Recent graduates in industries from engineering to finance in both Europe and the U.S. are making their way to the country, hoping to land their first jobs faster and more easily than their competitors.

Lesmes Gutiérrez, a 23-year-old engineering graduate of Loughborough University in the U.K., who had a two-week placement with Baoshang Bank in Beijing late last year, says potential employers are more impressed with those who can demonstrate a willingness to move out of their comfort zone. “It’s quite a big step to go somewhere not knowing what to expect. The idea of going to China calls for awareness and the willingness to relocate,” which could be appealing to employers, he says.

And he’s not the only one to have spotted the competitive advantage work experience in China may bring. Applications for internships there have more than tripled over the past couple of years, according to figures released by CRCC Asia, a London-based recruitment consultancy.

In 2009, the company received about 250 applications, compared with more than 1,000 so far this year, says CRCC Asia Director Daniel Nivern. “The Chinese economy is booming and it’s very appealing for graduates to get an insight as to why that’s happening by visiting [the country]. With the job market depressed in the U.K. and the U.S., China offers a great opportunity to get a long-term career,” he says.

He says China has also come into focus for Western companies looking to grow. “A lot of businesses realize that if they want to be part of the global economy, they need to be going into China,” adds Mr. Nivern, whose company has mostly placed recent graduates from the U.K. and the U.S., but also from other European countries like Spain, in finance, marketing and legal firms in China.

“I have been told repeatedly that my work in China looks great on my résumé,” says Alexander Lesher, who recently finished a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering at the Indiana-based Purdue University and subsequently undertook a two-month internship at environmental company Nanjing Zhuangxun Tech Co. in Beijing.

He says his experience there gave him a greater awareness of cultural differences. He says he was surprised by the way business people interacted during lunches. During a working meal with a group of about eight people, a single person would buy enough food to completely fill the table and would go out of his or her way to make sure everyone ate as much as possible. “Then they would act humbly, as if they have done nothing,” he says. “That wouldn’t happen in the U.S.”

Others visiting China for the first time found the first few days disconcerting. Sophie Corcut, a former unpaid marketing intern at fair-trade company Shangrila Farms, says: “Living in Beijing and dealing with a totally foreign language was challenging. Things like crossing the road or buying things in the supermarket or counting the numbers were suddenly difficult.” But it was precisely that challenge that Ms. Corcut, who borrowed from her parents to fund her trip, was looking for. “It was brilliant. I was looking for that stimulation.”

Ms. Corcut, who now has a full-time job with management consultancy Accenture in London, says her two months’ work experience in China was more rewarding than previous internships she had done in her native England. “I have done a lot of work experience in the U.K., and they actually don’t need you. You are just there, and they are constantly trying to find you work. You are given something very menial,” she says. “But in China they were actually using me. I was lucky to be interning for a young company that needed a lot of help.”

She says initially after graduation she wasn’t sure what to do professionally with a degree in history and French, but in China she learned how to use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop and started designing promotional leaflets for the company. “I tried to get a big sales push and tried to get new clients,” she says.

But some recruiters are swift to point out that China isn’t the only place that will help students stand out. Chris McCarthy, of London-based recruiter Hays PLC, says it isn’t China experience per se that employers are looking for but evidence that potential employees are willing to challenge themselves.

“If Europe and the U.S. are going to maintain their place in global business people need to be prepared to put on a back pack” and head for less familiar places, says Mr. McCarthy. “It is evidence that people are willing to challenge themselves, not specifically China, that employers are looking for. They want to see a bit of ambition and entrepreneurship,” he says.

He adds, however, that China can be of particular relevance to employers looking for people with experience in emerging markets.

But while experience in China may be invaluable, some obstacles can seem formidable. Mr. Gutiérrez, working at a microlender, struggled with Chinese. “The problem with a rural bank is that Chinese is its first language and English is not used at all. When it came to producing reports on the fluctuation of gold prices, there were no previous templates I could use so I had to rely on an intuitive process and then improve the subsequent reports based on feedback.”

Despite some barriers, the benefits run in both directions, and companies in China are profiting from the surge in interest from potential interns in the West. Thomas Cao, chief executive of Beijing-based Broad Global Venture Capital Co., says he finds real value in the work done by interns.

