www.ef.comImportant Note: Factual information contained in this document is subject to change.

LanguageCourses AbroadFor adults and students aged 16 & above

EF International Language Centers

Accreditations and Memberships

The EF International Lan-guage Centers in London,

Cambridge, Brighton, Oxford, Manchester, Bristol

and Bournemouth are:

EF Dublin is accredited by:

The EF International Language Centers

in the USA are members of:

The EF Interna-tional Language

Centers in the USA are accredited by:

The EF International Language Centers

in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth are accredited by:

EF Nice is recognized with the Label Qual-ité Français Langue

Etrangère.

EF Vancouver and Toronto are accredited by Languages Canada.

All EF Courses are certified by Southern

New Hampshire University.

EF Education is an active participant in

the Comité Européen de Normalisation.

The EF International Language Centers

in Brisbane and Perth are

members of:

The EF International Language Centers in

Cambridge, München, Cape Town and Nice are

accredited by:

The EF International Language Centers in London, Cambridge,

Brighton, Oxford, Manchester and Bournemouth are

members of:

All EF Courses are recognized by Hult

International Business School.

Federation of International Youth

Travel Organizations.

EF Beijing

BeijingOld traditional buildings and new skyscrapers –

Beijing is where old meets new and the city emerges

as a magnificent cultural centre. Join EF in the heart

of this capital, in a country believed to be the future

of international business.

Contact details:4th floor Tower C, Building Luoke Times SquareHuizhongli No.103,Chaoyang District,Beijing.China Tel: +86-10-65630995-138 Emergency tel: +86-13501259951

Watch a video

Or visit us atFacebook.com/EFBeijing

Section Topic

1 ........... Introduction to EF

2 ...........Welcome to China

3 ...........Weather watch

4 ...........Travel & transfer service

5 ...........School information

6 ...........Academics

7 ...........Accommodation & meals

8 ...........Money matters

9 ...........Phones, faxes & Internet

10 .........Health care & insurance

11 .........School activities & excursions

12 .........Transportation

13 .........Expectations

14 .........Chinese culture & living tips

15 .........Adjusting to a new culture

16 .........EF school calendar & holidays

17 .........Checklist

Contents - Beijing

Dear Student

Thank you for choosing our school to study Chinese.

Welcome to Beijing, the host city of Olympic Games,

2008! EF was named Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

official Language Training Service Supplier, training

5,000 Chinese citizens, including members of the

Olympic Committee, judges and volunteers.

As the capital of China, Beijing offers the advantages

of many historical and cultural attractions and a bus-

tling city atmosphere. The school is a bridge, helping

you to explore the real Beijing and to get to know the

people behind the language.

As a Pekingese, I am very happy to welcome you to

Beijing and to help you while you’re studying here.

Whether this is you’re first trip to Beijing or your fifth,

you are sure to enjoy your new life. Don’t worry if you

cannot speak any Chinese - everyone is willing to

help you so you will make progress day by day.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any

questions before departure.

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Annie Zhang, School Director

EF International Language Center,

Beijing

3 Beijing, China

2. Welcome to Beijing, ChinaTo study in China is demanding, but also very

rewarding. The People’s republic of China is

still a communist country, but has opened up

economically in the last 30 years.

Beijing city has shifted location several times in

the past several thousand years, but the spatial

dimensions have remained fairly constant

over time. The present city centre is 39°56‘

N, 116°20‘ E, at an elevation of 44.38 metres

above sea level, the northwestern corner rising

a mere 10 metres above the southeast. As

capital of China, Beijing is a bustling city, offer-

ing the advantage of many historical and cul-

tural attractions, including the Forbidden City,

the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace,

Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall of China and

the Ming Tombs.

3. Weather WatchBeijing has a continental monsoon climate

commonly found in the temperate zone. In

winter, cold, dry winds blow out of Siberia and

Mongolia in the northwest; in summer, warm,

moist air currents from the southeast take over.

