Language Tea Times at The Sigur Center

The Sigur Center Presents:
Language Tea Times!

Schedule:
Chinese:
October 2
October 23
November 13


When: 12:30 – 2:00 PM on Thursdays
Where: The Sigur Center for Asian Studies, 1957 E St, NW
Suite 503, the Chung-wen Shih Conference Room

These events are open to anyone who is interested in Japan, Korea, or China and/or wants to practice their language skills. Bring your lunch and practice your language skills with others, drink tea, learn about the culture, and talk about anything you want! Meet others who study these languages as well as native speakers! Light refreshments will be provided (including tea, of course!).

Please RSVP to gsigur@gwu.edu with your language and level.

Chinese Tutor at Language Center Available Now

Now you may have more assistance to enhance Chinese learning on campus! Chinese Tutor at Language Center is available now!



It is effective starting Monday, September 15th. They have a very large student staff this semester. This means lots of opportunities for you to come in for tutoring. Come visit the tutors who are nice and friendly. It's free and they can come any time a tutor is on the schedule. NO APPOINTMENTS ARE NEEDED.


Find the schedule here:
fall 2008 student schedule1.pdf

Coffee Hour Available Now

Tuesday (9/16) is the first Mt. Vernon Coffee Hour of this semester. Representatives for each language (for Chinese, Geng1Yun2 Wei4 Laoshi； 魏耕耘老师) will be there for conversation practice with students. Eckles Library2-3pm (Hebrew 2:30-3:30) Refreshments will be served.

There will be also coffee hour at 2:00-3:00 p.m. on 10/14, 11/11, and 12/9.

Take this chance to have more practice in Chinese! See you there!

Chin004 Spring 2008 Summer extra credit work

中文004 2008春季班
暑期加分作业

Instruction:
1. Read the text first. (David and Helen in China; DHC)
2. Write down your answers to the following questions using complete sentences, in handwriting, DOUBLE-SPACED. Handwriting helps you memorize much better than typing.
3. Bring this assignment to the the first class meeting of CHIN 105, Tuesday, September 2 or Wednesday September 3, depending on the section schedule.
4. Your instructor will give you bonus points depending on how well your assignment is done. The maximum extra credit will be two points, to be added to your final grade in CHIN105.
5. It is highly recommended that you self-study the remaining parts of the textbook, Lessons 16, 17, and 18, that we did not cover during the semester.
6. Please see the Chinese blog on the East Asian Languages and Literatures Department website for more online resources for Chinese language study.
7. The decision whether to award extra credit is subject to the instructor of CHIN105.

Feel free to ask if you have questions.
Have a nice and fruitful summer! Don’t forget your best friend-- Chinese!
暑假快乐！　多学、多复习，让你流利的中文能力保持下去！

魏老师J



第七课
1. 海琳想找房子的原因是什么？
2. 海琳是怎样找房子的？
3. 海琳觉得第一家怎么样？她为什么不要？
4. 第二家跟第一家有什么不同？为什么她喜欢第二家？
5. 请你介绍一下第二家公寓的每个条件，比方说：房东、环境、公寓里的情况等等。
6. 房东对她有什么要求？
7. 海琳最后的决定是什么？你想她会不会租？
8. 如果你找房子，你的要求是什么？
9. 要是你是房东找房客，你有什么要求？


第八课
1. 中秋节是一个什么样的节日？在什么时候？
2. 中秋晚会是谁主办（host）的？为什么要邀请其他学生参加？
3. 晚会上大为最高兴的是什么事？为什么说“他开始喜欢这里的生活了”？


第九课
1. 这家公司是做什么的？他们为什么要找一个中英文都流利的人？
2. 海琳的什么方面强，什么方面不强？她是怎么向经理说自己的能力的？
3. 既然海琳的中文能力并不够强，而且又没有经验，那经理为什么还同意雇她？
4. 海琳为什么愿意接受一个低一点儿的职务？你认为她这个决定做得对不对？


第十课
1. 中国的新年是怎么算的？为什么叫做春节？
2. 春节期间有些什么风俗习惯？这些风俗习惯是怎么来的？
3. 春节期间人们常吃什么东西？
4. 大为和海琳春节的时候有什么安排？



第十一课
1. 为什么大为要问刘东中国人社交方面的规矩？
2. 刘东认为什么方面大为应该注意？
3. “哪里哪里”是什么意思？什么时候可以说？
4. 为什么大为觉得去做客应该带点东西去？
5. 为什么刘东叫大为不要去晚了？
6. “怠慢了”是什么意思？什么时候说这样的话？


