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Spending a year studying in China was one of the greatest experiences of my life, and I'm sure that if you go, you'll agree that it is an amazing place to study.

I hope you will spend some time looking at the resources provided below: some links, books, and advice that I believe will be helpful to those who plan to study abroad in China.

• A list of Excellent Books to read before Studying in China

• Some Great Websites for those who plan to Study Abroad in China

My Advice for Studying Abroad in China

I spent two semesters studying abroad in China as an undergraduate, and I'm writing to convince others to do so as well. Even if you're out in the working world, I think that taking time off to live/study in China is both worthwhile and easier to do than you may think.

There are some things to be aware of when choosing where and with what program you would like to study abroad. Basically, there's an easy path and a harder path—though the harder path isn't all that hard and you will come away with a lot more for it.

There are many "vacation" study abroad programs out there. These are the kind where a university sends you abroad with classmates who are all from your own school and, more often than not, professors too that will travel with and teach the course while abroad. You essentially spend the time living in a bubble and learn comparatively very little about the country.

In my classes, which were all language courses, my classmates were from all over the world (I sat next to a man from North Korea in one course); and my teachers didn't speak any English (because they didn't know how). I think I gained quite a bit from this that those who chose a different type of study abroad program missed out on.

If you can't speak the language of the country you are in, you might as well be watching a movie. Even if you can see and experience everything that's going on, you can't (easily) interact with your surroundings. Until you can sit down with a group of Chinese friends for a few hours and speak to them in their own language, you're not really going to be walking away with much more than if you had watched a bunch of movies about the country.

The Chinese language is a difficult one to learn, but it is by no means impossible. With the proper work ethic, anyone can do it. Even if you won't be able to speak any Chinese when you first arrive, if you spend your time in China studying the language, you will be surprised by how quickly you will develop the skills you need to interact with the people around you.

Why China?

Anyone will tell you that by studying China, particularly the language, you are gaining what will certainly be a very marketable skill in the future. This is true, but there are other reasons in case this doesn't quite convince you.

For one, it's CHEAP! The amount of money that was paying for my Ramen noodles in the US was providing a pretty wild lifestyle in China. I ate out for every meal, went out all the time, took cabs everywhere I had to go, and got a couple suits tailor made.

What's more, is that annual tuition at the university I was at was somewhere in the range $3,000 while I was there. Not that this is nothing, but when compared to tuition prices in the US…well, it actually kind of is. At any rate it's cheap enough that if one were to take time away from their university or off of work to spend in China, the student loans wouldn't be horrible. Studying in China is going to be cheaper than just about anywhere in Western Europe.

Moreover, if you are looking for a place that is different from what you're used to, there aren't many places that fit the bill as well as China. There is an endless amount of culture to explore and countless places to see.

How long is long enough, and how much Chinese should I know before I go?

When I went I was under the impression that once I was in China and totally immersed, I'd be fluent in no time.

That's not exactly the case. As a general rule of thumb, it takes about two years of studying in the country to get to the point of true fluency.

It might not be a good idea to go over there without knowing how to say anything (for some tips on how to get started, click here), but if you haven't taken any classes, be confident! First, people do this all the time—though it does require some patience. Second, you'll learn quickly if you make the proper effort in the classroom, and most importantly, in getting to know Chinese people outside the classroom (and there is no shortage of Chinese students looking for westerners to practice their hard-earned English skills with).

Finally, if you're in a big city such as Beijing there is almost always going to be someone in the crowd who has studied English in the past and would love to help you out if you're having trouble communicating. The Chinese had nothing short of an incredible amount of patience for me when I experienced short-comings in my language skills.

All of that said, I know people who spent a semester in China and didn't learn how to say a word (despite the fact that they were enrolled in Chinese classes). So, anything is possible but you have to have the right attitude.

Should I just go there and teach English, because then they'd be paying me to go abroad?

No. First, the impression I'm under is that you aren't exactly making a ton of money for doing this—which is especially relevant given that tuition and living expenses wouldn't be very expensive if you would choose to go there and study instead.

Second, don't expect to learn very much Chinese when it's your job to speak English all day long. Also, given that the Chinese work day/week is a little longer than it is in the West, you may very well be expected to work more than you may think; leaving less time for seeing the country and interacting with the people.

What else do I need to know?

For one, if you've never studied or read anything about China before, it's good to pick up a few books on the subject. That way, you'll have a baseline of knowledge about the country that you can build upon once you're there. It will help you make sense of the otherwise confusing things you are likely to run into.

I always suggest to start with Wild Swans, which is a great book. For a few more suggestions on good books that are out there, please see my Book List.

Also, there are a few other things that I have addressed on my "Advice for Traveling to China" page; such as how to pack, shop, and a few dos and don'ts. To see this page, please click here.

Finally, there are a few study abroad related links (such as CIEE and Freeman-ASIA, which anyone who is interested in studying abroad should definitely be aware of) on my Links page. To see them, click here.

I hope that this has been enough to convince you to study in China. If you have any questions or comments regarding what I have written, please email me at: MarkAnderson@translatechinese.org.