The coldest month in Beijing is January, with

an average temperature of 4.7 °C. The hottest

month is July, with an average of 26.1°C. Rapid

temperature increases in the spring occur ,

but windless days in that season are wonder-

fully pleasant. Autumn, though short-lived, is a

concentrated stretch of clear, crisp days and

patchwork coloured trees.

4. Travel & Transfer serviceArriving

Beijing International Airport (PEK) is situated 17

miles (28km) north of Beijing. Local time is GMT

+8. Travelling time to the city is about an hour.

Prior to arrival (for all students)

At least two weeks before your arrival you must

inform the EF office of the exact details of your

flight (airline, flight number, date and time) – this

is especially important if you will be using the

transfer service.

Transfer service

Arriving at a busy airport in a foreign city can be

confusing. EF offers a one-way transfer service

from the airport to your accommodation for an

additional fee. We highly recommend that you

take advantage of this service.

When you arrive, if you have booked the trans-

fer service, please pass through the baggage

claim and customs area and look for airport

greeter who will be carrying an EF sign with

your name. When you see the greeter, please

introduce yourself .

Please be aware that other students will be

arriving on the same day and you may have to

wait up to an hour for other students to arrive

before you leave the airport.

If you are going to arrive late, if you have a

change in schedule or cannot find the EF

greeter please call the EF emergency num-

ber: Mobile:+86-13501259951, Annie Zhang,

School Director.

If you cannot find the EF greeter, please do not

take a taxi until you have waited at least 60 min-

utes and have called the EF emergency number.

5. School InformationThe Facility

EF is located in the heart of downtown Beijing.

Our new school offers modern facilities along

with a computer room, equipped with educa-

tional and pronunciation software, textbooks and

dictionaries. Students have access to email and

Internet.

Staff

All our teachers are highly qualified and are

certified with professional designations and

high academic achievement. They have at least

finished Bachelor’s degrees and can communi-

cate in English.

6. AcademicsThe academic programme offers students

the ability to study the Chinese language and

4 Beijing, China

culture for as long and with as much intensity

as suits you.

First day of school

You will start at 9:30 am on your first day of

school. First, you will take a language place-

ment test and then, you will have a school

orientation. During the orientation you will get

information and tips about your new life in

Beijing, receive a class timetable and you will

go on a walking tour of Tiananmen Square and

the Wangfujing shopping street. There will be

free coffee and tea.

Attendance

You are expected to attend ALL classes and

to complete ALL class assignments. To receive

an EF Course Certificate you must have 80%

attendance.

University of International Business & Econom-

ics Beijing (UIBE)

If you can pass the HSK exam, we will recom-

mend you to the university UIBE.

Special Interest Courses (SPIN)

General and Intensive courses include a num-

ber of special interest class options. After the

initial placement test, you will have the chance

to specify your preferences for these special

interest classes. Some of these classes require

intermediate or advanced Chinese proficiency.

Also, a minimum number of participants are

required for each special interest class to take

place. The Director of Studies will discuss

your particular needs and wishes with you. All

General and Intensive courses include special

classes on phonetics and additional Intensive

Language practice.

Examples of SPINs:

z Chinese Martial Arts

z Pronunciation Skills

z Calligraphy*

*Please note: students selecting these classes

will pay a small additional fee for materials.

Course books

As part of your academic program, you’ll be

expected to buy the books and classroom

materials that you will use in class. The exact

number of books that you’ll need is determined

by your academic level, progress and choice of

special interest classes. If you wish to buy ad-

ditional books you may need more money. The

books you buy are yours to keep, write in and

take home with you for future reference.

7. Accommodation & MealsHomestay

Many of the customs you observe will be very

different from those you are used to. The family

routine and the food you eat may also be dif-

ferent from at home.

Before you leave your home country, it is

advised that you let your homestay hosts know

the date and estimated time of your arrival to

ensure they are home when you arrive. Your

average travel time from your homestay to

school is about 60 minutes.

