Darrol in China

September 2, 2005

From the Resident Director at Peking University to the International Program students:

2005-6 Cohort Members:
    I realize that many of you are quite frustrated because most of the information and announcements from the PKU Chinese language center have been circulated in Chinese without translation, leading to some of you missing some of ther requirement procedures. Unfortunately, we the RDs are not in the pipeline of information, either. I do not have the information in advance to alert you. Yes, you are right: if you can read all these announcements in Chinese, you don't need to be here to study Chinese.
    
Maybe it is also the typical old-fashion way of learning: swim or sink. Or maybe it is another time-honored approach in language acquisition: immersion until you're familiar with it, without the translating medium.      
Anyway, as a courtesy, here is the next week schedule of events to which you should pay close attention:

Sept 5:   Classes begin for all required/major beginning language courses
Sept 6:   Elective courses selection for intermediate level students (3:-3:50)
         Elective courses selection for advanced level students (4-5:00)
         Location: Shao Yuan Bldg 7 conference room
Sept 7-8: Submission of request for class changes; 2:30-5:00
           Basic Chinese class: Shao Yuan Bldg 2, Rm 514
           Oral Chinese class: Shao Yuan Bldg 2, Rm 512
           Preparatory language class: Shao Yuan Bldg 2, Rm 414
Sept 9:   Selection of Elective classes 1:00-4:00
           Intermediate level: Erwen Bldg, 1st floor
           Advanced level: Erman Bldg, 2nd floor
Sept 12:  Open session for selection of electives; 8:00-11:30
           Shao Yuan, Bldg 2, Rm 412

Good luck.
Don't forget to drop by the office by no later than September 15 for the following:
1.  Return the address and contact information sheet
2.  Go over with me (for official record keeping) your class schedule

As explained to those who are planning to take classes beyond the PKU Chinese language center, please make sure you have an understanding with the instructor of record (the faculty)that you will need the final grade from him/her as the semester ends. My office havs to report your final grade in a timely manner to CSU headquarters to be processed back to your home campus.  At PKU, student grades are kept in his/her major department, not in a centralized system. Therefore, it is very difficult to track down a grade for international students since he/she does not have a major, hence not a part of any academic department at PKU.  As of today, we are still waiting for a grade report for one student in last year's cohort because that particular department did not process the report to the Shao Yuan office for International Students. Our program assistant has been making futile visits to that department twice a week since my arrival, to no avail. Maybe we will get a result next week, as the semester officially begins instruction and every faculty should be back in office.

Marlon

Remember:
1.  Our office language medium effective next week --
   English: MWF
   Chinese: TTh