Summer Programs
I. Program?
Organized by the School of International Studies at Harbin Institute of Technology, the? International Summer School? of? International? Languages? operates mainly? through? the? Intercultural Communication? Teaching and? Research Center (ICTRC). The center is one of the earliest research institutes in China, with the earliest publication of monographs, the earliest offering of intercultural communication courses and great influence in this field at home and abroad. Professor JIA Yuxin, former director of the Center, was Vice President and President of the China Association for? Intercultural Communication? (CAFIC) (2007-20013 )? and President of the International? Association? of Intercultural Communication? Studies (IAICS, headquartered in the United States) (2003-2005). Professor Song Li, current director of the center, served as past president of IAICS (2011-2013), and is currently the Vice President of? CAFIC (2013--) and on the Board of? Directors? of? IAICS (2017--). The center has played an important role in the academic cooperation and exchanges between the Chinese and international academia in the field of intercultural communication studies and intercultural (foreign language) education. At present, as one of the Chinese participating institutions,? ICTRC? is jointly? undertaking the European Union Erasmus+Project? “RICH-Ed”? (Resources? of? Interculturality? for Chinese Higher Education) with KU? Leuven? in Belgium,? Durham University in Britain, University of? Bologna? in Italy and four other Chinese universities. The International Summer School makes full use of the? resources of ICTRC in intercultural learning? and intercultural research,? in particular,? the high-quality curriculum? resources in intercultural communication with both global and local visions, and lectures by well-known scholars at home and abroad. Through in-depth cooperation and resource sharing, the interculturally-orientated International Summer School of? International? Languages? is set up to be a brand program? that will? offer quality intercultural training for students from home and abroad and? spread? the influences of the university and the School of International Studies.?
II. Theme and Characteristics of the International Summer School?
The theme relates the local culture to international horizon. The theme of the 2019 International Summer School of? International Studies? is “Harbin Files? - Urban History and (Inter) Cultural Dialogue”. Compared with other ancient cities in China, the history of Harbin is very short, but? its development? reflects the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural? integration. With its inclusive mentality, the city has? absorbed? the characteristics? of other cultures.? With? its? remarkable? history or? the? current development after the Reform? and Opening-up, it presents a unique urban style. Through? the courses, lectures and experiential learning? in particular, the project will help? learners? to? understand a city through the development of a university, the historical changes of a city, and the past and future of China.? ?
Cultural knowledge accumulated through experiential? learning.? In the process of teaching and experiential learning, both Chinese and other cultures will be taken into account to appreciate the diversity of the world; through the comparison of Chinese and? other? cultures, the dialogue between cultures? will? be realized and intercultural awareness will be sought; and students’ intercultural communication and independent thinking will be enhanced.? ?
Cultural? tour? lead by famous scholars.? The? Summer School invites famous scholars in the fields of culture, literature and history at home and abroad to? teach in English. While learning culture, students get immersion learning and content-based English learning opportunities.?
Whole-person development enhanced by peer learning. The summer school is where ideas collide? in? learner-centered learning activities. In the process of accomplishing cultural exploration together, guided by the? teachers,? the learners will strengthen cross-cultural? awareness, develop tolerance towards? understanding other cultures, and foster global vision.?
III. Important dates?
The International Summer School will be opened? in the summer semester of 2019 for 2 weeks (8-18 July).?
IV. The enrollment plan of the International Summer School?
The International Summer School plans to recruit 60 undergraduates, including:?
1. 10 overseas students? ?
2. 25 students from C9 and 985 universities in China (not limited to majors);?
3. 25 students (not limited to majors).?
Selection criteria:? Chinese students? with? English proficiency above CET 6. International? students are required to have a strong interest in Chinese culture and have taken courses related to Chinese language or Chinese culture.?
V. Teaching Arrangements?
1. Courses?
The International Summer Program will arrange two courses, 16 class hours and 1 credit each. The details are as follows:??
Course 1: Intercultural Dialogue in a Globalized World?
Lecturer: Edwin McDaniel? ?
Course 2: History and Intercultural Understanding?