Your homestay hosts will provide and change

your towels and sheets for you. You are re-

sponsible for washing your own clothes.

Meals in a homestay

Your homestay hosts will provide breakfast and

dinner each day and all meals on the week-

ends when you are at home. Please be sure to

call your hosts if you are going to be late or if

you are not going to be home for a meal.

You can buy lunch at the school canteen and

purchase snacks and drinks throughout the day.

8. Money MattersSpending money

Depending on your lifestyle, we recommend

that you bring between RMB300-RMB500

per week excluding excursions. The amount

you bring will depend on how much travel-

ling, shopping and eating in restaurants you

plan to do during your visit to Beijing. Please

remember that you will be responsible for

some meals.

For transportation, you can buy a Public Travel

Card which you deposit money into. This can

be used on buses, subways and taxis.

Credit cards

Credit cards can be used in big shopping

centres and restaurants but not in small shops.

We suggest you bring small sums of cash with

you for your convenience.

There are a lot of ATMs scattered around

the city, to withdraw RMB cash from. Some

machines have lower cash limits - look on

the machines for guidelines. Visa, American

Express, and Master Card are recognised by

most ATMs.

Banks

The safest place to keep your money is in a

bank. You can exchange major foreign curren-

cies at most banks and hotels. The exchange

rate is usually more expensive in hotels than

in banks. It is a good idea to open a bank

account if you are staying for longer than three

months.

9. Telephones, fax & InternetTelephone

All long distance calls must be collect calls,

charged to the person you are calling or

charged to a prepaid telephone card, which

can be purchased at the EF office.

Fax

All EF schools use fax machines to conduct

business. The school will charge a small fee to

send long-distance faxes. There are also places

close to the school that send faxes and charge

for the time used. Ask the front desk for direc-

tions to the nearest fax machine you can use.

Internet

The school is equipped with more than 100

computers available for email, school work and

access to the Internet.

10. Health Care & InsuranceForeign visitors can access medical and

hospital care in China. The cost is usually quite

low. In order to assure quality medical care,

please select hospitals in major Chinese cities

that have VIP wards (gaogan bingfang) or high-

level hospitals that have a special department

to receive foreigners. The charges are higher

in these facilities but they feature up-to-date

medical technology and physicians who are

both knowledgeable and skilled. Most of these

VIP wards also have English-speaking doctors

and nurses and may even accept credit cards

for payment.

5 Beijing, China

In Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong

Kong there are private medical facilities set up

to treat people from other countries. Western

trained doctors staff some of these facilities,

and some have a doctor on staff 24 hours a

day. Generally these facilities handle minor

emergencies, routine medical care and some

relatively simple surgery. Language is likely to

be a problem at the ordinary Chinese hospitals

so it would be advisable to be accompanied

by a person who speaks Chinese. Payment

for care is usually expected when services

are provided. If you are hospitalised, please

contact your insurance company or EF within

the first 48 hours.

It is always advisable to bring enough medica-

tion to last through your trip. Be sure to carry

it with you rather than trusting it to checked

luggage (many frequent travellers bring a

double supply of medication and pack each

in different bags). It is also advisable to carry

extra prescription sheets written by your

doctor (with the generic names) in case you

need refills during your trip and to show at

customs as proof of the medication’s identity

and necessity. Always remember to check the

expiration dates on all medications, whether

they are from home or abroad.

Beijing Municipal Emergency Medical Line: 120

Erika Travel Insurance

Because security is EF’s number one priority, we

have negotiated a comprehensive tailor-made

travel insurance package for EF students with

Erika Travel Insurance, an international insur-

ance expert. The policy protects you against ex-

penses incurred through accident or illness, and

provides coverage for loss or theft of baggage

and personal effects. It also provides coverage

against interruption of your EF program due to

illness as well as liability and legal expenses.

The EF staff is trained to assist with your Erika

Travel Insurance questions and claims. When

you are sick or injured the last thing you want

to do is deal with such issues. Let us help you!

