work with you to develop an itinerary that fits your needs. To see an example of the kind of program we recently offered to an American organization, see our NSLI-Youth Program 2009 web page.

The kinds of activities we can arrange for your group include, but are not limited to...

Mandarin Language Courses	Upon arrival, group members are often very intimidated by their lack of spoken Chinese. Therefore, the first days of any program usually focus heavily on developing practical Chinese spoken language skills. Xu Bo staff is very experienced at offering this kind of quick-start language training. For groups already somewhat proficient in Mandarin, this training can be supplemented with (or replaced by) more formal Mandarin lessons, offered through a local educational institution. Based on your specific objectives and your group's Mandarin proficiency upon arrival, we will arrange to have a local educational institution (e.g. college, high-school, etc.) develop and deliver a Mandarin program to your needs.
Group Volunteering Opportunities	We have found that one of the best ways to appreciate a different culture, is to contribute to the local community you are living in. We can help organize community projects for your group, either as the primary focus of your visit, or simply as one of the activities you engage in. Projects we have organized in the past involve universities, high schools, middle/primary schools, kindergartens, and disabled-children centers. Xu Bo has a rich experience in fostering meaningful volunteer opportunities and will be happy to tailor-design a program for your group. For an example of a program we might offer please click here.
Family Visits	We can arrange for visits to, or stays with, local Chinese families. Many participants have found this chance to live with a local family one of the most rewarding ways to learn more about Chinese culture and language
Peer-to-Peer Opportunities	In the past we have arranged to have visiting groups meet with peer groups to offer the chance for both groups to learn more about each other. This can include social visits or educational forums such as debates, depending on the interests of your group.
Sightseeing	We have escorted groups on many different sightseeing excursions. Destinations have included places such as Beijing, site of ancient cultural treasures like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, Chengdu, the home of the Giant Panda research program located in famous Sichuan province. Even when a group's focus is not on travel, these trips can be integrated into the group's itinerary to add interest and educational value to your group's stay with us.
Culture Courses	We have offered a variety of culture courses which have proved very popular. The two most popular culture courses are Chinese Painting and Chinese Calligraphy.
Social Gatherings	Throughout your group's stay in China we will arrange for interesting social and culinary experiences. By offering such activities as Karaoke parties and visits to interesting restaurants offering the varied cuisines of China, we can add to the interest and fun of your group experience.

Learn More

To learn more about our group program opportunities, please provide your name, email address and any optional comments in the form below and then press the Send button. Please take care to enter your email address correctly! You should receive a confirmation email shortly and we will respond to your request as soon as we can!

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