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No questions are left unanswered. We want you to feel comfortable and confidence with your journey to China. Please click the following sections for related questions.

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Program

1. Does SLG accept students from countries other than the U.S?
Yes. We do accept students from countries other than the U.S. We have students from various part of the world, such as Germany, U.K., Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Mongolia, etc. Since the program fee does not include airfare, it doesn't preset the country where the student departs from. Participating students could join us in Beijing. We will keep close communication with the student in arranging picking up at the Beijing International Airport, or providing them with detailed school address and meet them at the school. 

2. I have submitted the application online, but not yet mail out the deposit, my photos and passport copy. Am I considered completed the application with SLG?
No. Without those items, the application is not complete, and will not be processed. In order to secure a seat in the program or take the advantage of the early application discount, we need to receive all items that are listed in the Application Check list in the Application page.

3. Which campus will be used for 2007 camp in Beijing? What is the exact school address?
We are pleased to have the Beijing Language And Culture University(BLCU) be our host campus again for the 2007 Beijing camp. The school is located at the northwest side of Beijing, just outside of the 4th ring road. For more information about the school, please visit School Profiles. 
The official school address is 
Beijing Language And Culture University
No. 15 XueYuan Road,
Haidian District, Beijing, PRC   Post Code: 100083 
Tel: 86-10-82303114
Enlarge the map on the right for location of BLCU campus.

4. What is the ratio of students/teachers?
The ratio is 10 to 1 or less for classroom instruction and 7 to 1 or less for after-class and weekend field trips. We do not only have teachers, but also have SLG China staff and a group of camp counselors around to ensure students safety outside of classroom.

5. What does the program fee include? What does not?
   ..

6. Is there a lot of contact with native Chinese speaking students? Is there a mixed student body on school campus? 
Yes. SLG students will have a lot of chances interacting with Chinese students. Each student will have a language partner, a local student, throughout the camp. They will have exchange and sports activities with local students too. The group itself is very mixed as well since our students come from various parts of the world. Moreover, there are groups of Japan, Korean, and Sweden students also studying Chinese on the same campus every summer. We see some long-lasting international relationships growing up there.

7. Who are the teachers?  How are the local students being found? Is this going to be the same student at all time or different ones? 
The teachers are professional, active and enthusiastic about teaching, and have been trained for teaching foreign students. Many of them are at the leading position of their own fields. The local students - our students' language partners, are from the local schools. These students are at the same age or a bit older as ours. They are selected based on good academic performance and moral character. They know a little of English, but have been instructed not to speak English with our students. Whether it is the same students or different ones is all up to the students. If they become buddies, they certainly can be together at all times.

8. We will go China by ourselves and join SLG in Beijing. Who should I contact once we are in Beijing?
You could contact SLG China Director, Ms Fan Bai at:
Tel:  (86) 1350-113-9470 (cell)
Fax: (86-10) 6479-2078
Email: baifan@sinolanguage.com

9. If a student only goes for 2 or 3 weeks in the 4-week program, will that student still get a certificate of recognition?
Yes, every student will get a certificate indicating the place, the school and the time horizon they have participated in this language camp.

10. Where can I find program price? Date? Host school information?
You can find almost all the information about our program on Program page. Please click on each of the programs to see the application, starting, ending and other important dates of the program.
For daily schedule and itinerary of the program, please check Class Schedule and Itinerary.
For school information and photos, click on School Profiles. If you want to fly with our group, you can find the flight information at  click "Important Notice" on the right side to view.
Our website is available in Chinese too.
If you have any difficulties in finding a piece of information, please let us know. We will be happy to guide you through the website.

11. Can students go out to shop in Beijing? Will somebody take them? 
Yes, they will have chances go out shopping either on their own or with one of our student directors depending on the students' age, where and how far the place is. If not with our student director, we will provide them with maps and transportation information, etc. To make sure their safety, we have certain policy that they will need to follow. These policies will be announced during the orientation and enforced during the camp. Very popular while inexpensive shopping areas in Beijing includes: Hong Qiao market, Xiu Shui Street market, and San Li Tun market, etc.