11. Activities & ExcursionsExtracurricular activities contribute greatly to

your social and academic success. They not

only help you to relax after a day studying, they

also provide you with an opportunity to meet

and make friends from other classes, other

countries and other cultures. Your school’s ac-

tivities and trips give you the opportunity to apply

your life skills, practice Chinese in real situations

and familiarize yourself with the Chinese culture.

Weekly activities

For more information on what activities are or-

ganised during your stay, please pay attention

to your school’s noticeboard.

The activity staff at your school are here to help

you make the most of Beijing in China. The

Activities Coordinator can help you plan your free

time by organising a variety of EF events and ex-

cursions, including some of the examples below.

z Panjiayuan Curio & Antique Market: This is a

good place to find folk art and handcrafted

items. The market has around 3,000 booths

covering 50 hectares - a scene made more

hectic by the presence of almost 10,000

market workers and up to 50,000 bargain

hunters. Visitors can also find a good selec-

tion of antiques, many of which are not as old

as one is led to believe. Panjiayuan is a fun

day out - an experience - whether you buy

anything or not.

z Wangfujing Shopping Street: Wangfujing, a

seven hundred-year-old commercial street,

is located to the east of Tiananmen Square

and stretches from the Chinese Art Gallery to

Dongchan’an Avenue. It houses a wide va-

riety of shops and boutiques where you can

find all kinds of commodities, some of which

are of world-famous brands. The recently fin-

ished Oriental Plaza (Dongfang Guangchang)

adds even more charm to Wangfujing. Be-

sides modern department stores, the Foreign

Language Bookstore is also in this area. The

Old-Beijing-Street now seated underground,

was built and decorated in Ming and Qing

style. Its famous trademark is the central

well-known stores, selling shoes, caps, silk

cloth, scissors, Chinese brushes and ink-

sticks, jade articles, tea, desserts, pickled

vegetables, roast ducks and countless more

Chinese novelties. The most popular sites for

souvenir photos are the sculptures on both

street sides, reflecting life of the old Beijing.

z Hong Qiao Market: In the northeast of

Tiantan East Road, you are in the thick of

Beijing’s commercial atmosphere. Hongqiao

Pearl Market is the leading enterprise of the

Hongqiao Commercial Circles, alongside

other large markets - a shopper’s paradise.

Weekend Excursions

All EF weekend excursions include transporta-

tion, accommodation and admission fees. Al-

though some trips may include some meals, you

should expect to pay for your own meals. In ad-

dition to our organised excursions, we are more

than happy to help individual students or small

groups plan their time and activities to make the

most of China or neighbouring countries.

12. TransportationBus

Bus transportation in Beijing is cheap and

convenient, however, route information at bus

stops is not posted in English. Passengers can

6 Beijing, China

pay by cash or pre-paid smartcards, which

give discounts. Return tickets or day passes

are not available.

Train

The Beijing subway is easy to use and each

station has English language maps and signs.

Tickets must be purchased from a window and

verified by a ticket man before you proceed to

your platform.

Taxi

Beijing’s taxi transport is fairly inexpensive, with

taxis charging a basic starting fee, followed by

an additional fee per kilometre travelled.Various

vehicles are used and there are a variety of

different coloured vehicles operating as taxis all

over Beijing.

13. ExpectationsExpectations are a normal part of a new expe-

rience. Remember that many of your expecta-

tions may have been formed by the unreal

world of TV and movies. Arrive at your course

centre with an open mind!

