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WLE Newsletter Oct - Nov 1999
Inside this edition:
 China's 50th Anniversary National Day Celebrations
Staff News
Student Focus - Laurent Mayer, Belgium (One year)
And Rebecca Adams, USA (One Semester) China Business Seminars
Language Immersion Activities, Seminars & Workshops
China Business Studies
Up & Coming events - Christmas in China (December)
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National Day Celebrations on the 1st of October commemorated fifty years since the founding of the People's Republic of China (1949 to 1999. Grand celebrations were held from the 1st October thru the week. To the right are examples of 2 out of the 56 stamp collection depicting the different Chinese nationalities. The stamp collection was released during the celebrations, and entitled "Happy Solidarity of All Nationalities". Unity and celebration by the various Chinese nationalities dancing and singing jubilantly celebrating this auspicious day are depicted. The stamps are designed by artists Ms. Jing Xiang and Ms. Zhou Xiu Qing.
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WLE CURRENT STUDENT COMPOSITION
WELCOME to our one year, semester and twelve week students from the US, UK, Belgium, Down Under (Australia), Hong Kong, Japan, Holland, Switzerland, Israel and France.
STAFF NEWS
NEW STAFF - A very warm welcome to CARMEL BYRNE, from sunny Queensland, Australia. Carmel is our Programs Director with extensive teaching experience. She has taught in Australia for over 20 years and previously worked in London as a magazine feature writer. She initially came to China to study on our WLE program in September '98 (re-enrolling in our December and February intakes) and has had experience teaching English to the local Chinese. We are delighted to have you on board Carmel!
CHEN LEI our Martial Arts advisor began his journey learning Martial Arts at the tender age of eight in the famous Shaolin Temple. An expert in wushu, he has been awarded two National Championship titles. He provides valuable assistance to WLE students giving them tips and extra tuition after class. Wo men huan ying ni!
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WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT - Congratulations to the newly weds - Hawk & Patricia. The happy date was on 21st October in Jilin Province. Two years ago, the couple met at the Language university, when Patricia decided to leave France to study Chinese. The Sino-French relationship bloosomed resulting in the heaven-made union. From all of us at WLE, "chu ni men bai tou dao lao".
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LANGUAGE EXCHANGE EVENTS
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LEP MEET - Newly arrived students were introduced to WLE's Chinese students participating in the Language Exchange Program. The welcome dinner was attended by 46 excited students mingling with one another. Scrumptious Chinese food was served whilst the students gathered in the spirit of language and cultural exchange!
JIAOZI WORKSHOP - Bao jiao zi! The aroma filled the kitchen as students excitedly gathered in the kitchen ready to put their cooking skills to test. From mixing the ingredients, rolling out the dough, wrapping the dumplings thru to cooking the dumplings - the art of making jiaozi was lots of fun.
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LANGUAGE & CULTURAL IMMERSION ACTIVITIES - A kaleidescope of recent activities
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Hanzi Writing Workshop with Zhang Lao Shi
Social - Peking Duck Feast
Cooking - Bao Jiao Zi
Chinese Traditional Massage Seminar
Music - Learn Chinese Songs Workshop
Tours - Summer Palace & Old Summer Palace
Chinese Calligraphy Writing Workshop
Chinese Traditional Medicine Seminar
Music - Gu Zheng Workshop
Tours - Mutianyu Great Wall
Chinese Painting Workshop
Social Night Downtown
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SUMMER STUDENTS FAREWELL - at the Red Capital Club
Summer '99 was a busy time for the WLE Team with a total of 84 students for the 4 week, 10 week and 12 week course. They came from countries the US, Australia, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Czech Republic, Turkey, New Zealand and Hong Kong (SAR). Our last newsletter featured their classes, tours, cultural and social events. The farewell held at Red Capital Club (22nd August) was a unique and memorable sendoff. The club is located amongst old Beijing hutongs, in a beautifully renovated and restored courtyard elegantly decorated with Chinese antiques and Communist China memorabilia. We were entertained by our choir of students singing songs they had learnt at Singing Workshops and Jason performing his Long Fist wushu performance. Elaborately decorated dishes that were favourites of communist leaders and other delicacies were savoured. It was the ideal setting for a farewell, uniquely capturing the ambience of Old China. Thank you Laurence, Vivian and staff of the Red Capital Club, "the only club dedicated to the capitalist in us all".
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STUDENT FOCUS
Our current students Laurent, Rebecca and Erling have their say -
sharing their first impressions, experiences and views on the course program.
ONE YEAR PROGRAM - LAURENT MAYER, Trader (Belgium)
Laurent was working as head of the trading department of a steel company prior to joining us in Beijing. Below are his views during the first few weeks into the WLE's course program.
