Summer vacation has always been an excellent time for learning and planning for the upcoming academic year. Whether it is improving GPA or discovering new passions and interests, you can quickly jumpstart your academic improvements and/or increase your college application strength during the summer vacation.
Competition Prep
Students will complete at least 3 writing works in this project and submit them to the National Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards. 3 writing works include: 2 or more poems, 1 short story (science fiction genre), and 1 critical essay.
Instructor Introduction: Teacher P has rich experience in writing competition training. He has led students to participate in well-known American writing competitions such as Scholastic Arts & Writing, New York Times Editorial Competition, and Ocean Awareness Competition. Many students have successfully won awards under his guidance.
Suitable for: Students studying in American and Canadian schools in grades 8-12.
Tentative class schedule: Beginning Wednesday, June 16, 8 PM-9:30 PM EST
15 hours of classes, including 9 hours of group classes (90 minutes/class/week), and 6 hours of one-on-one classes (60 minutes/class, scheduled after the group sessions are completed)
Students will fill the knowledge gaps required for AMC10 while learning problem-solving strategies for the AMC10 and AMC12 competitions. Teachers will provide students with practice using actual questions from prior exams as well as textbook exercises.
Instructor Introduction: Teacher C is a mathematics teacher with rich experience instructing high school students in geometry, AP Calculus, Multivariable Calculus, and other subjects. Teacher C also tutors mathematics to college students. Teacher C has a master’s degree in mathematics from Tufts University.
Suitable for: Students in grade 10 and below, who previously took algebra 1 and geometry and/or are currently studying algebra 2 and pre-calculus. Students don’t need to have a foundation in calculus.
Tentative class schedule: Beginning Tuesday (actual date pending), 8 PM-10 PM EST. A total of 24 hours of classes.
Portfolio
Students will master the art of comedic improvisation, through writing a full-length comedic sketch and a comedic essay. At the end of the course, students be able to:
- Complete a full-length comedic sketch.
- Gain rich experience in impromptu comedy performance.
- Submit 1-2 comedic writing on publishing platforms based on the teacher’s recommendation.
- Submit their work to Scholastic Arts & Writing competition
Instructor Introduction: Teacher P is a professional writer and is currently a drama writing teacher at Columbia University. P has published two books in the United States and has a master’s degree in non-fiction writing from Columbia University.
Suitable for: Grade 9-12 students who have a good foundation in writing and are interested in sitcom writing. The course is perfect for students who want to apply for film, drama, media, creative writing, and other related majors in the future.
Tentative class schedule: Start date to be announced.
15 hours of classes, including 6 hours of group classes (90 minutes/class/week), and 6 hours of one-on-one classes (60 minutes/class, scheduled after group sessions are completed)
Students will write 4 poems and 1 short story or creative non-fiction, assemble them into a portfolio, and publish in the form of a print or digital chapbook. Students will also learn to use Adobe InDesign design software.
Instructor Introduction: Teacher E is an English writing teacher and writer. E has an MFA and has published poetry collections and literary works in cooperation with many publishing houses, and has created the many original Chapbook production and publishing projects.
Suitable for: Students in grades 6-9, who have a foundation in English writing, wish to create a writing portfolio, and participate in writing competitions.
Tentative class schedule: Beginning Saturday, June 19, 8 AM-9:30 AM EST
15 hours of classes, including 6 hours of group classes (90 minutes/class/week), and 6 hours of one-on-one classes (60 minutes/class, scheduled after group sessions are completed)
Students will explore and create artworks that express their identities. They will learn to see themselves through art, and understand the aesthetics influenced by society and cultural values through the context of identity.
This class will introduce artists such as Nick Cave, Frida Kahlo and Zhang Xiaogang to students, and learn how identity affects their art.
Instructor Introduction: Professor C is currently a top-ranked fashion designer and fashion design professor at Rhode Island School of Design.
Suitable for: Students who have background knowledge and experience in visual arts, would like to produce a portfolio to show their artistic talents and intend to participate in art competitions.
Tentative class schedule: Beginning Saturday, June 19th, 8 AM-10 AM EST. A total of 16 hours of classes.
TED Talk is the stepping stone for many international students when it comes to public speaking. In this course, students will research, write and deliver their own TED Talk style speeches. After this course, students will be prepared to participate in public speaking competitions at a high school or university level.
Instructor Introduction: Teacher K, a speech and debate expert, has taught in American and international schools for many years. K has excellent communication skills, and has 11 years of teaching experience in China, South Korea, the United States, and the UAE.
Suitable for: Students currently in Grades 7-11, have a foundation in English speech, and desire to improve their public speaking skills.
Tentative class schedule: Beginning Monday, June 21st, 8 AM-9:30 AM EST. A total of 13.5 hours of classes.
