Ages 11 to 17

Authentic Shanghai is our innovative, ground-breaking residential camp for global, young Chinese language learners. This 4-week, Shanghai-based course offers an immersive and exciting encounter with the soul of Shanghai; its open-mindedness; its self-assurance in its own sophistication; its academic curiosity and excellence; and its lively and pragmatic spirit in everyday life. Each week has a distinct theme: lifestyle, architecture, arts, and legends. At the end of each week, students present their insights into the soul of Shanghai using their newly-learned Chinese skills.

Under the tutelage of bilingual, culturally-aware, and creative educators at Studio Education, students will:

• Navigate and decode the kingdom of Chinese characters with the keys and compass created by the award-winning Swedish sinologist, Cecelia Lindqvist
• Read contemporary and classic Chinese texts, carefully and skilfully selected and curated by Studio Education, which reflect the dynamism and diversity of modern China, as well as its rich and turbulent past.
• Participate in trips to museums, cultural heritage sites, architectural landmarks, galleries and arts centres, and old residences of historically-significant figures who called Shanghai their home over the centuries
• Hone their language skills in speech and writing through diary-writing and presentations that will be broadcast live for their families back home
• Network with local primary and secondary school students

Typical weekday schedule:

6.30am - 8.00am Breakfast and morning reading

8.00am - 9.00am Listening and speaking classes

9.15am - 10.15am Reading

10.30am - 11.30am Character recognition and writing

11.30am - 12.30pm Lunch and discussion 

12.30pm - 2.00pm Break

2.00pm - 3.30pm Introduction to the theme of the week

3.30pm - 5.00pm Group project work

5.00pm - 5.30pm Homework instructions

5.30pm - 6.30pm Dinner

6.30pm - 7.30pm Homework and diary writing

7.30pm - 8.30pm Group drama/presentation rehearsals

8.30pm - 9.30pm Video and personal reading time

9.30pm Lights out

Weekend activities

• Performances and presentations
• Shows and gallery visits
• Day trips to water towns
• Trip to Suzhou

Fees and Dates

Summer 2017 starts on 3rd July and runs for 4 full weeks, finishing on 30th July. Each week comprises 24 hours of classroom instruction and one-on-one sessions, an outing every other day and two full-day field trips.

Students typically enrol in the full four-week course, but the course length can be tailored to fit your needs. The fees for one, two, three and four-week enrolments are (USD) $1,300, $1,200; $1,100 and $1,000 per week,  respectively.

2018 Calendar

Week 1: 3rd July to 9th July

Week 2: 10th July to 16th July

Week 3: 17th July to 23rd July

Week 4: 23rd July to 30th July

We welcome applicants over the age of 10 years-old, from all over the world, but age-exceptions may be made. Please contact us for further details.

Authentic Shanghai is currently evolving into an online-offline integrated learning program, where students will be given extensive tuition before their arrival in Shanghai, to ensure that their time in Shanghai is used as effectively as possible.

Program Directors

Erica Li

Erica Li is an experienced homeroom teacher and grade coordinator, with varied work experience at highly-respected bilingual schools across Shanghai. As a graduate of Sichuan International Studies University, Erica holds a Master’s degree in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language. Additionally, Erica has international experience, having taught Chinese as a second language at Lome Confucius Institute in Togo, West Africa.

Wendy Wang

Wendy Wang is a highly-qualified homeroom teacher based in Shanghai. Wendy is a graduate of East China Normal University, Shanghai where she studied for a Master’s degree in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language. She is also an alumna of Delaware Academy of Public Safety and Security in the USA.; Suansanuk Municipal School in Thailand; and Henan University of Science and Technology.