On the way here I had no fears. My attitude was if there was no one to pick me up, I would find my way. I arrived on the 31st August and Coco from World Link was there at the airport. She was friendly and nice and gave me a good impression. I was checked into the hotel where I am staying. It is good - clean..this is most important.
Why I came. I decided to quit my job and travel. I believe China is the Future. I thought even if I do not like it, the one year would be an interesting experience. But already I have decided I want to stay in China after the one year course.
Chinese Language & Writing. When I first came here I could speak NOTHING. Not even "Ni hao". The WLE writing workshop teaches you how to write basic characters. Before the actual course starts at university, it prepares you and makes life easier. It is intense. From 20 up to 30 new words each session. What I love about this is that it is a mini United Nations. Up to now I have had five Chinese Language classes and it is too early to say but everything depends on you. You only have the limits you fix yourself. I know I will have to work a lot.
Language Exchange. I enjoy the Language Exchange Partners Program. My partner is Emily. It is very useful. First, you can review what you have learnt in class. But also what interests me is the culture exchange. You can discuss matters and exchange ideas.
Shanghai I went to Shanghai for the weekend to celebrate Jewish New Year in a synagogue.
It was really humid and hot. I flew with Air China - big planes and safe but the delays were a nightmare.
Touch Rugby I have not done any sports for the past three years except scuba diving once a year. Now, I have two ambitions: First, learn Chinese and secondly, improve my physical condition. I am playing with the WLE Touch Rugby team. It is a lot of fun, a great way to meet other people and socialize. Up to now my most difficult experience is learning the Chinese language and I am confident that I will!!
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ONE SEMESTER PROGRAM - REBECCA ADAMS, Nurse (US)
Rebecca holds a degree in Oriental Medicine. She shares her first month's experiences.
How It All Began. I was looking for an organization that would take care of arrangements for me - from meeting me at the airport to registering class. Everything I was looking for I found in WLE's description. I had no fears on the plane other than what if no one showed up at the airport. Jack was right there and he took me to the campus, showed me around and checked me into my dorm.
Classes & Activities I do not speak any Chinese, so I am in the Beginners class. It moves at a good pace. There is a lot to learn and sometimes overwhelming but you can study in the afternoons and catch up. You only understand a little in the beginning as the teachers speak in Chinese. When they speak slowly it's exciting to understand what they are saying. I love the Chinese Character workshops held by WLE in the afternoon that has been a huge help for my characters in class. I knew nothing about radicals and I felt that I had a head start over my classmates.
(WLE holds supplementary Chinese character workshops in the afternoons for its students, taught by experienced teachers who also speak English. These workshops introduce the radical system and basic characters. The regular university course does not include this in its curriculum)
I enjoy the singing classes - it makes Chinese more accessible. In the US you can study but cannot immerse yourself in Chinese Language and Culture. I have done some travelling. Having World Link arrange tours is great. All we do is show up!
Food. I was amazed to see that nearby supermarkets are similar to what we have at home - pretty much everything that I had forgotten to bring. It is also amusing that eating out is cheaper than cooking your won. I was concerned with the variety of food at first but there is so much available.
My goal is to get into a cab and be comfortable getting around by myself. My advice is China is the best place to do it. And when you have no other worries because everything else is taken care of, you can really focus on your studies!
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TAILORED PROGRAMS - ERLING JACOBSEN, Journalist (Denmark)
I knew I had to stay in Beijing for at least one month while I was arranging papers for my job here in China. I wanted to combine my "fight with the bureaucrats" with learning some Mandarin. I did not know where to find a school able to tailor a one month-course for me.
I did hold any expectations at all when I arrived a month ago. I knew I could expect anything. And I found very able and kind people who had organized a good program for me. Today ?one month after my arrival, I don't speak Mandarin. But I can say some words and make some sentences and I can understand something, when Chinese are speaking to me. Yesterday I corrected a Chinese when he spoke with his wife on the telephone. I was able to understand he gave wrong information. He, a friend for 10 years is sure I now understand everything he says in Chinese! It means that after one month a middle-aged man with no flair for language has got an idea of the language and a fundament for further study of the Chinese language. That is quite something and much more than I expected!
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CHINA BUSINESS STUDIES
WLE's September China Business Studies commenced with twenty students undertaking the six week intensive course. We take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the following corporations and representatives for their participation.
Beijing Pernod Ricary Winery Agronomical Engineer, Jerome Sabate & Sales and Marketing Manager, Louis Jin
Eastline Entertainment Managing Partner, Cory Vietor
Ericsson Production Manager, Roul Siverts
IKEA Beijing Store Manager, Gordon Gustavsson
Scandinavian Furniture General Manager, Patrik Clavenstam
Standard Chartered Bank Business Development Manager, Patrick Freymond
Symantec Vice-President of Sales & Marketing (Asia Pacific), Garry Sexton & Country Manager for China, Daniel Cheng
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