“We look for graduates to come and do real work. We have asked our interns, for example, to help us analyze the chances of companies going public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange,” he says.

Ultimately, says Mr. Lesher, going to China was about turning a personal fascination into a tangible benefit for his career. “The country was just a point of personal fascination. I wasn’t sure how it would work out.”

Source: http://online.wsj.com/

Apprendre le Chinois à l’université de Wuhan

Comme beaucoup d’expat ont peu le remarquer, savoir parler chinois rend les choses nettement plus simple en Chine.
Maxxelli Blog Wuhan à fait quelques recherches et est heureux de vous présenter le programme de langue de l’université de Wuhan.

Introduction

Nous proposons des cours de chinois enseignés par les professeurs professionnels pour les étudiants étrangers. L’étudiant est entrainé sur l’écoute, la lecture, la discussion et l’écriture. Pour garantir la qualité de l’enseignement l’étudiants sont repartit dans différentes classes en fonction de leur niveau de chinois (débutant, intermédiaire, intermédiaire avancé et très avancé). Le nombre d’étudiant par classe est obligatoirement très peu élevé.

Notes:
1． Durée et frais de dossier: toute l’année, 400 RMB en cash.

2．Frais de scolarité: 16500RMB/an

3．Prix des livres: varie en fonction des livres

4．Condition d’admission: en bonne santé, discipliné, + de 16 ans

Documents nécessaires:

1. Dossier d’inscription de l’université de Wuhan pour les étudiants étrangers

2. une photocopie de passeport

Méthode d’inscription: l’étudiant pour s’inscrire directement au bureau d’admission de l’université de Wuhan.

Veuillez noter que les documents nécessaires pour l’inscription ne vous seront pas rendus.

Procédures d’inscription:

1. S’adresser au bureau d’admission et demander le dossier d’inscription de l’université de Wuhan pour les étudiants étranger.
Il est également possible de télécharger le dossier sur le site internet de
l’université http://whu.edu.cn

2. Envoyer le dossier d’inscription, les frais de dossier and les autres documents nécessaire par la post, fax ou email directement au bureau d’admission avant la date limite d’inscription.

3. L’avis d’admission émis par l’université de Wuhan ainsi que l’application de visa pour étudier en Chine (formulaire JW202) sera envoyé aux étudiants sélectionnés et admis.

4. Les étudiants admis doivent fournir l’avis d’admission, la demande de visa d’étude en Chine (formulaire JW 202) et l’examen physique d’enregistrement à l’ambassade de Chine pour le visa vers la Chine (visa X ou F).

5. Pour s’inscrire à l’université de Wuhan dans les délais indiqués par l’avis d’admission et obtenir la licence de résidence de 30 jours après l’entrée en Chine les étudiants admis doivent fournir l’avis d’admission, la demande de visa d’étude en Chine (formulaire JW 202), leurs passeport, 8 photos d’identité et les résultats originaux de l’examen physique (test sanguin, X-ray check-up, l’électrocardiogramme…).
Les étudiants qui ne s’inscrivent pas dans le délai d’enregistrement sans juste motif seront rejetés. Des exceptions peuvent être faites uniquement si le retard a été accepté à l’avance par l’Université.

Cliquez ici pour visiter l’université de Wuhan.

Herb Miller the Director of the Wuhan Yangtze International School accepted to answer to our questions to present his education institution.

Maxxelli-blog:Name, sex, position
Herb M: Herb Mittler / Male / Director of Admissions/Development Wuhan Yangtze International School

Maxxelli-blog:What did you do before?
Herb M:Before working at the school, I worked with an NGO assisting children in China with education.

Maxxelli-blog: How and when was your school created?
Herb Miller: WYIS has been operating in Wuhan since 2003.

Maxxelli-blog: Who are your customers?
Herb M: We serve the expatriate community in Wuhan. WYIS has more than 15 nations and regions represented in the school.

Maxxelli-blog: What kind of services and products do you propose to customers?
Herb M: We provide an American-style education to international children currently residing in Wuhan. Ever expanding, currently WYIS has 120 students (pre-K through 12) enrolled, as well as employing more than 20 foreign teachers and 20 national staff. Our students come from more than 17 different countries and regions creating a truly international setting for education. Classroom teachers are recruited internationally and have degrees in their areas of instruction. WYIS is a fully accredited K-12 program with the North Central Association on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) in America.

