During the pandemic, we got used to living differently and were forced to change our habits in many areas. Communicating and entertaining remotely today is even more normal than trendy. Participating in events, studying or learning foreign languages has become easy and extremely convenient from anywhere in the world.
In the summer, our institute started with good news - in June we signed a contract with a new university partner, Shanghai East China Normal University, and the first project with this university was implemented by organizing a remote student summer camp on August 9-15. In one week, students had the opportunity to walk the streets of Shanghai at least a distance, admire the charming views of the city and see that the city is special for its history, customs and people.
The start of the camp was dedicated to the presentation of modern Shanghai and right from the famous Shanghai waterfront waitan 外滩, the teachers talked about the culture, architecture and economy of the city. Probably few know that this waterfront is a protected area as a historical heritage site in central Shanghai. Today, the skyscrapers of Lujiazui 陆家嘴 financial center are admired here, the symbol of the city - the Shanghai Tower - is eye-catching. From 1860 to 1930, it was a powerful and rich center of foreign capital enterprises, legally acting as a port. Today, waitan is very popular with locals and city guests alike, as it is one of the few places where the beauty of Shanghai city opens up.
In the following days, the lecturers and students of the East China Normal University continued to introduce our students to Shanghai, introducing the living habits of the townspeople, the possibilities of public transport, and introduced them to active leisure in the park. One day was dedicated to the presentation of the East China Normal University, where we saw the university itself and its accesses, the student campus, etc. The weekend was dedicated to entertainment - we virtually visited shopping malls, learned how Shanghaiers have fun in their free time.
During the camp, our university students were given the opportunity not only to learn Chinese, but also to communicate directly by asking questions. According to 4th year Sinology student Gabriel, “I think this camp was a great opportunity to get to know China more, especially the city of Shanghai, which I have not yet visited, and to get to know culture, traditions and local life better by touching on various topics during live lectures. Teachers also shared useful knowledge related to the information or issues raised during the camp. ”
We hope this camp has been both interesting and rewarding. We invite you to follow our news on our website and Facebook account about upcoming remote events.
