Hopkins-Nanjing Center Blog

The next online chat will take place next Tuesday, July 29 from   10:00AM to   11:00AM EDT .    Chatting   with us will be admissions representatives Lauren Szymanski (HNC '12) and Sallie Ly.  Join us to hear firsthand experience and valuable advice, and be sure to bring any questions you may have about the application process, academics, or student life.  At the scheduled time,   click here to join the   chat   and sign in as a guest.  We look forward to speaking with you!

As you prepare for your time at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center by applying for visas, making packing lists, and booking flights, it’s also important to maintain (or improve!) your current Chinese level, especially for those who are not currently living in China and don’t use Chinese in your day-to-day life. Below are several activities and resources to help you practice reading, listening, speaking, and writing in Chinese: Reading: Newspapers Wall Street Journal China Real Time Report Southern Weekend   <   南方 周末>   Xinhua   <新华>   Chinese Literature Books in translation   If you’ve already read the book in English and know the plot, this can help you practice vocabulary and grammar.  For example, most students have read   this book   in English. Movies with Chinese subtitles ChinesePod   Listening/Speaking: Voice of America   (free) Meetup groups for Mandarin ...

HNC admissions coordinator and 2012 Certificate alum Lauren Szymanski reflects on one of her favorite places to visit during her year in Nanjing: One of the most unique places I ever visited in Nanjing was the bookstore Librairie Avant-Garde . Located next to Wutaishan Stadium, the bookstore is within short walking distance of the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, and was always a fun place to visit for a short study break, or to sit and read for hours. The first time I ever went to Avant-Garde , my friend and I actually walked by it about two times before we finally found the entrance. The fact that this bookstore used to be an old underground car park adds to the difficulty of finding it, but also enhances the overall uniqueness of the store. When you first walk through the entrance, it is somewhat unassuming. You see a variety of different postcards for sale, and some unique artwork, but it isn’t until you walk up a rather steep incline that you see how vast extraordinary the bookst...

The Hopkins-Nanjing Center Office of International Admissions will be closed on Friday, July 4 in observance of Independence Day.  We will return any emails when the office reopens on Monday, July 7. Please also mark your calendars for the first online chat of the next application cycle!  Get a head start on the application process by joining us on Tuesday, July 29 from 10:00-11:00am EDT.  Can't make that chat?  Don't worry!  We'll be hosting monthly online chats between July and February.  More information on how to login will be posted in the coming weeks. Have a safe and relaxing holiday!

It's Hopkins-Nanjing Center tradition to feature two commencement speakers (one Chinese and one international) and two student speakers.  The Chinese student speaker gives a speech in English, while the international student speaker provides remarks in Chinese.  At the 2014 commencement ceremony two weeks ago, certificate student Laurel Mills was selected as international student speaker.  As HNC's very first second-generation student, Laurel reflects on her father's experiences in Nanjing and her own time as a certificate student at the Center. Laurel Mills giving her speech 大家好。我叫宓思 华 ，是中美中心本届 证书班的学生 。 1991 年，我在江 苏 省南京市鼓楼区的鼓楼医院出生了。 这 里很多同学都知道，我爸爸那个 时 候也是中美中心的学生，我 妈妈 本来就是南京人。你 们 有可能已 经 欣 赏 了南京春天美 丽 的， 绿树 成 荫 的街道。事实上，正是这些美丽的树成了我爸爸妈妈的 “ 红娘 ” 。我爸爸在南京的 时 候在上海路 骑 自行 车 ， 树 枝卷进了 他的 车轮 ，造成了一个自行车事故。然后他的手臂 就骨折了 。我妈妈在这个时候本来打算去广州，可后来还是决定要留在南京去医院照顾他。然后我爸爸向她求婚 了。没想到的是，二十三年多后的今天，我也从中美中心毕业了。我觉得这就是我们说的：缘分。 我从小一直听到我爸爸说他在中美中心的经历有多好，长大了以后也能开始理解他在南京的这一年是怎样影响了他的思想和看世界的角...