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1. What does the dormitory room provide? What does not?
All rooms are air conditioned. Each room is equipped with a TV, calling card operated phone, closet, a single bed with bedding, desk, chair, lamp, hot water boiler, and bathroom with hot-water shower. Please bring your own towels, toothbrush, cups, shampoo and conditioner, and slippers. You could buy them in China at a cheaper price as well.

2. Can a student receive and make calls from the dorm and how to do it? 
Yes. Each dorm room is equipped with a calling card operated telephone that can make and receive both local and international phone calls. 
To call out: Students need to buy a calling card, which are sold at the dormitories for RMB30 each. Follow the instruction on the card you will be able to make calls out.
To call in: To access the dorm phone from outside of China, parents should dial 0118610, followed by the room phone number (Students will know their room phone numbers once they arrive). Family and friends in the States can buy very affordable phone cards through online stores such as www.onesuite.com, www.phonecardsonsale.com, or www.cybercalling.com. It usually costs only 1.8-2.4 cents per minute to call China and the voice quality is quite good.

3. Is the Internet connection available in the dorm room?
Yes. The dorm of BLCU provides high speed cable Internet. Students who bring their own computers can connect to the Internet conveniently after a simple setup. It is the student's responsibility for the costs of using the Internet at their own rooms. It is RMB120 (US$15) every 80 hours. To access the Internet for free, you could utilize the scheduled Online hours. There are 1-2 hour free Internet hours at the computer lab every other day. Please check your session schedule.

4. Is there a special connector for the wall outlet? Should students buy it in Beijing?
To use the wall outlet in China, you need a power converter to transform from 220V AC in China to your own electronic appliance which uses 110V as US’s standard. Bring one if you can. There are many local or online stores that have such converters available. http://www.voltage-converter-transformers.com/step-down-transformer.html  Please read Travel Info for more traveling-related information.

5. How to do laundry at the dormitory?
The dormitories have self-service laundry rooms that open everyday, and laundry services. Students can do laundry themselves or drop the clothes to the service people for a small fee and pickup in one day. 

6. Can students go swimming in the afternoon?
There are not any scheduled swimming time in the camp. If you are a big fun of swimming and very good at it, you may go swim at early morning before the class or at any of the free time. There is a big and very nice swimming pool with lifeguard in Tsinghua University. However, we don't recommend students who are not professional swimmers go there on their own.

7. Can student get snacks in the dormitory?
Yes. A vending machine is provided in each dormitory for snacks and soft drinks.

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1. I will accompany my child to join one of SLG programs. Do I need to submit a deposit for myself? 
Yes. Since you will live and eat in the school, and participate activities that the program organizes, you are considered a participant too. Every participant needs to submit a deposit. A deposit is counted as part of the overall program fee. That means, with the same amount of money, it's just a matter of pay it earlier or later.

2. I’m an accompanying father. It’s a good chance for me to learn some Chinese too. Are there any short term programs available for adults?
Yes, there are plenty of summer Chinese programs available for adults. They are usually offered by universities. If you are interested in getting the details, please email us at info@sinolanguage.com

3. I understand I can participate all the activities of the program. But can I also participate some of the classes?
Yes, you can. Please notify us in advance in order to arrange for seats. There is a small fee depending on what the classes are.

4. I plan to accompany my son to Beijing for several days. But I’m not sure the exact number of days yet. How much should I pay?
Please do a rough estimation for the number of days you plan to stay and pay it proportionally. In normal situations, you may stay shorter or longer than your estimated time. We will refund any overpayment or request a supplemental payment for any deficiency. We will notice you in advance if the situation doesn't allow that.

5. Can relatives/friends visit student at the school? Can student go out with relatives during camp session?
Yes. Friends or relatives are welcomed to visit our students at the school. Yet, they need to wait until a particular class is over. They can stay for lunch, or even join the field trips with the student with a small fee. Students can leave the camp with their relatives, but they should always notify us and get approved before they leave the camp. And notify us when coming back.

6. My son has visited the Great Wall last year when we visited China. Can he choose not to participate the field trips that he has gone before? If he can, what he could do during the time frame?
Yes. He has the choice of not participating any of the scheduled activities. If it happens to be a weekend, SLG will arrange him to homestay with a Beijing family. He will participate in the family and community activities, attend cultural and recreational events with them while learning more than he could ever imagine about another country and culture. If it's a weekday, he could join the tutoring that SLG arranges to further improve his Chinese. 