What you can expect from EF:

z Supportive staff available for guidance and

encouragement.

z A language programme which combines lan-

guage, special interest, and culture-oriented

classes.

z A full programme of local activities and excur-

sions at special EF rates.

z Accommodation in a homestay.

z All designated meals.

z EF Academic Year Abroad Diploma for

Academic Year Abroad students with 80%

attendance per term and good academic

standing and academic records

z EF Course Certificate for International Lan-

guage Students with 80% attendance and

good academic standing.

z Preparation classes and/or materials for ap-

propriate standardised language exams

What EF expects of you:

z To develop a greater understanding of the

world around you.

z To attend at least 80% of all classes and to

do your best in class at all times.

z To be respectful of your homestay hosts,

your classmates, your teachers, and your

community.

z To keep your room and shared areas clean.

z To speak Chinese at all times.

z To abide by all laws, rules, and regulations of

your host country and school.

z As a representative of your country, com-

munity and school, the highest standards of

responsibility and behaviour are expected

What you can expect from your homestay hosts:

z A comfortable, clean place to live.

z Prepared meals or accessibility to food to

prepare yourself according to the meal plan.

z Access to the school in approximately one

hour by public transportation. All transporta-

tion costs are your responsibility.

14. Chinese culture & living tipsUseful tips

z Do not carry large sums of cash. Try to plan

your cash needs so that you use the bank

machine during daylight hours.

z When you are in restaurants or outside the

school, keep your purse or backpack beside

you.

z Use caution when you travel on public trans-

port at night.

z When you go out at night, go with another

person and stay on streets that are well lit.

z If you are going out alone, tell someone

where you will be and what time you will be

home. Call if you are going to be late.

z Do not give your address or phone number

to strangers.

Useful phrases

Hello! (Ni Hao!)

Good Morning! (Zao Shang Hao!)

Good Evening! (Wan Shang Hao!)

Thank you! (Xie Xie!)

Sorry! (Dui Bu Qi!)

That’s all right/you are welcome! (Mei Guan Xi!)

Goodbye! (Zai Jian!)

How much? (Duo Shao Qian?)

Please take me to the EF School! (Qing Dai Wo

Qu EF Xue Xiao!)

Table Manners in the restaurant

Perhaps one of the things that surprise a West-

ern visitor most is that some of the Chinese

hosts like to put food into the plates of their

guests. In formal dinners, there are always “pub-

lic” chopsticks and spoons for this purpose, but

some hosts may use their own chopsticks. This

is a sign of genuine friendship and politeness. It

is always polite to eat the food. If you do not eat

it, just leave the food in the plate.

15. Adjusting to a New Culture The EF community is more than a group of

students who have come together to learn

Chinese. It is also a multi-cultural group of

young adults who are eager to share their

own culture and learn the culture of their host

country and fellow classmates.

One’s culture is made up of values, beliefs, arts,

traditions and practices of a specific community

or population. Our culture affects how we view

ourselves, how we relate to others and what we

value as important in life. We are often unaware

of how much our culture affects our lives.

You may have already had some exposure to the

new culture you are about to experience. You

may have seen television shows, read books, or

studied in school about China. While some parts

of this culture may already seem familiar to you,

experiencing a new culture first-hand will prove

exciting. You will be meeting students from all

over the world who, like you, are looking forward

to spending a year learning and living a language,

both inside and outside the classroom.

As a visitor to a new culture, you may experience

periods of fatigue and discomfort when you are

uncomfortable. Culture shock is what some-

times happens when we try to meet challenges

of our new culture by using the values, beliefs,

and attitudes of our own culture. As visitors to

a new culture, we must learn that cultural differ-

ences are merely different - not right or wrong.

It is a good idea to bring traditional objects from

your culture to share with other students and

your host to teach them about your country.

Tips on coping with change

Remember that change does not come with-

out some effort! We humans need a certain

amount of stress to motivate us to learn new

ways of being. Learning always involves some

form of change. You should try the following:

z While you might be tempted to surround

yourself with things that are familiar to you, try

not to isolate yourself by being only with others

from your home country. Keep reaching out to

your host, roommates and other students.

7 Beijing, China

z Put off making major decisions such as an

accommodation change, until you feel more

“at home” with the culture in general.

z Talk to us about your worries or problems.