WYIS is a member of the association of International Schools of China (ISC), which has over twenty years of experience providing international education in China. Over 1500 students are currently enrolled in ISC network of 6 Schools.

WYIS uses a United States-based curriculum, with an emphasis on reaching standards and benchmarks for each grade level. Our elementary curriculum is unit-centered, integrating core concepts and ideas throughout a variety of disciplines. We supplement our core curriculum, taught in English, with computer, music, art, and physical education classes.

Chinese is taught daily to all students with proficiency in English. We offer Advanced Placement (AP) College Board classes, allowing upper level high school students the opportunity to gain college credits while in high school. Our school is a certified AP, PSAT, SAT and ACT examination center, allowing students to take these tests on-site.

At WYIS, the English as a Second/Other Language (ESOL) program offers intensive English instruction for non-native speakers at both the elementary and secondary levels.
In addition to our many course offerings, we have an expanding after-school and club program. For our elementary students we offer free movement dance, choir, and art clubs once a week.

Our middle and high school students have the opportunity to join volleyball, chess club, band, soccer, basketball, choir, student council, and yearbook.

Our elementary students participate in many field trips, integrating their classroom learning with the world around them.

Our secondary students attend a fall camp, sports tournaments in Shenyang, Qingdao, and Tianjin, as well as an annual chess tournament in Chengdu. Through the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) we encourage parent involvement, and to enable this we have periodic activities involving families and friends of the school. In the fall we have an “International Day:” a celebration of the many cultures represented in our school. In the winter we have a Christmas program, and the spring brings a Children’s literature night as well as end of the year Art Show and Science Fair.

We currently have 20 classrooms, one for each elementary grade as well as subject areas for both elementary and secondary. In addition we have science and art labs built to the specifications of the instructors, and movable laptop labs, enabling all our children access to computers and internet research. Our facilities include a rubberized track, grass soccer field, volleyball court, and playground. We offer a variety of Chinese and western food for school lunches.

We invite visits, phone calls, and emails; we would love to answer your questions.

Contact
Name en: Wuhan Yangtze International School
Name ch: 武汉长江国际学校
Address en: San Jiao Hu Elementary School
Wuhan Economic and Technology Development Zone
Wuhan, Hubei, 430056
Adress ch:武汉市武汉经济技术开发区
（沌口）三角湖小学
Phone number: +86-27-8423-8713
Opening hours: M-F 8:00-3:30
Website: www.wyischina.com

Dans le cadre de la fête, des concerts, des lectures, des expositions, des conférences et un Café des sciences sont programmés.

De plus, un festival du film francophone sera organisé avec la projection de trente films proposés par 27 pays dont la Belgique, le Cameroun et la Côte d’ Ivoire.

Le 27 Février le Service Culturel du Consulat Générale de France vous invites au bar le Jamaica Blues de Wuhan pour la projection du film de Fabien Gailliard « LAOWAI ».

La Fête de la francophonie est un événement culturel festif qui a lieu chaque année dans le monde entier aux alentours du 20 mars, date anniversaire de la création de l’Organisation internationale de la francophonie.

Selon les chiffres donnés par l’ambassadeur de France en Chine, la Chine compte 100 000 personnes étudiant le français en 2010, et ce nombre ne cesse d’augmenter. On dénombre environ 1 000 professeurs de français chinois et francophones. Plus de 90 universités chinoises possèdent un département de français. Il existe 13 Alliances françaises dans la partie continentale de Chine, ainsi qu’une à Hong-Kong et une à Macao.

Frustrated that you cannot express yourself?

Want to make the most of your time in China?

Learn Chinese! Take Mandarin Classes at Rainbow Reading for a flexible, comfortable and professional study environment that delivers results.

