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August - September 2007
Inside this edition:
WLE Summer Program: Climbing the Great Wall of China @ Mutianyu
When studying in China, it is an absolute must that you visit the Great Wall of China and today, our Summer Program students had the opportunity to do just that. Our journey on this hot summer's day took us to Mutianyu, one of the most well preserved and popular sections of the Wall. Although well informed by our tour guide about the Wall's 500 years of history, nothing could prepare us for the spectacular views that we were about to witness.
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Chris (Australia) contemplating
the beauty of the Wall |
On our way to the Great Wall |
After climbing the colossal number of stairs, we finally arrived on the top of this wonderful architectural relic! With an excellent panoramic viewpoint, we could see the Great Wall wind and stretch itself across mountain-tops, leaving a majestic trail as far as the eye could see.
With the hot sun beating down on us, many decided to take the cable-car back to the bottom of the mountain, whilst others seeking more adventurous means took the toboggan slide back down to civilization. All in all, it was a tiring yet rewarding afternoon for all students who no doubt will forever remember their first experience at China's most iconic tourist destination.
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Our students strike a pose
on top of the Great Wall |
Rowan (UK), Colin (US) and our WLE staff
Rocky posing for an Asian style picture |
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WLE Shanghai: Karaoke & Chinese Songs Elective
"I really enjoyed it. This is a great way to learn about Chinese Culture and Art." - Helene (Cyprus)
Putting your name down for the WLE Chinese Songs Elective means that you get a once in the life time opportunity to observe, learn about and partake in the crazy world of Chinese pop-culture.
Organized by the wonderful staff at WLE, this elective taught us many a useful thing or two about local music knowledge, such as how to discern between the many styles of Chinese music, from the beautifully melancholic traditional tunes to the latest Jay Chou single to hit the waves.
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Juan (Colombia) and Erik (US)
listening carefully to Ma Laoshi's explanations |
WLE's Chinese Songs Elective Class
gather around for a song |
One of the most memorable aspects of the elective would have to be towards the end of the program, when the soulful Ma Laoshi treated us all to a night out at Big Echo, the most famous Karaoke joint in Shanghai. There, sitting together in our very own private Karaoke lounge, it wasn't just fun and giggles but an opportunity to put our newly learnt Chinese vocabularies to practice in a real life situation. For most of us, it was the first time we had entered an authentic Chinese-style Karaoke venue and needless to say, we were all left bedazzled and yearning to return for a round of encore performances.
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Big Echo - Shanghai's
most famous karaoke bar |
Chen Laoshi and Kaspar
(Singapore) singing a duo |
This immensely interactive elective gave us a chance to swap more conventional styles of learning for one with a more refreshingly modern twist - without compromising our Chinese Language goals. In the end, this elective enabled us not only to build new Chinese vocabularies but also allowed us to experience Chinese culture from an exciting and immensely entertaining perspective. In fact, to top it all off, one might even say that we each walked away with a little local music "cred".
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Doug (US) and Kaspar (Singapore)
belting out a tune @ Big Echo |
Practicing our singing skills
outside of a classroom @ Big Echo |
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WLE Beijing Social Event: Mid-Autumn Festival
On a fine evening outside the Wangjing campus, the Mid Autumn Festival was celebrated by World Link and Chinese students in style. The festival which is said to commemorate the autumn harvest, is known best for one delicacy, the Moon Cake, of which there was plenty going around on this night.
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Our students model a plate of some
very delectable-looking Moon Cakes |
Want more Moon Cakes, anyone? |
The night began with a performance of "The Story of Houyi and Chang'e: the legend of the Mid-Autumn Festival". The World Link students under the guidance of Li Rong Rong Laoshi entertained us all with a modern day interpretation of such a well-loved Chinese legend, using a script almost entirely written in Mandarin.
What resulted was a hilarious display of melodrama and fashion mishaps. However, full marks go to the students for both their excellent melodramatic performances and superb deliverance of Mandarin dialogue.
Then the other classes entertained us with songs, such as Zhao Peng You (Looking for a friend), and Da Zhong Guo (Grand China). Those who knew the words sang along, others hummed along politely, but all enjoyed.
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Chen Dongyen Laoshi's class sings
Zhao Peng You (Looking for a Friend) |
Lu Laoshi's class sings
Liang Zhi Laohu (Two Tigers) |
Then it was time to learn how to make the ever-popular Moon Cake. Our Master Chef Pan Shi Fu showed us all how these delicacies are crafted, before some of the students had a turn themselves.
