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 - April - May 2008
Inside this edition:
WLE Beijing - Mutianyu Great Wall
In March, WLE students had the opportunity to visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China. Built in 1404, it once served as the northern barrier to defend the capital and the imperial tombs against enemy invasion. Today, the Mutianyu section remains as one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall, making it an amazing sight and a popular place to visit.
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| Lisa and Jeremy (US) brave the stairs |
We climbed the Great Wall! |
Look how far we've climbed |
While some opted to take the cable car up to the Great wall, most students chose to take the hike up the stairs. The steep set of stairs posed a test to everyone's fitness, but in the end, everyone was rewarded with the magnificent sight of the Great Wall and the surrounding mountains.
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| WLE Students strike a pose atop the Great Wall |
The journey up was peppered with side stalls and plenty of tourists |
Lindsay (US) and Juan (MEX) |
Photo opportunities were abundant as students explored the wall and its many watch towers from the past. As students climbed further, they were given an excellent panoramic viewpoint whereby they could see the Great Wall stretch and meander endlessly through the mountain ranges.
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| The gang glowing after the trek down |
Jeremy, Lisa and Lindsay (US) |
Cooling down with ice-creams at the Great wall |
After students had appreciated the historical landmark, it was time to go back down. Again, some took the cable car back but most of the students found the toboggan slide too tempting of an option and enjoyed the exciting ride down. At the bottom, students bought souvenirs and snacks using their Mandarin skills, before it was time to hop back on the bus and go home. It was a tiring day, but everyone agreed that it was rewarding and an experience to remember. |
WLE Beijing - A Rickshaw through the Hutongs of Old Beijing
In late 19th century Beijing, citizens of high social status traveled through the city's many winding alleyways, also known as hutongs, in human-powered rickshaws. Once a mode of transport reserved for high-ranking officials, wealthy merchants and their families, rickshaws carried a very excited group of our own WLE students down an intricate of maze of hutongs surrounding the Drum and Bell Tower area.
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| Eileen (US) and Dafne (MEX) |
Michael (CAN) enjoying the rickshaw ride |
Gloria (Uganda) and Emily (US) |
Comfortably seated in two-wheeled carts adorned with red velvet and gold trimmings, WLE students were taken deep into the narrow and intertwining hutongs of Beijing's oldest neighborhood. There, we alighted our rickshaws and explored a traditional family courtyard residence once inhabited a family of wealthy merchants over a hundred years ago. Fascinated by the traditional Chinese architecture and surviving ancient furniture sprinkled around the home, students seized this opportunity to practice their Chinese by asking the guide and current home-owners about the history of the residence and the people who once lived in it.
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| Janine and Kevin (AUS) |
Traditional Drum demonstration |
The ancient meets the modern in the Drum Tower |
Later, we were taken to the Drum Tower - a 153 feet (46.7 meters) high ancient structure which once housed over 20 drums during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. To reach the top of the tower, we needed to climb sixty-nine excruciatingly angled concrete steps, after which we were well rewarded with a magnificent panorama of Beijing's sprawling landscape and an impressive traditional drum performance.
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| Mark (UK), Rodolfo (US), Joshua (US) and Kam (CAN) |
WLE Students in front of the Drum Tower |
Sebastian and Nikolas (GER) |
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WLE Quiz Night Raises Funds for Sichuan Earthquake Relief
For a long time now, an integral part of World Link Education's philosophy has been helping those in need. For the past five years, World Link Education's staff and students have helped organize events and raised funds for hundreds of impoverished schoolchildren and their families from the Xinxin Migrant School on the outskirts of Beijing.
On Tuesday May 20th, the school's efforts turned towards helping those affected by the devastating earthquake that rocked China's Sichuan province, organizing an Earthquake Awareness Charity Quiz to help raise much needed funds.
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| Quiz Nights are a great way to practice your Chinese |
Winning Team from the Wangjing Campus |
Instead of the usual prize of chocolates and gift vouchers, WLE offered to donate 100 RMB to the Red Cross China Earthquake Relief Fund for every correct answer made by the winning team. With this goal in mind, students arrived on the night with an air of determined hope and optimism to guess the most correct answers and raise more money to aid the many earthquake victims and their families.