第十二课
1. 赵先生觉得海琳怎么样？他愿意不愿意海琳做他的儿媳妇？
2. 赵太太喜欢海琳吗？她有些什么想法？他愿意海琳做儿媳妇吗？
3. 海琳的伯母有什么想法？
4. 德生原来想象中的海琳是什么样的人？他现在的看法呢？
5. 海琳喜欢德生吗？德生跟她原来想象的有什么不同？
6. 如果你是德生，你会怎么想？如果你是海琳，你应该爱德生还是爱大为？

第十三课
1. 为什么大为对龙的印象最深？
2. 为什么王老师说龙的问题很复杂？
3. 为什么有人说龙跟闪电有关？为什么有人说龙跟动物有关？
4. 龙的形象有什么特点？这些特点是怎么来的？
5. 中国的皇帝为什么要把自己称做龙？
6. “望子成龙”是什么意思？


第十五课
1. 为什么大为每天要到布告栏去看几分钟？
2. 布告栏上贴着些什么？
3. “舞会通知”上说有什么舞会？什么时候举行？在哪里举行？
4. 写“征友启事”的是男性还是女性？有些什么要求？
5. 计算机班是为什么人开的？什么时候开始上课？
6. 家教启事上说为什么样的人补习或辅导？补习或辅导些什么？

Grants Available from Center for Undergraduate Fellowships and Research

Contact: Anne Ciechanowski
Coordinating Advisor
Center for Undergraduate Fellowships and Research
714 21st Street NW
202-994-0517
ciech@gwu.edu

Fulbright Teaching Assistantships – contact our office soon if you are interested!
Fulbright Research Grants – contact our office soon if you are interested!
Critical Language Scholarships for summer language study abroad
Freeman-Asia Study Abroad Scholarships
Gilman Study Abroad Scholarships
National Security Education Program Boren Undergraduate Scholarships for Study Abroad
National Security Education Program Boren Graduate Fellowships
Princeton in Asia
Rotary Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarships for Language Learning
Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships for Post-BA Graduate Study
Volunteers in Asia

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Fulbright Teaching Assistantships

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers graduating seniors and recent graduates hundreds of 8- to 12-month Teaching Assistantship grants to the following countries: Andorra, Argentina, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Nepal, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovak Republic, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, Uruguay, Venezuela
GW Deadline: September 5, 2008 – Get in touch with our office soon if you are an interested junior or senior!

Fulbright Research Grants

The U.S. Fulbright program offers graduating seniors and recent graduates over 1000 9- to 12-month research grants to over 140 countries around the world. Applicants may propose library or field research, university course work, independent projects – read the Program Overview to learn more. Ten research grants are available to Korea for the 2009-2010 academic year.
GW Deadline: September 5, 2008 – Get in touch with our office soon if you are an interested junior or senior!

Critical Language Scholarships

Sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the Council of American Overseas Research Centers, the Critical Language Scholarships Program offers intensive overseas study in the critical need foreign languages of Arabic, Bangla/Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Turkish and Urdu. The Program is part of the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI), a U.S. government interagency effort to expand dramatically the number of Americans studying and mastering critical need foreign languages. Scholarship recipients receive full funding to participate in beginning, intermediate and advanced level summer language programs at American Overseas Research Centers and affiliated partners. Recipients are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship period and later apply their critical language skills in their professional careers.
Deadline: January 2009

Freeman-Asia Study Abroad Scholarships

The primary goal of the Freeman-Asia Program is to increase the number of American undergraduates who study in East and Southeast Asia, by providing students with the information and financial assistance they will need. You must have applied or have been accepted to a country-based study abroad program from among the following countries/regions: Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. Awardees are expected to share their experiences with their home campus to encourage study abroad by others and to spread understanding of Asia in their home communities. Awards range from $3000 to $7000, depending on the length of study. Awards total up to $5,000-7,000 per semester/year.
Deadline: October 15, 2008 for study abroad during the Spring 2009 semester

Gilman Scholarship Program for Study Abroad

The Gilman Scholarship Program broadens the student population that studies abroad by supporting undergraduates who have been traditionally underrepresented in US study abroad and those with high financial need. A student must be a Federal Pell Grant recipient at the time of the term abroad to qualify for the award. The program aims to encourage students to choose non-traditional study abroad destinations, especially those outside of Western Europe and Australia. The program seeks to assist students from a diverse range and type of two-year and four-year public and private institutions from all 50 states. Additional Critical Language Stipends are available for students studying Critical Needs Languages, such as Korean. Awards are for up to $5,000 with an additional $3,000 Critical Language Stipend possible.
Deadline: October 7, 2008 for study abroad during the Spring 2009 semester

National Language Flagship Fellowship
Through an innovative partnership between the federal government, education, and business, The Language Flagship seeks to graduate students who will take their place among the next generation of global professionals, commanding a superior level of fluency in a language critical to U.S. competitiveness and security. NSEP offers a limited number of full fellowships to qualified American students to participate in one of the Flagship Programs, which are comprised of two year-long domestic and overseas components. Language Flagship Programs are offered for Arabic, Chinese, Hindi/Urdu, Korean, Persian/Farsi, and Eurasian Languages (Russian, Central Asian).
Service requirement: Recipients incur a service requirement – to serve in a paid position of the recipient’s choice in a national security-related government field – no shorter than the length of their award
Deadline: Mid-January 2009

