Language & Culture
The China: Language & Culture immersion program offers students a unique and enriching opportunity to enhance their Chinese language skills while experiencing the country’s vast and diverse cultural landscape. The program begins with a 17-day stay in Shanghai, where students will live with local host families, providing a fully immersive environment to practice the language and gain deeper insights into daily life in China. During the mornings, students will attend Chinese language and cultural arts classes at a local university in partnership with CIEE. In the afternoons, they will participate in community-based activities, including visits to significant cultural and historical sites in Shanghai, where they can actively apply their language skills to connect more meaningfully with their surroundings.
In addition to exploring Shanghai, students will embark on local excursions, including day trips to Suzhou and Cenbo Village, broadening their understanding of regional cultures. The program will also include a visit to Beijing, where students will experience both the grandeur of iconic landmarks like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, as well as local culture through activities such as attending a Beijing Opera performance and visiting a youth cultural center. Engaging with Deerfield community members in China will further enrich their experience.
By the end of the program, students will return with not only an improved command of the Chinese language but also a profound appreciation for China’s rich cultural diversity, along with meaningful connections made during their homestay experience.
Program Notes
- During this trip, students will stay in a homestay in Shanghai in singles or pairs, and in hotels while traveling. They will share meals with their homestay family in Shanghai, and also eat in restaurants.
- As part of Deerfield’s commitment to face-to-face interactions, during certain times of the trip students will be “unplugged” without access to cell phones.
- Students and faculty leaders will update families and friends at home through our Notes from Abroad.
Program Dates
May 31 – June 22, 2025
Program Eligibility
This program is open to all current ninth, tenth and eleventh grade students with a preference towards those currently enrolled in Chinese II or above and who plan to continue their study of Chinese when they return. Financial Aid is available to all qualifying students.
Faculty TRip Leaders
- Xiaofeng Kelly
- Yanik Nichols
Estimated cost: $8,750
This price is subject to change depending on enrollment numbers and flight costs. The final price will be set before initial deposits and enrollment paperwork are due.
2025 Preliminary Itinerary
*This itinerary is subject to change.
Students will depart from the USA on May 31, arriving in Shanghai June 1. After orientation on June 2, they will move from their orientation hotel to their host families. The group will take the bullet Train from Shanghai to Beijing after morning classes on June 17 and return to the USA on June 22.
While in Shanghai, students will attend language classes every morning and engage in cultural activities during the afternoons. Some of the main activities and places they will visit and explore will be the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, East Nanjing Road and the Bund, Yu Garden and Old City God Temple, Huangpu River Cruise, Chinese cuisine, and dance classes, among others. During the weekends, the group will take day trips to Suzhou and Cenbo Village to do outdoor activities such as hiking and kayaking.
During their visit to Beijing the group will visit places such as Lama Temple, Mutianyu Great Wall, visit Tian’anmen Square and Forbidden City, and enjoy an evening show at the Beijing Opera.
** Families are responsible for transportation from the U.S.-based airport to the student’s final destination at the end of the trip.