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| WLE Students create colorful messages of support |
WLE's Earthquake Messages of Support Board |
Four hopeful teams racked their brains over four intense rounds of questions that put their general knowledge on earthquakes to the test. After the final round, teams “Dancing Iris” from the Wangjing campus and “The People” from the Soho campus emerged as the winners, helping raise over 12, 000 RMB in total for the Red Cross China Earthquake Relief Fund. WLE Students also wrote messages on pieces of colored paper and created a message wall in support for all those affected by the Earthquake.
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WLE Business Program - Understanding the Chinese mind and business culture
The WLE Business program was proud to welcome Geoff Baker and Helen Zhang Haihua, authors of the much talked about forthcoming book Think Like Chinese, to the latest round of Business seminars.
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| Alasdair (UK) with guest speaker Geoff Baker |
Guest speakers Geoff Baker and Helen Zhang |
WLE Business Program Students listen attentively |
WLE Business students listened attentively as Zhang and Baker combined their Chinese and Western perspectives to explain, in detail, common Chinese behaviors that may seem odd to non-Chinese. Both speakers brought a wealth of personal experience in contemporary Chinese business investment and management, sharing their experiences and observations with our students to provide strategies for overcoming such cultural barriers.
This insightful Business seminar was one in a long line of many in the WLE Business program that aims to provide our students with a better understanding of Chinese culture. Students left this seminar armed with ideas on how to apply this knowledge in their China dealings, whether doing business with Chinese suppliers or customers, working with a Chinese partner or managing Chinese employees.
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WLE Shanghai - Acrobatics Show
The Shanghai Yun Feng Acrobatics Troupe is famous for superbly combining the traditional with the modern to form a uniquely Shanghai style of acrobatics.
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| 8 Chairs, 5 Acrobats, One white Piano |
WLE students enjoying the performance |
The intricate Hanging Silk performance |
Having a strong team of performers, the troupe's program includes a variety of many wonderful acts and modern stagecraft, enhanced by amazingly sophisticated multimedia and lighting. WLE students were all impressed by performances such as Jjitsu, Balancing Chairs, Motorcycle Sphere and more, each of which left an indelible mark in their hearts. However, general consensuses dictated that the most beautiful and romantic act of all was the Silk Hanging Performance. With romantic music playing gently in the background, two performers told a love story through intricate and beautifully choreographed movements on hanging strips of magnificent silk. Without any safety measures, they presented all kinds of exciting and breathtaking poses in mid-air, inspiring gasps of amazement and loud applause from all of our WLE Students. At the end of the performance, our students left the theatre delighted to have witnessed such magnificent displays of ancient Chinese performance art on a modern stage.
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| Spinning Plates |
WLE Shanghai Students infront of the theatre |
Racing around the Motorcyle Sphere |
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Student Interview: Juan Pablo Ortiz Monasterio
 Name: Juan Pablo Ortiz Monasterio Padilla
Country of Residence: Beijing for the next 2 years, previously Mexico
Citizenship: Mexico
Profession: Marketing Manager
Educational Background:
Pilot's License, Bachelors degree in Business Administration, Masters in International Politics
Brief Work History: Marketing Manager at Cancun Airport
Languages Spoken:
Spanish, English, French, Portuguese
Hobbies:
Playing guitar, traveling, scuba diving, sky diving, partying
Is this your first time in China?
Yes.
How are you finding your studies in China?
Chinese is not always an easy language, but it's quite a rewarding one. For example, the first time I ever saw my homework written all in Chinese characters; it was a great feeling to realize that I had actually done it. Also, ever since I have been studying Chinese I've received a lot of job offers.
Have they been what you expected them to be?
The intensive program is great, it's a 100%! You cannot get more Chinese language learning than that in day. My teachers are always making sure that my grammar and pronunciation is right. Classes are well structured with 50 minute periods and 10 minute breaks. It's a well thought out program that runs at the right pace for students who want to learn Chinese fast. On average, my class goes through a book and a half per semester, which is a lot faster than other universities.
Also, the school environment is great. When I first arrived, I was worried that the school would be filled with only foreigners, which would make it hard for me to start mixing with the locals (and that's the best way to learn a language). After studying at this school however, I've actually made a lot of local Chinese friends on campus. The Student Exchange area (where students studying both Chinese and English at WLE have a chance to mingle and practice their speaking skills) is a great idea; so is having common cultural activities and events together.
Why did you decide to learn Chinese?
