Middle School Travel Abroad

Middle School Travel Abroad

A fitting capstone to the Yinghua immersion experience is a two-week study tour experience to a Mandarin speaking country for 7th and 8th graders. Students jointly plan and complete a focused project during their time abroad. The details of the trip change each year based on many factors.

Trip Objectives

Be a traveler, not a tourist.
Learn about the culture.
Immerse yourself in language and culture.
Use the Chinese language in practical application.
Make friends.

For those interested in participating in the 2025 summer trip to China, you can view the Info Session recording and complete the online application.

Chinese Bridge: Flying Tigers Summer Camp

In the June of 2024, students from across the globe were invited to participate in the Chinese Bridge Flying Tigers Summer Camp in mainland China, organized by the Ministry of Education’s Center for Language Education and Cooperation. They visited Beijing and Yunan province and embarked on cultural exchanges, site seeing, and museum tours to learn more about China and Shino-American military collaboration against Japanese invasion during World War II. Click here for more information about the camp or watch the video by Yunnan TV below!

Student Experiences

"I loved the great views at a lot of places while visiting Taiwan! From just the skyline of the city to the flourishing and lush nature. My favorite spot has to be the beach! Feeling the sand in-between my feet and watching the waves crash with all of my friends was astounding."
Ozzie, Taiwan 2023
“My homestay family was amazing. They were all very kind, curious, and gave us lots of gifts and food and experiences. Sophie, the oldest daughter, was a bit shy at first, but as time went on, she opened up more. She was very gentle and sweet. Her parents were curious and very interested in learning about us and Minnesota.”
Alice, Taiwan 2023
“Experiencing the feeling of being a foreigner in a new country has really opened my eyes to the fear and anxiety people feel when in a new place. Knowing this I will try to be as understanding and kind to any foreigner I will run into in America. I will try to be more like the Taiwanese people when welcoming new people into our country.”
Eleanor, Taiwan 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

The cost to families is approximately $5,000. This includes airfare, food, transportation, lodging, chaperones, local tour guides, museum admittance, etc. Spending money is not included.

It is not the same trip every year! The itinerary generally rotates – one year northern China, one year southern China or Taiwan.

One Yinghua instructor per ten students (1:10 ratio).

We usually use hotels but also try to plan homestays for a few nights with families of a sister school.

Students are eligible to apply for the trip during their 7th or 8th grade year. Each student must submit an electronic application with a deposit by the deadline (look for an announcement in early winter).

We need a minimum of 10 students and a maximum of 30 students for the trip. For years in which more than 30 students apply, we will consider adding additional groups or trips.