During the summer and fall terms on Cornell's campus, you'll be in class Monday through Friday from about 9:00 to 4:30.

Each day, you will attend three to four interactive sessions conducted entirely in Chinese, where you'll practice conversational skills. You'll also attend one daily lecture taught in English. This lecture gives you the chance to learn, from a native English speaker's perspective, about how the language works and what sorts of challenges you are likely to encounter in your studies. You'll also discuss aspects of contemporary Chinese culture and strategies for studying and learning. Extensive class preparation is also required at the end of the class day--typically another 1-3 hours per evening.

This rigorous but rewarding schedule is the foundation of FALCON's approach. Despite the demands, students' energy and spirits remain high--bolstered by rapid progress and the strong camaraderie that develops among the group.