Chinese

Students may apply for admission and for funding until midnight EST on January 31, 2025.

Admission and funding opportunities will be limited to classes that did not fill during priority admission and to scholarships and fellowships that were not fully awarded during priority admission.

Students may continue applying for admission, without funding, during rolling admission.

During Rolling Admission, students may apply for admission to the Language Workshop for self-funded study (or study funded by organizations other than the Language Workshop).

Admission remains competitive. Students who apply for full classes will be waitlisted. Students come off the waitlists in order of merit, not in the order of application.

After this date, there will not be time for non-IU students to get through Workshop acceptance, IU admissions, and IU enrollment before their course begins.

IU students may continue to apply, since they do not need to go through IU admissions.

After this date, there will not be time for non-IU students to get through Workshop acceptance, IU admissions, and IU enrollment before their course begins.

IU students may continue to apply, since they do not need to go through IU admissions.

The final date for IU students to apply to the Language Workshop is midnight EST on the last Thursday before their class begins.

BCS, Czech, Hungarian, Polish: May 15

Azerbaijani and Kyrgyz: May 22.

Arabic (all levels), Chinese 1, Russian 1 & 2: May 29

All other courses: June 5

Developed in conjunction with the Chinese Language Flagship Program at Indiana University, Chinese Level 1 provides beginners a solid introduction to Chinese, equivalent to the 1^st-Year curriculum in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Indiana University.

Students who complete the course successfully will reach a proficiency of Intermediate Low or better. They will be able to communicate in day-to-day situations in Chinese, will be able to read and write effectively on familiar topics, and will have a solid foundation for further study or travel.

The program introduces Chinese culture through authentic materials and media, as well as activities in Chinese and structured interactions with Chinese speakers.

Meet your Instructor, Sydni Lockeby Catalano 江红

Developed in conjunction with the Chinese Flagship Program at Indiana University, the Workshop's Level 2 Chinese course is an intensive immersion program equivalent to the 2nd-Year Chinese sequence in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Indiana University.

This course is designed for students with Intermediate Low proficiency who wish to solidify their speaking, reading, and writing skills. Students who complete the course successfully will reach Intermediate Mid proficiency or better. 

Working with carefully selected materials, students will develop the linguistic and cultural skills they need in order to function effectively in a Chinese-speaking environment and successfully navigate day-to-day interactions. They will be able to understand the main ideas of news, videos, podcasts, chats, stories, articles, etc. dealing with familiar topics.

Meet your Instructors,

Mengjie Lei	Yuan-Chia Yang

Developed in conjunction with the Chinese Flagship Program at Indiana University, the Workshop's Level 3 Chinese course is an intensive, immersive program equivalent to 3rd-Year Chinese in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Indiana University.

This course is designed for students with Intermediate Mid proficiency who want to develop advanced speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Students who complete the course successfully will reach Intermediate High proficiency or better. 

Working with authentic materials showcasing Chinese culture, students will improve their mastery of the linguistic and cultural skills they need in order to function effectively in a Chinese-speaking environment. They will be able to understand news, videos, podcasts, chats, stories, literature etc. on day-to-day topics with ease, and to interact confidently with native speakers in a wide range of contexts.

Meet your instructor, Ya Wen Tsai

Developed in conjunction with the Chinese Flagship Program at Indiana University, the Workshop's Level 4 Chinese course is an intensive, immersive program equivalent to 4th-Year curriculum in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Indiana University.

This course is designed for students with Intermediate High proficiency who want to solidify advanced speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Students who complete the course successfully will reach Advanced Low proficiency. 

Working with authentic materials showcasing Chinese culture, students will improve their mastery of the linguistic and cultural skills they need in order to function effectively in a Chinese-speaking environment. They will be able to understand materials from a range of registers and genres and to speak and write appropriately in a range of formal, informal, professional, and academic environments. 

Meet your instructor, Ya Wen Tsai

This course examines the classical Chinese literary masterpiece Journey to the West by Wu Cheng’en, focusing on the evolving image of the “Monkey King” and the story’s historical transformations. We will explore how this iconic character and narrative have been reimagined and revitalized across various modern media, including literature, film, animation, video games, and merchandise. All readings and course materials will be in English, and no prior knowledge of Chinese is required. Students will have the opportunity to engage with high-quality English translations of the original text, gaining insights into how Journey to the West masterfully weaves together Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist philosophies with both elite and popular cultural traditions. Through this lens, the course will investigate the enduring appeal of the Monkey King and the ways in which his myth continues to resonate in contemporary global culture.

This 1-credit online course meets Tuesdays & Thursdays from 6:00pm to 7:15pm from June 9 to July 3.

Meet your instructor, Nan Ma

This course explores ten short stories from contemporary Chinese science fiction, all in English translation. Through these representative works, students will examine the distinctive features of Chinese science fiction and how these narratives reflect the country’s historical experiences, modern culture, and social transformations. The course will also highlight connections between Chinese speculative fiction and the global tradition of short-form science fiction. While no knowledge of Chinese is required, students with proficiency in the language will have opportunities to explore translation techniques and the nuances involved in rendering the stories into English. As short stories are known for their concise language, tightly woven plots, and sophisticated narrative structures, they serve as an excellent gateway to understanding the creative approaches and thematic concerns of contemporary Chinese science fiction.