Chinese is quickly becoming one of the most important languages in the world, especially for business. In the future, you will no doubt hear more and more Chinese spoken around the world, so I believe, why not learn it now?
Why did you decide to come to China to learn Chinese?
When I learnt French, I was in Belgium studying the language in an immersion environment so learning Chinese in China was a natural decision.
How do you like Beijing?
I love Beijing even though living here is sometimes a real challenge. You have to get used to how certain things work here! The city never sleeps and it changes constantly.
How did you prepare for you trip to Beijing?
Since I was coming to a new country, I tried to be as receptive and understanding as possible. Maybe the locals won't understand some things that I do and maybe I won't understand some things that they do, but there's always a reason behind. It's always a good thing to be more tolerant and have an open mind if you want to enjoy a new country. Keeping an open mind here in Beijing has meant that I've even tried Chinese 'baijiu'.
What do you find most interesting in Beijing?
Apart from the fact that its been the heart of China for thousands of years, Beijing is now becoming a melting pot not only for foreigners but also for people from all over China. Living in Beijing has meant that I've met people from different provinces in China who speak Mandarin with different accents.
Tell us a few memorable experiences in Beijing/China?
I'll tell you about the first thing that ever happened to me in China. On my first night in China, I stayed in a hostel. It was 1am in the morning and I didn't have any water, so I asked the landlady if I could drink tap water and she said, “Yes, yes”. So I drank 3 glasses because I was quite thirsty. Later, I asked her where I could do my laundry, to which she also replied, "Yes, yes". And that's when I thought, "Oh no".
Don't worry though, because even after three glasses, I didn't get sick. I did learn, however, that I shouldn't assume like I usually do that people can speak English. After my first experience in China, I quickly recognized the importance of learning Chinese.
How has your experience in China changed you?
China is so different from anything I have ever seen that it has made me learn how to see things from different angles. For example, if there is a problem or situation, I try to see it from both western and Chinese perspectives because I find that the more angles you have, the easier a problem is to resolve. Also, my experience here in China has made me notice things that I didn't see before. I now enjoy a lot more than because I can understand the Chinese way of looking at things and how they feel.
What is the thing you like best about Beijing/China?
I am very surprised at how Chinese people are towards foreigners. I don't think I have ever been to another place where people have taken more pictures of me than here. Every time I've gone traveling, I get my picture taken with everyone which is so fascinating because back at home, if we see foreigners they're just foreigners, but here it's still such a novelty. I think I've been photographed more than Madonna. And it's always friendly and always done with a smile.
What is the weirdest thing you've found in China?
Confusing ‘Chinglish' signs; for example, I read one that said “Forbidden to non-smoking”. What does that mean? Should I smoke? Do I have to smoke?
Will you come to China/Beijing again?
Of course, if I could I would most definitely move here.
What advice/tips would you give to others who plan to come and study in China?
Bring your sense of humor because humor makes everything so much easier. Also, if you're in a rush, be prepared to be very patient. And lastly, always having a smile - it will open so many doors here in China.
Student Interview: Sarah Foster
 Name: Sarah Foster
Country of Residence: Australia
Citizenship: Australian
Profession: Student
Educational Background:
Still completing Bachelor degree
Brief Work History: Part-time waitress
Languages Spoken:
English
Hobbies:
Yoga
Is this your first time in China?
My second time. I spent a year in China in 2004, traveling and teaching English.
How are you finding your studies in China?
I decided to come study Chinese in China because I wanted to be immersed in the language. I am doing a homestay so I practise speaking with my homestay parents. The lessons are great.
Have they been what you expected them to be?
More or less. My teacher has been excellent! The school is smaller than I expected but that's understandable as the Shanghai branch is new.
How do you like Shanghai?
It's a fascinating and exciting city!
What do you find most interesting in Shanghai?
The astonishing speed of urban development! It's amazing. It's like watching the city grow around you. Everywhere there is a construction.
Tell us a few memorable experiences in Shanghai/China?
Being adopted by my homestay parents! They treat me like a daughter.
How has your experience in China changed you?
My Chinese has improved a lot.
What is the thing you like best about Shanghai/China?
Sanlitun and the blue WLE sofa.
Will you come to China/Shanghai again?
Most definitely!
What advice/tips would you give to others who plan to come and study in China?
Come! It's an amazing experience.
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