Rainbow Reading is a professional language training center that offers many types of foreign languages, as well as Chinese.* We offer different levels of Mandarin courses:

• Survival Chinese Language Class – The survival Class is specially designed for expatriates who have just arrived in China and want to emerge themselves in the Chinese life and culture in a short amount of time.
• Rainbow Reading Systematic Course – The systematic course consists of five levels, from beginner to upper-intermediate level. The schedule for completing each level is 36-58 hours. This course focuses on all the modules of Chinese language. It aims at developing communication skills in Chinese on a wide range of topics, in a variety of situations.
• Business Chinese – With one-fifth of the world’s population speaking Chinese, being able to communicate in Mandarin has become essential in the business world. This class is designed for students who have already reached the intermediate level and want to apply their Chinese language skills in business.
• Tailored Chinese Language Class – Our courses are flexible; we can tailor our teaching materials and teaching methodologies to meet the different needs of our students.

Contact Information

TEL： 027-82666628

FAX： 027-82666628

E-mail： service@readingcafe.com.cn

Website: http://www.readingcafe.com.cn/English/about.html

Postal Code： 430067

Address: We are conveniently located in all three districts in Wuhan- Wuchang, Hankou, and Zhuankou.

Wuchang Branch: European Gardens Room 201, Block 6A, Ou Zhou Hua Yuan, XuDong, Wuhan

Hankou Branch: 3/F, Orient Sky Mansion, 77 Jiang Han Bei Lu, Jiang Han District, Wu Han

Zhuankou Branch: Tai He Flowers Park, 5 Jiangda Road, Wuhan Economic & Technology Development Zone

Learn Chinese at Wuhan University

As many expats might have noticed, being able to speak some Chinese will make life in China much easier.
Maxxelli blog Wuhan has made some research, and are happy to present a language program at Wuhan University.

Introduction
We provide Chinese language courses for international students who are taught by our professional teachers teaching Chinese to foreigners. They train the students from the aspects of listening, speaking, reading and writing. To guarantee the teaching quality, we will divide the students into different classes from beginning, junior, middle and senior levels according to their Chinese language proficiency. The number of students in each class is strictly kept small.

Notes:

1．Application period and fees: all the year, RMB 400 in cash

2．Tuition fees: 16500RMB/year

3．Textbook fees: based on the prices of the books

4．Requirements for applicants: healthy, well-behaved, and over 16 years

Application documents
1. Wuhan University Application Form for Foreign Students

2. One copy of the applicant’s passport.

Application method: students can apply directly to Admission Office, College of Foreign Students Education of Wuhan University.

Please note that your application documents will not be returned.

Enrollment procedures

1. Ask for Wuhan University Application Form For Foreign Students from Admission Office, College of Foreign Students Education. (Students can download such form from the Website of Wuhan University: http://whu.edu.cn )

2. Send the application form, application fees and other related documents by post, fax or email directly to Admission Office before the application deadline.

3. Admission Notice issued by Wuhan University and Visa Application for Study in China (JW202 form) will be sent to students screened and admitted.

4. Admitted students should bring Admission Notice, Visa Application for Study in China (JW 202 form) and Physical Examination Record to the Chinese embassy for visa to China (X or F visa).

5. Admitted students should bring Admission Notice, Visa Application for study in China (JW 202 form), passports, personal registration photos (8 for each person) and physical examination forms (Original blood test report, X-ray check-up and the electrocardiogram and etc.) to register at Wuhan University within the registration period indicated in Admission Notice and obtain the Residence License within 30 days after entering China. Students who fail to register within the registration period without proper reasons will be rejected. Exceptions can be made to students whose delay has beengranted by the University in advance.

Click here to visit Wuhan University

Maxxelli was glad to sponsor Wuhan Yangtze School.

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Maxxelli-blog: Name,Sex,Position?

Les D.: Les Dukowski, male, Principal of the Wuhan Maple Leaf International School and the Wuhan Maple Leaf Foreign Nationals School

Maxxelli-blog: How and when was your school created?

Les D.: Our schools are part of the Maple Leaf Educational System of Schools which operates schools in Dalian, Tianjin, and Chongqing.

Our schools are each certified by the British Columbia, Canada Ministry of Education and all instruction in English is given by teachers certified in British Columbia.

I believe that Maple Leaf schools are an attractive option for expatriates with children and the International School is an excellent option for Chinese students who wish to continue post-secondary studies abroad.

The Foreign Nationals School offers a Canadian curriculum, in English, to foreign national students from Kindergarten to Grade 9 (five years old to 14 years old).  Additional English language support is given to students whose first language is not English.  The enrolment in the Foreign Nationals School is 21.