National Security Education Program David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarship for Study Abroad
The NSEP David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships offer a unique opportunity for U.S. undergraduates to study abroad in regions critical to U.S. interests - including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America & the Caribbean, and the Middle East. (The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded.) NSEP defines national security broadly, recognizing that its scope has expanded to include not only traditional concerns of protecting and promoting American well-being, but also the challenges of global society, including: sustainable development, environmental degradation, global disease and hunger, population growth and migration, and economic competitiveness. NSEP emphasizes the importance of language study as a major component of your study abroad program. Awards total up to $8,000 per summer and $10,000 per semester of study.
Service requirement: Recipients incur a service requirement – to serve in a paid position of the recipient’s choice in a national security-related government field – no shorter than the length of their award
Deadline: Mid-January 2009

National Security Education Program David L. Boren Graduate Fellowship
The National Security Education Program's (NSEP) David L. Boren Graduate Fellowships enable U.S. graduate students to add an important international and language component to their graduate education through specialization in area study, language study, or increased language proficiency. NSEP supports students studying languages, cultures, and world regions other than Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Boren Fellowships are intended to support U.S. graduate students who will pursue the study of languages and cultures deemed critical to U.S. national security, and who are highly motivated by the opportunity to work in the federal government. Fellowships enable students representing a broad range of disciplines to add a significant language and international dimension to their curricula. Students already enrolled in internationally oriented programs are encouraged to intensify their study of areas, languages, and cultures through overseas study and domestic tuition support.
Service requirement: Recipients incur a service requirement – to serve in a paid position of the recipient’s choice in a national security-related government field – no shorter than the length of their award
Deadline: Late January 2009

Princeton in Asia

Princeton in Asia provides approximately 80 seniors or recent graduates with a year-long teaching or workplace fellowship with partner schools and organizations in the following countries: Cambodia, P. R. China, East Timor, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
Deadline: Early December 2008

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships

Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships provide funding for one academic year of study in another country for recent graduates. This award is intended to help cover round-trip transportation, tuition, fees, room and board expenses, and some educational supplies up to US$25,000 or its equivalent. Academic-Year Scholarships are the most common type of scholarship offered.
Deadline: Varies by Rotary Club; March-June 2009

Rotary Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarships

Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarships are for either three or six months of intensive language study and cultural immersion in another country and provide funds to cover round-trip transportation, language training expenses, and homestay living arrangements up to US$12,000 and US$19,000, respectively. Applications are considered for candidates interested in studying Arabic, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, and Swedish.
Deadline: Varies by Rotary Club; March-June 2009

Volunteers in Asia

VIA offers opportunities for approximately 40-50 college graduates to teach in China, Indonesia, Laos, and Vietnam for 1-2 years. Other opportunities include Community Fellowships available for work in Vietnam. Volunteers work either as English teachers at educational institutions or as English resource volunteers with local non-profit organizations. Applicants should be English-fluent college graduates living in the US who are excited about a new set of challenges and a new world of opportunity across the Pacific. Previous in-country experience is not required.
Deadline: Mid-February 2009

Anne Ciechanowski
Coordinating Advisor
Center for Undergraduate Fellowships and Research
714 21st Street NW
202-994-0517
ciech@gwu.edu
www.gwu.edu/~fellcent

HSK information

HSK Organizer and Certificate Issuer　　

The CNCCPT Office and the HSK Center of BLCU (Beijing Language and Culture University) are both in charge of the HSK affairs.

The HSK Test　　

To be admitted to the test room, every examinee will be required to present his or her admission ticket and a photo-bearing ID (U.S. Driver’s License, ID card, passport, or a residence permit). No candidates will be allowed to enter the test room without the afore-mentioned two evidences. The candidates whose admission ticket is missing can only be admitted to the test room after the ticket is reissued (with handling charges). Tape recorders, cameras, dictionaries, notebooks, textbooks, and other unnecessary objects are not allowed in the room. Mobile phones shall be switched off and put away, and all bags will be placed at an area designated by the exam coordinators. 　　

Candidates arriving five minutes late (from the start of the listening comprehension test) may be admitted to the testing room and begin the test right away. If examinees are 5 to 35 minutes late for the test, they may not start until the next section begins, and no extra test time is to be offset for late arrivals. 35 minutes after the beginning of the exam, no candidates will be admitted to the test room.

Things to note during the test

　　（1）Once in the test room, candidates shall put the admission ticket and the ID item on the upper right corner of the desk for inspection. All the activities of the candidates are subject to the instructions of the supervisor. 　　