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1. Who needs a Chinese visa? Can I obtain a visa at a Chinese airport?
Foreigners visiting China are required to hold a valid visa to enter the country. Please note that the airport authorities do not issue visas and that you will have to apply for a visa in advance.

2. What type of visa should I apply?
There are different types of visa. The one that our students and parents should apply is L type (tourist visa). Normally the visa will be single entry, has 3 months validity since the day it is issued, and 30-day duration of stay unless you require otherwise.

A little about types of visa:
L Visa: Issued to an alien who comes to China for sightseeing, family visiting or other private purposes.
F Visa: Issued to an alien who is invited to China for a visit, an investigation, a lecture, to do business, scientific-technological and culture exchanges, short-term advanced studies or intern practice for a period of no more than six months.
X Visa: Issued to an alien who comes to China for study, advanced studies or intern practice for a period of more than six months

3. I’m planning to attend two sessions that last for a total of 60 days. What type of visa should I apply?
You should apply for L type still. However, you need to specify it on your visa application form that you need to stay in China for more than 30 days, AND tell the Consulate officer at the time you are seeing him/her. In most cases it will get approved. If you do not specify, you will get a visa with 30 days duration only.

4. Do we need an invitation from the host school or your agency? If so, can you provide us with one?
No. You do not need an invitation from the school since you only need an L visa which does not require for an invitation. Other types of visa, such as F visa or X visa may need an invitation. However, we may issue you an invitation if the  Chinese embassies and consulates in your country/region requires for it.
Important: SLG can only provide you with a letter of invitation for the duration of your program.

5. When is the best time to apply the visa?
We suggest you to apply for the visa 1-2 months ahead of the intended date of your first entry into China, but no earlier than 3 months.

6. What should I do if I apply it myself?
You first need to know which P.R.C consulate office holds jurisdiction over the state that you are currently living. 
U.S. applicants: The P.R.C currently maintains one Embassy in Washington D.C., and 5 Consulates-Generals in the following U.S. cities: New York, NY; Chicago, IL; San Francisco, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Houston, TX. To see the Consular District map. E.g. It's the P.R.C consulate in New York that holds jurisdiction over the residence of Ohio. Click your state on the map, it will take you to the office where you should apply visa from, and check the requirements for L visa. 
Note: 
* No appointment needed.
* The P.R.C consulates do not accept mail application. So you, or any other person you entrust must personally go to the consulate to apply.
* The P.R.C consulates do not accept personal checks. Cash, money order, cashier's check, or company check are acceptable. In some visa offices, visa or master card is acceptable.
* Check payable to "Chinese Embassy" if apply at the Embassy in Washington D.C; check payment to "Chinese Consulate" if apply at one of the 5 consulates.

Visa Offices in the following countries

If you need more information on Chinese visa, please email us at info@sinolanguage.com

7. The city I live does not have a P.R.C consulate. Is it possible for your agency to get our visas? What the application procedure and the cost are?
Yes. You can also entrust us to handle your visa application. You need to mail us the followings:
--a valid passport (original, do not send a copy)
--Visa application form (filled out, signed and dated)
--$70 visa application fee per person, make the check payable to Sino Language Gateway
--One 2x2 passport photo attaches to the form 
Please make sure your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the expiration date of the visa, and must have 2 blank visa pages.

8. I need to return to China for several weeks after the end of the program. Is it possible for me to get a double entry visa (L type)? If so, what is the fee?
Of course you can apply for double entry visa if you need. The fee schedule is: 
Single Entry (3 months validity) $50
Double Entry (6 months validity) $75
Multiple Entry (6 months validity) $100
Multiple Entry (12 months validity) $150
Please add $20 to the above fee if you need SLG to apply for you. The fee is to cover our costs on transportation, effort and mailing. Your check should be made payable to Sino Language Gateway.

9. Why do we pay to Sino Language Gateway, not Chinese Consulate, for our visa application fee?
SLG will apply visas for other applicants as well, and pay to P.R.C consulate in one check. Moreover, the P.R.C consulate does not accept personal checks. It only accept cash, money order, cashier check or company check.

