The Language Flagship is a program sponsored by the National Security Education Program (NSEP) and the U.S. Department of Defense. The goal of The Language Flagship program is to create language-capable professionals in various fields of study to enhance U.S. competitiveness and security.
The Chinese Flagship Program is designed for undergraduate students who are highly interested in Chinese language and culture. Graduates of the Language Flagship program will take their place among the next generation of global professionals by bringing a superior level of proficiency in Chinese to their work and contributing their skills to U.S. competitiveness and national security.
The Language Flagship program at the University of North Georgia was established in 2011 as a pilot ROTC program. The program is designed to provide intensive Chinese language education in conjunction with students’ planned ROTC program requirements.
The Chinese Flagship program is a five-year program. The first four years you will attend Chinese language and content courses and attend a summer study abroad program.
Your fifth year (known as the Capstone year) will be spent in China. You will finish your courses required to graduate during the first semester of your Capstone year. You will attend an internship during your second semester.
Yes. Flagship students attend individual tutoring sessions with their native speaking tutor on a weekly basis. This one-on-one interaction helps to identify strengths and improve weaknesses.
The Flagship program is much more individualized to your learning abilities with one-on-one tutoring sessions, smaller classroom sizes, and the full support of the Flagship faculty and staff. The goal of the Flagship program is to reach a superior level of Chinese proficiency, whereas most students who major in Chinese achieve an intermediate level of proficiency.
The Summer Language Institute (SLI) is an advantageous start for a Chinese Flagship student. SLI provides exposure to a fast paced and immersive learning environment that prepares students for the enhanced linked Chinese courses that they will take throughout their time at UNG. SLI teaches good study habits and provides a solid base knowledge of the language for students to build on. We strongly recommend that incoming students interested in Chinese Flagship begin with Chinese SLI if possible.
No. If you are a rising Freshman, we recommend attending the Summer Language Institute. If you have already started classes at UNG, we will recommend attending a domestic summer program.
No, however, it is highly recommended. If you do not attend the capstone year in China, but complete the four years of the domestic Flagship component, you will be considered an alum of the program instead of a graduate of the program.
Students of the Chinese Flagship program must remain enrolled in Chinese courses throughout their time at UNG. We encourage students to pursue a major or minor in Chinese alongside other major/minors. For example, BA in International Affairs: East Asian studies, with a minor in Chinese.
The answer to this depends heavily on the type of prior experience the individual has had with the language and also the individual's learning style and grasp of the language up to this point.
That being said, if an individual feels that taking the beginner levels of Chinese would be unproductive for them, they may consider the options below to potentially receive credit for Chinese AP classes taken or test out using the FLATS (Foreign Language Achievement Testing Services).
Chinese AP Credit from High School Chinese AP credits granted at UNG include CHIN 1001, 1002, 2001, 2002
Foreign Language Achievement Testing Service (FLATS) The FLATS allows students the opportunity to bring in up to 12 credit hours of pass/fail university language credits.