WORKING Mandarin™ provides insight into the Chinese business world and equips participants with a solid ability to communicate in Mandarin.
Intended to provide grounding in spoken Mandarin, the course includes only a brief introduction to Chinese characters near the end of the course. Mandarin is written in pinyin, which uses the Latin alphabet with accents to indicate the tones and allows students to practice the spoken language immediately.
WORKING Mandarin is designed for UNC Kenan-Flagler MBA students; however, BSBA students, UNC faculty and staff, and others may be granted permission by the instructor to enroll.
Classes are offered at the beginner level Part A in the fall and Part B in the spring. Students enrolled in the spring class participate in a language immersion to China over the Kenan-Flalger spring break.
Course Credit
The fall class carries 2.5 credits; the spring class carries 4.0 credits. Students must participate in the immersion to receive credit for the spring course.
Students not enrolled in Part A who are interested in taking part B only may do so with approval from the instructor. Students taking WORKING Mandarin for credit receive grades of H (high pass), P (pass), L (low pass) and F (fail).
In-Country Immersion
The immersion to China gives Working Mandarin participants a chance to practice their newly learned Mandarin. Daily classes help students perfect their language skills. Debriefs provide information on business-related topics and orient participants on their activities around town.
During the immersion, participants are given a "Mission Impossible" activity geared towards using Mandarin in regular business and social contexts: students have to accomplish a series of tasks individually or in small groups around the town and on organized excursions.
Immersions also include company visits, cultural excursions and community service, all designed to be informative, fun and beneficial in helping participants polish their language understanding and speaking skills.
A unique element is a home stay with a Chinese family, providing students rich insight into Chinese family life, culture and language.
In recent years the WORKING Mandarin immersion has been based in Beijing with a trip to Xian and/or Shanghai.
A typical WORKING Mandarin immersion itinerary includes:
- Beijing (Days 1-6)
- Accommodations with families
- Daily Mandarin classes at partner schools
- Community service day
- Cultural outings
- Lecture on Chinese economy and business trends
- Two company visits, one at a local Chinese company and one multinational
- Mission (Im)possible team activities, accomplishing tasks around town and finding the answer to questions about Chinese history and business
- Second city visit (Days 7-10):
- Cultural tours
- Lectures on the city, region and country
- Company visits
- Mission (Im)possible team activities
Course Materials
The course textbook, WORKING Mandarin (Georgetown University Press), was written by long-time UNC instructor Yi Zhou and UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Dr. Lynne Gerber. Students also make extensive use of an Internet classroom.
Technology Requirements
- IBM compatible or Apple computer with built-in capacity to play MP3 files
- Internet access (MAC operating system 10.2 or better, Internet Explorer 5.2 or better or Netscape 4.78 or better.
- Speakers
- A microphone (built in or attached)
Course Fees for MBA Students
- Instructional fees: covered by tuition
- Activity Fee: $90 nonrefundable fee for special course activities is due at the beginning of each semester plus a $25 registration fee paid directly to Quia.com, the online site that hosts assignments and weekly deliverables
- Textbook: Students are required to purchase their own textbook prior to the first in-person workshop. Textbooks are available through UNC bookstore or Amazon.com
- Immersion fees (not including airfare) are approximately $2,500 (subject to change)
Enrollment and Course Fees for Others
- Enrollment: UNC faculty/staff, spouses, and others may be allowed to enroll on a space-available basis.
- Course fee: $300 per semester (includes a $90 nonrefundable amount allocated to special course activities)
- Online course access fee: $25 paid directly to register in Quia.com, the online site that hosts written assignments and weekly deliverables
- Textbook: Course participants as well as students are required to purchase their own textbook, prior to the first in-person workshop. Books are available through UNC bookstore or Amazon.com
- Immersion fees (not including airfare) approximately $2,500 (subject to change)