What is a typical day like in the CSP?

A shock to your liberal-arts system. Chinese typically get up around 6 a.m., but you don’t have to. Most days, you will begin with an 8 o’clock class, just like all Chinese university students.  Chinese classes are usually scheduled in 90-minute blocks, with a half-hour break between classes. Most of the time, the CSP arranges two 90-minute classes per day, but this depends largely on our Chinese professors’ schedules. Occasionally, you’ll have days with only one or up to three 90-minute classes.

Chinese take a very civilized two and a half hour break for lunch, so you are generally free from 11:30-2:30, during which time most Chinese nap.  On certain days of the week, there are other activities for later in the afternoon and evening, such as a one-hour Tai Chi class, or English corner (on Tuesdays and Fridays) which begins around 9 p.m. and runs late.