Spring 2011 American Language & Culture Group Program
Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT)
Program Features
· Twenty (20) hours of classes per week in speaking, listening, grammar, reading, and writing
· 1 weekend trip to a major Southern city (such as Atlanta, Nashville, or New Orleans)
· 1 day trip to a major Southern city (such as Memphis, Jackson, or Birmingham) for shopping and entertainment
· Conversation Connections Club
· American Conversation Partners
· Weekly cultural activities
Total Cost
The program cost includes tuition; housing; textbooks; fitness center fees; health center fees (required X-rays and immunizations); student health insurance; a weekend trip; a day trip; and group airport transportation*. Travel to and from the United States, food, and personal expenses (including some optional cultural and sporting events) are not included in the program cost, although a meal plan to cover all food expenses may be purchased at an additional cost.
*Group transportation to and from the airport is included in the program cost. Airport options are Birmingham International Airport (BHM) in Birmingham, Alabama; Memphis International Airport (MEM) in Memphis, Tennessee; Jackson International Airport (JAN) in Jackson, Mississippi; and Golden Triangle Regional Airport (GTR) in Columbus, Mississippi. Please note that the group must arrive and depart together.
**We recommend that students arrive on or before Saturday, January 29, 2011, for orientation and testing.
Included in the Program:
Classes & Culture Activities
· Student orientation and placement exam
· 8 language levels
· Twenty (20) hours of class instruction per week, integrating all the basic skills
· All required textbooks
· Certificate and letter of program participation for each student
· Welcome and farewell receptions
· Weekly conversation club
· American Conversation Partners
· Student computer lab with updated computers featuring Asian fonts
· ESL Center sponsored weekly cultural events
· Sanderson Recreational Center (basketball, volleyball, and racquet ball courts, indoor swimming pool and track, table tennis, weight rooms, etc.)
· Use of on-campus dining facilities, libraries, and computer labs
· Mississippi State University sporting and cultural events (some optional and paid by the student)
· City of Starkville and State of Mississippi civic cultural events (if applicable)
Housing
· Conveniently located near the Office of International Education and the ESL Center
· Students are assigned two or three to a room
· All bed and bath linens, pillows, and blankets are provided
· Separate bathrooms/showers for each gender
· Community kitchen
Student Health Center
· MSU Student Health Center (outpatient medical services for program participants from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on instructional days)
· Chest X-ray, required immunizations, and student health insurance included in program cost
Weekend Trip & Day Trip
· Transportation included
· Hotel (typically four students to one room) included for the weekend trip
· Admission fees to 2-3 attractions included for the weekend trip
· Shopping and cultural activities during the weekend and day trips