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Massey Exchange: Intensive Chinese Language at Peking University
8/03/2018 - Peking University hosted a group of students from Massey University who came to Beijing to attend an intensive six-week course in Mandarin Chinese. The exchange was funded by the New Zealand government through Education New Zealand's ‘Prime Minister's Scholarship for Asia'.
In November 2017, a cohort of Massey University Chinese language students spent a fruitful six-week period of intensive study at Peking University. This exchange was fully funded by the New Zealand government through Education New Zealand’s ‘Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia’. Peking University was instrumental making this exchange a reality and ensuring that the students enjoyed a positive experience with maximum outcomes.
 Massey students visiting New Zealand Centre
The PKU International office was outstanding in its administrative and pastoral care of our students. The School of Chinese as a Second Language provided an excellent immersion learning experience which resulted in impressive gains in language comprehension and cultural knowledge for our students over just six weeks. This successful learning program has also brought academic research opportunities between Massey and PKU. A collaborative research project is now underway between Peking University’s Professor Liu Yuanman and Massey University’s Dr Michael Li, exploring the role of agency in short courses on student language learning.
 Massey team at the School of Chinese as a Second Language The contribution of New Zealand Centre at Peking University was also critical to the success of this exchange. NZC helped keep a supportive eye on our kiwi team and hosted a dinner for our students near the conclusion of the exchange apart from a warm welcome at the Centre. For New Zealand students studying at Peking University, NZC provides an important cultural and spiritual home.
Professor Kerry Taylor, Head of School of Humanities, Massey University spoke highly of the programme. In a letter to NZC stuff he wrote: “Our sincerest gratitude to all those at Peking University who made this exchange so successful. Several our students have already indicated that they wish to return to Peking University, which is a true testament to quality of the experience they enjoyed there”.
Massey team in front of the main gate of Peking University |