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WLE Students gather in the cafeteria
for the Moon Cake demonstration |
Master Chef Pan Shifu hard at work |
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Pan Shifu teaches Luisa (Columbia)
the secret of Moon Cake making |
Pan Shi Fu rests while
a Real Life English Student
displays her handiwork
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The next event was the ever-popular Moon Cake eating competition. Here, students paired up, and with one blind folded, the other stuffed Moon Cake into their mouth. The winner being the first to finish three Moon Cakes, a task that is easier said than done. Congratulations to our winners, WLE students Dan and Owen, who were then given the grand prize; a box of Moon Cakes.
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WLE Students enjoying the night's
Mid-Autumn festivities |
Let the Great Moon Cake
eating competition begin! |
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Jeremy (US) feeds Moon Cake to
Giovanni (Netherlands) |
Dan (Australia) and Owen (US) - winners
of the Moon Cake eating competition |
Then last but not least for the night was the competition for a trip to Shanghai. Students were asked to guess how many Moon Cake slices were in a jar. However, there could only be one winner and that was Camilla. Congratulations to her and we hope she has a good time in Shanghai. As for the rest of us that attended that night, it was a great night enjoyed by over 70 World Link students.
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WLE Shanghai: Huangpu River Excursion
After our first week of class, WLE organized an excursion for the students to meander along the two sides of the Huangpu River.
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On our way to the East
side of the Huangpu River |
The Ultimate Shanghai photo |
Under the guidance of the knowledgeable Mr. Alex Xue, we first walked along the magnificent Bund, listened to the history of Shanghai and fell in love with its old-world European styled architecture. The Bund is a really impressive street and no doubt, unlike another in the world!
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Group picture in front of the Bund |
Then, after walking down the riverside promenade, we had the chance to take a ferry across the Huangpu River. Crossing the river took only a couple of minutes and it was a real pleasure to be flanked by a view of both sides and to feel the air billowing through our hair.
After the ferry ride, we stopped over to visit the modern symbol of Shanghai City - The Pearl Tower. We were all so excited to be able to visit such a well-known attraction! Standing at an impressive height of 468 meters, Shanghai's Pearl Tower is the tallest TV tower in Asia and the third highest building in the world. It was hard to find the appropriate words to describe the feelings that overwhelmed us while we stood on the top of the Pearl Tower looking down onto Shanghai City! I think it's safe to say that every student left the Tower that day with a picture of the building that Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise jumped off in Mission Impossible 3. Our first visit of Shanghai was really unforgettable!
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Can't wait to go up the third
tallest TV tower in the world! |
Helene (Cyprus) and Sara (Sweden)with
two of the tallest towers of Luijiazui,
the financial district
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WLE Business Course : Insight into the Environmental Industry of China
Participants from WLE's most recent Business Program intake had a chance to visit the Beijing Lunan Wastewater Operation Co. Ltd., a water-waste treatment plant in the Lu Gou Qiao District. Beijing Lunan is the only plant opened to foreign investment in this industry in Beijing and is the result of a highly successful joint venture between a French multinational company, Veolia Water and a Hong-Kong based company, the Kerry Group.
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Group Picture at the
Wastewater treatment plant |
Hugo, Alex (Spain) and Rowan (UK)
listening carefully to Gaoqiong, technical GM |
During this event, Mr. Ethan Pang, the Finance and Administrative Deputy Manager, warmly welcomed the group and took them on an on-site tour of the workplace. The tour not only provided our Business Program participants with information about the everyday operation of the treatment plant but also gave them essential insight into legal, production and quality issues as well as information regarding management systems and staff training.
Ms Gao Qiong, the Technical Deputy Manager, then took the group through different sections of the plant, such as the control room where the mechanics behind water treatment controls was laid bare for all to see. Wandering through the different parts of the plant, the group witnessed the plant's many water processing systems, in which organic matter is removed and nitrogen and phosphorus concentration levels are reduced.
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Rinnie (Indonesia) and Rowan (UK)
in front of the administrative building |
Alex (Spain) interested
in how the plant operates |
It was an enormously insightful and interesting experience to learn how a multinational company such as Veolia Water operates in China and be able to observe the ways in which such a reputable company localizes its own procedures for more efficiency.