The International School offers the B.C. Graduation program curriculum, in English, to students in Grades 10, 11 and 12.  We also offer a year of preparatory English Language development for those students who need additional English instruction prior to entering Grade 10.  The enrolment in the International School is approximately 710.

Students who successfully complete the Grade 12 program receive a diploma for graduation from the British Columbia Ministry of Education – the “Dogwood Certificate”, and Chinese national students may receive their Chinese graduation diploma as well.

Maxxelli-blog: Who are your customers?

Les D.: We have two sets of customers.  For the Foreign Nationals School we enroll the children of expatriates in China in Kindergarten (age 5) to Grade 9 (approximately age 14).  For the International School we enrol students of all nationalities, including Chinese nationals in Grades 10 (age 15) to Grade 12.

Maxxelli-blog: How many foreign students do you have in Wuhan now?

Les D.: We enrol 21 foreign students in the Foreign Nationals School and 5 foreign students in the International School.

Maxxelli-blog: What kind of services and products you propose to your customers?

Les D.: The service that we offer to customers is an excellent international-calibre education, in English that is certified by the Province of British Columbia, Canada.   Students who graduate from our program are well prepared to enter post-secondary institutions abroad and have excellent credentials to make application to western universities.

Maxxelli-blog: What is the difference between your school and other schools?

Les D.: Our schools are unique in that they are certified British Columbia, Canada Offshore Schools.  The B.C. Education system is recognized as a world-class system and students at Maple Leaf receive instruction by B.C. Certified teachers and, at graduation, receive a B.C. “Dogwood Certificate” – the same diploma they would receive had they been studying in Canada.  Maple Leaf students are recognized around the world as being well prepared for Western post-secondary colleges and universities.

Contact Information

Address: 1016 Minzu Road, East Lake Hi-Tech Development Zone, Wuchang, Wuhan, P.R.C.  430074

Tel: 027 8192 5888 or 027 8192 5777

E-mail: wuhanmapleleafint@hotmail.com

Website: http://www.mapleleaf.net.cn/

L’Ecole Mission Laïque Française a été créée en 1992. Son directeur est M.Robin. L’école accueille près de 100 élèves, de la maternelle à la première, les préparant au Diplôme national du Brevet et Baccalauréat (épreuves anticipées).

Outre les enfants d’agents Peugeot et Citroën représentant la majorité des effectifs globaux, l’école scolarise des enfants d’agents d’autres sociétés (Alstom, Converteam, Hutchinson, Renault, Valeo, Visteon…). L’école est située depuis la rentrée 2006 au cœur de la nouvelle base-vie. Les bâtiments sont donc entièrement neufs. Des salles de classes, nombreuses, en passant par la salle informatique, la BCD, le CDI ou la salle de motricité, le nouveau bâtiment offre des conditions d’accueil idéales. Des installations sportives sur la base permettent d’assurer l’enseignement de l’E.P.S et l’organisation de sports collectifs.
Cinq professeurs des écoles et cinq professeurs de collège/lycée constituent l’équipe pédagogique. Un professeur d’allemand et deux intervenantes en chinois complètent l’équipe pédagogique.
Les objectifs, à vocation pédagogique, culturelle et socio-éducative, s’appuient sur des actions mettant en jeu un grand nombre de compétences : apprentissage du chinois dès la maternelle, organisation d’échanges et de rencontres avec des établissements chinois et les autres écoles du réseau Mission laïque française, correspondance scolaire avec des écoles en France, visites d’entreprises, développement des activités sportives à l’école et sur la base-vie, travail sur le site internet de l’école…
Enfin, de nombreuses activités artistiques, culturelles ou sportives sont proposées aux élèves dans le cadre périscolaire.
L’école participe en outre aux animations de la base vie. Elle répond donc parfaitement à sa vocation éducative et d’animation de la communauté française.

Contact

Village Ginkgo
Guan Hu Lu
Hanyang Wuhan
Wedz Hubei 430 056

Tél : (00 86) 27 84 28 20 92
Fax : (00 86) 27 84 28 20 92
Adresse mail: ecolemlf.wuhan@yahoo.fr
Site internet: http://www.ecolemlfwuhan.org
Site de la Mission Laïque Française :
http://www.mission-laique.asso.fr/reseaux/entreprise/chinewuhan/index.htm