Lecturer: David Frank? ?
2. Lectures?
The International Summer Program will arrange four lectures, 2 class hours each, totaling 8 hours and 0.5 credit. The details are as follows:?
Lecture 1: The Painful Body and Self-recognition from the Medical Perspectives?
Lecturer: Ronald Schleifer?
Lecture 2: Historical Research of Jewish Communities in Harbin?
Lecturer: Mara Moustafine?
Lecture 3: Construction of National Image and Overseas Dissemination?
Lecturer: Wang Ning?
Lecture 4: Opportunities and Challenges of "Going Out" of Chinese Language and Culture?
Lecturer: Cheng Aimin?
3. Practicum?
The International Summer School will arrange four learning-by-doing sessions in the form of teamwork with a total of 0.5 credit. The details are as follows:?
Overall objectives:? ?
To help students understand Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) and the historical and current situations of Harbin, and identify with the national characteristics and identities of Chinese culture, such as pluralism, openness and tolerance, devotion to the family and country. Based on these, to cultivate their vision for internationalization and awareness of global citizenship, and to enhance their abilities to think cross-culturally and critically and to learn in an exploring way.? ?
Activities:?
(1) A Cultural tour: History Museum of Harbin Institute of Technology?
Objectives:? To understand the establishment and development of HIT, and the interrelation of Harbin? to the progress of the People's Republic of China through the growth of HIT. To experience the traditions and spirits of HIT, and to enhance the sense of mission and citizenship, and the resolution to strive for national rejuvenation and a community with a shared future for mankind.?
(2) Experiencing Harbin’s urban culture and building the relationship between individuals and history, culture and the world?
①? Discovering the history of an ethnic group and witnessing the multicultural?
collision: Jewish tombs and Jewish memorials?
Objectives: To understand the history of Harbin and the deep friendship between Jews and people from Harbin. To learn about the city characters and traditions of Harbin, namely, benevolent, open, tolerant and harmonious, in comparing with the exhibition hall of 731 invading troops in China, and apply them to cross-cultural communication in the era of globalization.? ?
②? Exploring the progress of civilization and appreciating human treasures: Jin Shang Jing Site?
Objectives: To know the history of Jinhangjing, and the development of ancient Chinese civilization and culture, to? understand the? ancient Chinese civilization, and to enhance the national and cultural identity and knowledge of Chinese cultural diversity.?
(3) Expanding the Connection between People? and Space: Harbin Chinese Baroque Historic and Cultural Conservation Block?
Objectives:? To experience the city spirit of internationalization, openness, inclusiveness and enterprising innovation, to? know Harbin’s urban development history through experience and observation, and to reflect on the impact of the urban history and the architectural environment on lifestyles. To enhance the national cultural identification, to contemplate? on the relationship between urban sustainable development and environment,? and to improve the intercultural competence and critical thinking? as well as citizenship awareness.?
Mode of Assessment: Teamwork Project Demonstration?
Requirements of Demonstration:? English; Multiple forms (speeches, plays, etc.);? 8 minutes in length.?
VI. Introduction to Teachers?
Closing Remarks?
The summer school is launched by the School of? International Languages, HIT, after rounds of discussion and elaborate design. A number of distinguished experts at home and abroad are invited to give lectures and seminars. Their presence and engagement promise a constructive, substantial and fruitful summer school. Featuring Harbin Archives, this summer school will serve as a platform for getting to know the world-renowned Harbin Institute of Technology, the beautiful city of Harbin, and the rich history of China. By listening to lectures by experts and completing project-based learning, students will experience the history and culture of Harbin? personally and expand their international horizons. They will also show the spirit, style and uniqueness? of HIT to? the peers from Top-9 universities and other prestigious universities in China. Through the study at the summer school, every participant will be expected to think about what kind of person he wants to be. He will also be more?
likely to understand how to maintain his subjectivity in cultural clashes by placing his personal development in the context of globalization. This summer school will also?
foster participants’ better understanding of their connection with society, that between nation and the world, and the coexistence of nation and culture.?