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The Beijing Acrobatic Show - "An exhibition of extraordinary talent!"
One of the great spectacles of the possibilities of the human body is on display at the Beijing Acrobatics Show, tonight our WLE students got a chance to witness such a wonder.
Chinese acrobatics originated from daily chores or work that was performed on a daily basis by farmers. On this evening at Chaoyang Theatre, WLE students witnessed a show like no other, with performers as young as 7 years old twisting and balancing their bodies.
Everyone had their own highlights of the show, but all were in awe at the diversity and skill on display. From the strength and athleticism of the male performers, to the grace and balance of the female performers, the show incorporated Chinese culture with dance, music, and acrobatics.
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Student interview : Sandy Yuen
Name: Sandy Y.S.YUEN
Country of Residence:
Germany
Citizenship: USA
Profession: Solicitor, Hong Kong SAR
Educational Background: LLB (PCLL), Hong Kong University
Languages Spoken: German, English, Cantonese
Hobbies: Traveling and exploring different countries, meeting their
people and culture; Golf; Wakeboarding; Kickboxing; Yoga
Is this your first time in China?
No, I have been living in Hong Kong for more than ten years
and now Mainland China from various short visits in the past.
Why did you decide to participate in the Chinese Language and China Business Program?
I am planning to work in China. I believe it is very important to master the Chinese language to a competent level. WLE's Chinese Language and China Business Program gave me the chance to learn more about Chinese culture, ethic-system and customs.
How are you finding your studies in China?
WLE's Chinese Language course has really given me a fantastic foundation for my Chinese studies. I really appreciate the company's efforts in providing such good service towards all their students.
How do you like Beijing?
I love this city for its culturally-rich and distinctively Chinese personality. Although, I feel I need to mention that it is becoming increasingly more cosmopolitan and I love that.
What do you find most interesting in Beijing?
I love the city's historical monuments and areas. I find it so charming the way that Chinese people still live and practice very Chinese customs and habits.
Tell us a few memorable experiences in Beijing/China?
The WLE Program and its ideal environment allowed me to learn the language within a short time (3 months).
How has your experience in China changed you?
My experience in Beijing/China has confirmed my wishes and future plans to come back to China to work. I now really have a strong urge to explore more about the culture and history of my family roots and 'my people'.
Will you come to China/Beijing again?
Yes!
What advice/tips would you give to others who plan to come and study in China?
Don't come to China with the expectation that you will 'live the same life' as in your home country. Instead, if you come with an open heart and eyes you will never forget the time you have spent in China.
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Student interview : Doug Sandler
Name: Doug Sandler
Country of Residence: China
Citizenship: USA
Profession: Sales & Marketing
Educational Background:
B.A. Spanish Washington University
M.A. Middlebury College
M.B.A. Emory University, Goizueta Business School
Brief Work History: 7 years at Newell Rubbermaid
Languages Spoken: Spanish & English
Hobbies: Sailing, hockey, traveling
Is this your first time in China?
No. I've come to China many times for work.
How are you finding your studies in China?
After coming to China so much for work, I am thrilled to finally be learning Chinese. I think the beginner class has the perfect mix of both challenging and fun content. As a beginner, the little I have learned so far has already been so useful to me, and I still a have a few weeks left to learn more. My teacher is a great teacher and also speaks perfect English. He is patient, manages direction and flow of the class well, and makes learning a lot of fun. The text book is a great text book and I plan on buying the second volume to take back to the States with me when I go.
Have they been what you expected them to be?
How can anything be as you expect it in China? My host family has gone above and beyond what I expected, many times over. This trip would have been great without them, but they have turned a great experience into an incredible one. I have noticed that once you get to know people here, they are exceptionally friendly and hospitable.
How do you like Shanghai?
Shanghai is such a crazy and lively city. Living one day in Shanghai means that you can experience the fast-paced East-meets-West, dynamic atmosphere of one of the world's pre-eminent cities.
What do you find most interesting in Shanghai?
There is so much to do and see and experience here, I feel as though you could never do it all even if you stayed here for 5 years.
How has your experience in China changed you?
I now feel at ease traveling in Asia, whether I understand the language or not. In China, I feel I have come to understand people and can now relate to them in ways I never could before.
What is the thing you like best about Shanghai/China?
My host family and my language classes.
Will you come to China/Shanghai again?
You bet!
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