This 1-credit online course meets Tuesdays & Thursdays from 6:00pm to 7:15pm between July 7 and August 1.

Meet your instructor, Nan Ma

The Department of Education provides IU Center for International Business Education and Research scholarships to support students of IU's Kelly School of Business studying in the Language Workshop.

Learn more

The Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies provides scholarships for undergraduate women planning international careers to study in the Language Workshop.

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The Department of Education provides scholarships for study in the Language Workshop. This program is administered by IU's Title VI Research Centers and students apply directly to them, not to the Workshop.

Learn more

The Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies provides scholarships for study in the Language Workshop for students not eligible for other funding.

Learn more

1 year of language in 2 months

The Immersion Workshop offers accelerated, intensive courses to help you develop your speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills quickly. You will complete 1 full year of language training in only 2 months. Classes are practical and emphasize the development of real-time communication skills.

At the end of the Workshop, you will receive an external assessment of your language proficiency and an OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview) certificate.

In the Immersion Workshop you will study 20 hours per week in small classes (8-12 students on average) led by highly experienced instructors. After class you will complete 3-5 hours of independent study to prepare for the next day’s class and will have 30-45 minutes of individual practice with a language skills trainer. You will have the opportunity to participate in daily informal activities led by Workshop faculty and by scholars, performers, and practitioners from regions where your language is spoken.

As an Immersion Workshop participant, you will be part of a diverse group of talented language learners, including advanced high-school students, undergraduates, graduate students, scholars, professionals, and others. People join the Immersion Workshop for a range of academic, professional, and personal reasons, but they are united in their common interest in learning the language.

The small class sizes, expert instructors, and highly motivated students of the Workshop provide a stimulating setting for you to develop your oral and written communication skills rapidly.

The Immersion Workshop is challenging, but it is one of the most effective and most exciting ways to acquire language rapidly.

We look forward to welcoming you to the next Indiana University Immersion Language Workshop!

Class Dates:

• Arabic 1-3, Chinese 1, Russian 1-2: June 2 – August 1, 2025
  
• Chinese 2-4, Russian 3-6: June 9 – August 1, 2025

Class Times: Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 12:00pm

For full list of important dates, see the:General Program Handbook

Estimated Costs - 9-week immmersion programs

• Language Workshop Program Cost 
  • Arabic 1 & 2 = 10 credits x $332 = $3,320
  • Arabic 3 = 8 credits x $332 = $2,656
  • Chinese 1= 8 credits x $332 = $2,656
  • Russian 1-2 = 8 credits x $332 = $2,656
• Language Workshop Program Fee - $753
• IU Student Services Fee - $589
• Housing, Laundry - $2,535
• Optional Supplemental Courses
  
  
• Meals: Not included, see General Program Handbook for details.
• Travel to Indiana: Not included
• Textbooks: Not included

*All rates on this page are estimates based on data available at the time of posting and are subject to change.

Estimated Costs - 8-week immersion programs 

• Language Workshop Program Cost 
  • Chinese 2-3 =  8 credits x $332 = $2,656
  • Chinese 4 = 6 credits x $332 = $1,992
  • Russian 3-6 = 8 credits x $332 = $2,656
• Language Workshop Program Fee - $753
• IU Student Services Fee - $589
• Housing, Laundry - $2,262
• Optional Supplemental Courses
• Meals: Not included, see General Program Handbook for details.
• Travel to Indiana: Not included
• Textbooks: Not included

*All rates on this page are estimates based on data available at the time of posting and are subject to change.

• Credit Loads
  • All courses must be taken for credit. Auditing courses is not offered. 
  • Credit loads vary from course to course
    • • 10 credits
        • Arabic 1
        • Arabic 2
      • 6 credits
        • Chinese 4
      • 8 credits
        • All other courses
• Undergraduate Credit
  • Everyone admitted to the Workshop is eligible for undergraduate credit.
    
    
• Graduate Credit
  • IU graduate students receive graduate credit automatically if it is available for their course.
  • Graduate course loads are more variable than undergraduate. Contact languageworkshop@iu.edu for the exact graduate credit load if you are an IU graduate student.
  • Non-IU participants may petition to receive graduate credit if it is available for their course.
    • Approval is not automatic.
    • Application fees apply.
    • Not all courses offer graduate credit.
    • IU cannot guarantee that your home university will accept graduate credit.
    • Write to languageworkshop@iu.edu to schedule a credit advising session.

• Classroom Instruction: 20 hours/week
• One-on-One Training: 2.5 to 4 hours/week
• Independent Work: 20 hours/week (average)
• Cultural activities: Min. 2 activities/week required (but you may attend more if you wish)

This course is open to all, including:

• Students from Indiana University
• Students from other universities and colleges
• Graduate, undergraduate, and community college students
• Lifelong learners
• High School students, who are age 18+ on day 1 of the program

Students applying for a 2nd-Level course or higher, including IU students, take a placement test before enrolling.

The test consists of a short online quiz, a writing sample, and a video sample.

Testing begins in March and is calibrated to take into account that students will be mid-semester at the time of their test.

Placement results are mandatory. Students who do not wish to take the course into which the place may withdraw from the program without penalty.