10. For visa application, only one photo is needed for one applicant, is that correct?
Correct.

11. As per the application check list, we need to submit 2 photos with our application. Do we still need to submit any more photos when we send our passports to you for visa application later?
No. SLG will use one photo for visa application, the other one for our own record.

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1.We live in the east coast. Is it necessary for my son to fly to San Francisco to join SLG travel group there?
It usually is more expensive to book a round-trip flights from east coast to San Francisco and then have him join the escorted travel group than it is to book the whole route from the east coast to Beijing directly. Therefore, as long as your son could take care of himself on the plane, it is not necessary to join us. You just need to notify us his flight number and time in advance. We will pick him up at the Beijing airport. 

2. How and where should a student meet the group in the San Francisco International Airport?
Please read carefully How and where to meet us in the San Francisco Int'l Airport.

3. My daughter is joining session 1 program. If I couldn’t find the flights arriving Beijing on 6/19, is that a problem?
Due to the tight seats to China every summer, if you could not find flights arriving exactly on the program starting dates and leaving on the ending dates, don’t worry. It is okay to arrive several days earlier than the starting dates, or leave later than the ending dates. We guarantee to pick up all participants no matter which day and what time they arrive, and send them to the airport on their returning flight dates. We will arrange their accommodations for the extra days too, on their own expenses.

4. I'm going to China myself. How and where to meet SLG staff at the Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) once I arrive?
We will meet you at the greeting area inside of the airport. When your plane lands at PEK, you will pick up baggage first if you have any, then go through the Chinese customs. Once you walk toward the exit, you will easily find SLG logo in the greeting area. Our Beijing staff is there to welcome you. 
In case you do not see the SLG logo, don't panic. Stay at where you come out, don't leave your luggage unattended, and look around for our logo. If you are sure there is no SLG logo around, go find a pay phone in the airport, and call 1350-113-9470. You don't need to dial 8610 when you are in Beijing. You can also ask the airport staff for help.

5. What procedures am I expecting to go through at the Beijing Capital International Airport?
If you arrive by yourself, you need to go through airport frontier inspection, baggage claim, and Chinese custom before meet with us. Please read carefully the Procedures at the Beijing Capital Int'l Airport.

6. Does SLG have group travel arrangement for every session and escort all groups in 2006?
In most cases we do arrange group travel for every session and escort all of them. However, we will not be able to hold a travel group for a session if the participants of the session are too diversified in terms of where they come from, and if most of them arrange flights individually from where they live to Beijing directly. Most airlines require that the minimum number for a group traveling together is 10. 

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1.What transportation do the students take for their last-week trip? 
Depends on the distance, students will take either plane or air-conditioned express trains, in the sleeping cabin, or both. Train rides are arranged for BJ071 to Shanghai; BJ072 to Xian and Shaolin Temple; BJ073/BJ074/CS071 to Inner Mongolia. Flight is arranged for BJ075 to Guilin.

SLG arranges train trip on at least one route in each camp for several reasons : 1) Almost none of our students have ever taken trains before; therefore it will be a very fun and exciting experience. 2) The train will across many important cities in China and its belonging provinces. It will be an excellent opportunity to see with own eyes the various geographic features, customs, culture differences; and the long train trip allows students having direct contacts with Chinese people; 3) SLG teacher will give short introduction about the Chinese cities the train passes by, and its history.

2. How long does it take on the way?
The Ministry of Communication of China has increased the train speed on April 18, 2004. This is the fifth speed increasing in Chinese history. It takes 12 ½ hours from Beijing to Xi’an, and 10 ½ hours to Shanghai and to Inner Mongolia respectively. Students will be on the train at evening time, after a fun evening and a good night of sleep, they will arrive the destination the next morning.

3. The train rides are long distance rides. Is it in the hard sleeping cabin or soft cabin? What is the difference?
It is in the hard sleeping cabin. However, don't be confused by the name of "hard" or "soft" cabin. The beds in both cabins have the same quality. And both cabins are air-conditioned. The only difference between them is that the soft cabin is sub-divided by small cells; each cell contains 4 beds which gives more privacy, and more suitable for a family. While hard cabin is not divided by small cells, therefore is more suitable for a group. Also, it’s more convenient for us to monitor our students' safety, and to arrange group activities in the cabin. Moreover, it's more fun for the students.

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