（2）Duration for HSK (Basic – Beginning) is about 135 minutes; HSK (Elementary-Intermediate) about 145 minutes without break; and HSK (Advanced) about 180 minutes with a break after the written test. In principle, candidates shall not leave the test room during the course of the test. If so under some exceptional circumstances, the candidate shall gain the permission from the supervisor. 　　

（3）HSK has strict control of the time limits for each section of the test, and candidates shall answer the corresponding test questions within a given time period and avoid jumping to the later sections or turning back to the previous ones during the test.

　 （4）Candidates shall not take the test papers or answer sheets out of the room, or tear apart, replace, or copy the contents of the test.

　　（5）Candidates shall abide by the test instructions and rules and those who violate the rules will be warned and not even allowed to continue the test by the organizer.

(6) No hats, pagers, beepers, watches with alarms, access to book bags, etc. during the test.

Chinese Proficiency Test (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi; HSK)

HSK
Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi Chinese Proficiency Test

2008 HSK Test Dates at the University of Maryland:
Sunday, May 18, 9 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 19, 9 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Holzapfel Hall, Room 0134
http://www.hsk.org.cn/english; and go to “test info”
HSK General Introduction　　 China's Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi, known as HSK, or the Chinese Proficiency Test, is a standardized test at the state level designed and developed by the HSK Center of Beijing Language and Culture University to assess the Chinese proficiency of non-native speakers (foreigners, overseas Chinese, and students of Chinese national minorities).
HSK consists of the basic Chinese proficiency test (HSK Basic), the elementary and intermediate Chinese proficiency test (HSK Elementary-Intermediate), and the advanced Chinese proficiency test (HSK Advanced). HSK is held regularly in China and other countries each year. Certificates of HSK will be issued to those who have secured the required scores.　　 The Chinese Ministry of Education has established China National Committee for Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK)(CNCCPT). The Committee is the supervisor of HSK and the issuer of the Chinese proficiency certificates. CNCCPT has an office called Office of China National Committee for Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK), which takes care of the HSK affairs with the HSK Center, BLCU.
About Applicants of HSK　　 HSK (Basic, or Beginning) applies to those learners with basic Chinese proficiencies, namely, those who have taken 100 to 800 hours of regular modern Chinese learning (including those with equivalent learning experiences).
HSK (Elementary – Intermediate) is for those who are at the elementary and intermediate level in Chinese proficiency, i.e. those who have taken 400-2000 regular hours of modern Chinese courses (including those whose proficiency in Chinese is similar to that standard).
The HSK (Advanced) is designed to measure the Chinese proficiency of those who are proficient in Chinese, i.e. who have taken 3000 regular hours or more modern Chinese learning (including those whose proficiency in Chinese is similar to that standard).
Functions of HSK Certificates　　（1）to certify that the holder has acquired the required Chinese Proficiency to enter a Chinese college or university as an undergraduate or graduate student.　　（2）to certify that the holder can be exempt from taking a certain Chinese language course depending on the level of certification.　　（3）as a basis for employers to evaluate the Chinese proficiency of job applicants.
Preparation for HSK　　 As a standardized test of general language proficiency, HSK is not based on any particular textbook or course of study. Therefore candidates may refer to any textbook in preparing for the test. Nevertheless, it is important that all candidates read the HSK Test Syllabus carefully, a guide for the pre-test preparation.

The Basic-“Beginning” HSK Chinese Proficiency Test
Sections
Question Number
Duration
1　Listening
1-50
Approx. 35 mins.
2　Grammar
51-90
40 minutes
3　Reading
91-140
60 minutes
There are no true breaks allowed during the test unless circumstances are urgent.
The Elementary -“Intermediate” HSK Chinese Proficiency Test
Sections
Question Number
Duration
1 Listening
1-50
About 35 minutes
2 Grammar
51-80
20 minutes
3 Reading
81-130
60 minutes
4 Cloze Test
131-170
30 minutes
There are no true breaks allowed during the test unless circumstances are urgent.
The Advanced HSK Chinese Proficiency Test
HSK (Advanced) comprises the following three independent tests: a 120-minute written test, a writing test and an oral test. There are 3 sections in the 120-minute written subtest as specified below:
Section
Question Number
Duration
1 Listening
1-40
Approx. 30 min
2 Reading
41-55
15 minutes
56-80
25 minutes
3 Cloze
81-120
40 minutes
A ten-minute break after the end of the written test will be taken before the writing and oral tests. The duration of the writing test is 30 minutes, when candidates are to finish a composition of 400 to 600 words.
The oral test will take 20 minutes, of which 10 minutes is set for the preparation and the other ten for the interview. In the first 2 minutes of the interview candidates will read aloud a passage and then answer two given questions, each taking about 3 minutes.
http://www.hsk.org.cn/english; and go to “test info”