EF Staff are here to help and would prefer to

know about any problem you may have so

that we can help you.

z Set goals, no matter how big or small, and

accomplish them! You will feel good about

yourself in doing so, and you will reduce the

negative feelings associated with culture

shock. For example, set a goal that you will

speak Chinese at all times.

z Remind yourself that you came to this

country to experience a new culture, to meet

others and to explore your new surroundings.

Relax, take a deep breath and reflect back on

the days before leaving your home country

when you were excited about your new ad-

venture. Try to refocus this former excitement

towards your experience.

Keeping a journal

One way to keep track of emotions and

changes that take place over the year is to

keep a journal. By recording your experiences

and feelings on a regular basis, you will be able

to reduce the impact of culture shock. You will

have a record of your academic and personal

progress to look back on in days and years to

come. Be sure to note changes in:

z Language skills

z School performance and involvement

z Campus/host adjustment

z Individual learning and growth

Keeping a journal will help to remind you that

culture shock is truly a temporary phase

of adjustment.

Bring pictures and items from home

If you have room in your suitcases for some

music, a costume, pictures, or some typi-

cal crafts, it would be good to show other

students. We have seen costumes and drums

from Korea, dancing and music from Austria

and a piñata and tortillas from Mexico. Please

bring pictures of your friends, family and sur-

rounding area.

Important telephone numbers

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klis

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16. EF school calendar & holidaysSchool holidays

The EF International Language Center in Beijing

recognizes the following public holidays when

there will be no classes. If your arrival falls on

one of these dates, please check with the

school staff upon your arrival for an exact orien-

tation schedule.

2012

2 Jan - New Year

23 - 29 January - Chinese Spring Festival

4 April - Tomb-sweeping Day

1-3 May - Labor day

25 May - Dragon Boat Festival

28 Sep - Mid-Autumn Day

1-7 Oct - Chinese National Day Holiday

2013

1 Jan - New Year

9-15 February - Chinese Spring Festival

4 April - Tomb-sweeping Day

1 May - Labor day

13 June - Dragon Boat Festival

19-21 Sep - Mid-Autumn Day

1-7 Oct - Chinese National Day Holiday

17. Checklist ■ Valid passport (with visa where neces-

sary) It’s a good idea to make copies of

these and pack them in your suitcase

just in case. You don’t need to carry your

passport with you while you are in China

but you must keep it and your other docu-

ments in a safe place while you are in

the country.

■ Passport Photos (4) for EF student

identification cards, travel cards and other

possible documents

■ Flight ticket

■ Luggage correctly labeled

■ EF Confirmation letter & other

EF documents

■ Make sure all EF forms are complete,

especially the Health Certificate

■ Medical and travel insurance documents

■ Basic medical supplies, any medication

you take regularly and a spare pair of con-

tact lenses or glasses if you wear them.

■ An International Driving License if you are

planning on renting a car.

■ Local currency for first week and for any

learning materials that are not included in

the cost of the course.

■ Money in the form of an ATM card

(Automatic Transaction Card), credit cards

and/or traveler’s checks (Do NOT bring

large amounts of cash in any currency!).

■ Electric adaptor for any electrical appli-

ances you plan to bring with you.

■ Pencil and/or pen and notebook.

■ Items from your hometown or country so you can share your culture with friends, homestay hosts and teachers.

■ Personal sports equipment.

■ Favorite books, photos and a camera.

■ Homestay or student residence details and emergency numbers.

Homestay host’s or student residence name:

_________________________________________

Homestay host’s or student residence address:

_________________________________________

Homestay host’s or student residence telephone number(s):

_________________________________________

EF Sales Office telephone number:

_________________________________________

EF School telephone number:

+86-10-65630995-138_________________________________________

EF School emergency telephone number:

+86 13501259951_________________________________________

Additional notes or numbers:

_________________________________________

Homestay host’s or student residence address

_________________________________________

Homestay host’s or student residence telephone number(s)

_________________________________________

EF Sales Office telephone number

_________________________________________

EF School telephone number

_________________________________________

EF School emergency telephone number

_________________________________________