Minds Abroad is a US-based organization that conducts study abroad programs in China and India for both individual students and also customized faculty-led groups from college and universities across the US and Europe. As an integral part of our faculty-led study abroad programs, participants travel to various places of cultural and historical interest for language and culture immersion. Our programs are a blend of morning classes, afternoon volunteering and language exchange sessions, evening cultural activities, and weekend excursions to sites of academic interest. Minds Abroad takes care of all arrangements- ranging from in-country orientation, to accommodations, meals, travel excursions and chaperoning. For faculty-led groups, teachers can travel for free.
Our programs can begin anytime during the year and our philosophy is about 'learning by doing'. In addition to classes, we identify service learning opportunities for interested participants at local non-profit organizations with which we have collaborated. We can also arrange for fun-filled, hands-on extracurricular activities including Tai Chi, calligraphy and Chinese painting classes. These help students gain an in-depth understanding of Chinese life and culture.
China Programs
Through our China programs, students will not only explore a new world but will also, earn academic credits through our Chinese language university partner. While in Kunming, China, during weekdays, students will attend classes on Mandarin Chinese in the mornings. They will either engage in volunteering activities or participate in language exchange sessions with local Chinese students in the afternoons. Volunteering will primarily revolve around working with underprivileged children in local non-profit organizations. A one-on-one Chinese/English language exchange session with local students can do a lot to supplement language skills that students acquire in class.
As a part of our China program, students, over the weekends, will visit fast growing metropolises, UNESCO World Heritage sites and participate in rural homestays. We believe this diversity of excursions not only gives participants a balanced perspective into the rapidly modernizing urban China and also rural society where the majority of the people in China still live in. Some of the places of interest that students will visit are large coastal cities of Beijing and Hong Kong, as well as the ancient city of Dali.
Year Round Programs
With our year-round language program students can start studying with us on any Monday during the year and continue for as long as his/her schedule permits. All our teachers are qualified professors with several years of experience in teaching Mandarin to foreigners. Classes are held at our partner university from Monday through Thursday for about 4 hours in the morning totalling to 15 hours of class every week. Students have the benefit of transferring academic credit for these classes back to their home university. Weekends are generally free and students can take up activities or travelling as they like.
Summer Programs
Through May till August we have several set programs for summer combining language class, service learning and travel in the weekends in both China and India. These programs are all led by a Minds Abroad team leader and cover all onsite arrangements like meals, accommodation and logistics. Find a schedule of our summer programs on this page of the website.
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