School's In For Summer

Kids on summer vacation demand more of their freedom than hanging out with ayi all day. If you’re a parent who has to work through the school holidays, you might be pleased to learn that there are a few places in Beijing where the grand old tradition of the summer camp lives on. We recently spoke to Qiu Yanping, president of The Bridge School, about his organization’s camps for kids.

How did The Bridge School come about?
In 1993, I began teaching Chinese to some of my foreign friends. I found teaching Chinese as a second language really rewarding, so I started the school. I wanted to create a place for foreigners to study Chinese and learn more about China.

Where do you find the teachers?
We have more than 100 teachers now, who are all majored in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, Chinese or English. When they first join Bridge School, they undergo a mandatory two-and-a-half months of training.

What kind of activities and classes does the school offer?
The courses can be broken down into two categories: general language classes and cultural classes.

You’ve got a summer camp coming up; what does that involve and who is it for?
It’s for kids between 5 and 12 years old. We separate them into different classes according to their Chinese level, which they’re tested for after registration. The idea is to give the kids a happy summer holiday and lighten the burden on their parents.

Is this the first time you’ve held a summer camp?
It’s the first time The Bridge School has held a summer camp, but the venue, Riviera, has held many summer camps before.

How long does the summer camp last?
We’re running camps over eight weeks from June 22 to August 14. There are four blocks of two-week long camps. Kids can participate in only one block, or stay for longer if they choose.

And how much does it cost?
RMB 2,880 for one block at the full-day camps, and RMB 1,600 for one block at the half-day ones. These prices do not include the study material fee (RMB 260) and transportation fee (RMB 400).

What will kids learn in this summer camp? What activities will you hold?
There are two main parts – one academic, the other entertainment. The academic part includes Chinese language learning courses and Chinese culture classes, including calligraphy, Chinese painting and Chinese knot-making. The entertainment aspect includes magic, kung fu, tennis, swimming, singing and pottery courses. Every Friday afternoon, we take the kids on a fun excursion to other spots around Beijing.

So what happens in a typical day at camp?
Our classes begin at 9am and finish at 3.30pm. Kids who live in Riviera can go directly home, and we have school buses to take the other kids home.

And what languages are spoken?
English. After all, the kids need to understand what the teachers are talking about.

Why did you choose Riviera to hold the summer camp?
There are lots of foreign residents in the community. That means the setting is friendly for foreign kids. At the same time, we can free parents in the community from chaperoning their children’s summer holiday. Riviera also has great facilities – soccer grounds, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts and basketball courts.

How do you handle kids who are naughty or difficult to control?
The Bridge School has very professional, patient teachers with strong communication and organizational skills. As long as the courses are interesting for the kids, they’ll be no trouble. But we do have to be well-organized.

How do you guarantee the kids’ safety?
Of course, we have professionals in our club to ensure safety. Although this is our first summer camp, we’ve held other events for kids in the past. We’ve never had any problems before, so we’re confident the camps will be the same.

The Bridge School
1) Rm 903, E-Tower, 12 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District. (6506 4409, 6467 8822); 2) Rm 1308, 3/F, Guangming Hotel, Liangmaquiao Lu, Chaoyang District. (6506 4409, 6467 8822) www.bridgeschoolchina.com
博瑞智文化培训学校, 1) 朝阳区朝阳区光华路12号数码01大厦9层903; 2) 朝阳区亮马桥路光明饭店3层1308

Beijing Riviera
1 Xiangjiang Beilu, Chaoyang District. (8450 6888) www.bjriviera.com
香江花园, 朝阳区香江北路1号

Interview by Wang Xueqiao