Research
Students will use college-level economic theory and models to analyze the financial impacts on the global economy. The instructor will provide students with the models and tools necessary to write an economic research paper. The research project aims to encourage students to integrate their acquired knowledge of economic theories, phenomena, data, and policies, and apply this knowledge to research themes that shape today’s world. Students will be given analytical tools to make policy recommendations on how to best solve the economic problems raised in their research papers.
The topics this class focus on include:
Unemployment, employment, will robots replace our jobs?
- Data: Measuring unemployment and employment
- Automation: technological change and employment transfer
Financial crisis-why did the economy collapse?
- Business cycle
- Housing bubble
- Banking, financial markets and government policies
- How can the economy recover from the crisis?
Comparing economic growth-why are some countries rich and others poor?
- Data: Economic Growth
Instructor Introduction: Teacher P is currently an Economics professor at Trinity College, a top liberal arts college. He previously as a researcher in the economics department at the University of Oxford. He has presented research at the ASSA American Economic Association Annual Conference, World Economic History Center Conference, and other international economic conferences.
Suitable for: High school students who have previously taken an Economics class or have foundational knowledge in Economics and want to create an economic research paper.
Tentative class schedule: Beginning Monday, June 21st, 8 PM-10 PM EST
19 hours of classes, including 14 hours of group classes (120 minutes/class/week), and 5 hours of one-on-one classes (60 minutes/class, scheduled after group sessions are completed)
This course is taught by a scholar and practitioner who has extensive teaching and research experience at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. Under the guidance of the professor, students will write a 15-page paper on business research topics.
Instructor Introduction: Professor S is an undergraduate and graduate professor at Northeastern University, and a senior lecturer at Cambridge College
Suitable for: High school students who are interested in business, marketing, communication, and want to publish a business research paper.
Tentative class schedule: Beginning Thursday, July 1st, 8 AM-9:30 AM EST
15 hours of classes, including 9 hours of group classes (90 minutes/class/week), and 6 hours of one-on-one classes (60 minutes/class, scheduled after group sessions are completed)
Led by a Northeastern University professor, students study important international topics. Students will write an 8–15-page research paper.
Examples of research topics include:
- What is globalization? How do we measure it? What are the pros and cons of globalization?
- What is the best way to reduce government corruption? Use the data of Transparency International, select a country and write a report, etc.
Instructor Introduction: Professor F, currently a professor at Northeastern University, has taught at Tufts University and Brandeis University. F is a member of the American Political Association, the American Economic Association, and the International Studies Association.
Suitable for: High school students who are interested in the field of international relations and want to do related research.
Tentative class schedule: Beginning Sunday, June 20th, 8 AM-9:30 AM EST
15 hours of classes, including 9 hours of group classes (90 minutes/class/week), and 6 hours of one-on-one classes (60 minutes/class, scheduled after group sessions are completed)
This Psychology Research Program takes knowledge from the Introductory psychology course, leads students to understand all aspects of psychology, and explores their interests through conducting research. The professor will guide students through an empirical review of current psychological literature.
Instructor Introduction: Teacher A is currently a Psychology Professor at Texas Tech University, with 10 years of experience in undergraduate and graduate teaching. A’s expertise lies in psychology statistics, questionnaire design, quantitative research.
Suitable for: High school students who are interested in the field of psychology and want to do related research.
Tentative class schedule: Beginning Monday, June 28th, 8 PM – 10 PM EST
US Preparation Courses
The following courses are suitable for students who are about to enter high schools in the United States or already in American high schools and need to improve their GPA.
The course will cover biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and cell biology. The main focus of the course is applying basic principles to understanding human biology, including the structure and regulation of genes, the structure and synthesis of proteins, and multicellular systems. After completing this course, students can apply the newly learned concepts to their Biology classes in American high schools.
Instructor Introduction: Teacher N currently teaches at a private high school in Massachusetts. N has rich international education experience and has taught international students from China, South Korea, and Vietnam attending school in the US.
Tentative class schedule: Beginning Wednesday, June 16th, 8 PM-10 PM EST. A total of 20 hours of classes.
This course is an introduction to Psychology – what many describe as the science of the mind and behavior, concerned with how and why human beings do what they do. In some ways, this course is like a tasting menu at a fancy restaurant – you get the opportunity to try various aspects of various disciplines of this fascinating science and see which one(s) excites you. This course allows you to learn the basics in each of the major branches of psychology today.
Instructor Introduction: Professor S is currently teaching psychology at Post University. With more than 10 years of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching experience, she has served as a psychotherapist in many mental health institutions, providing consultation for adults and adolescents; has served as a crisis therapist in the youth crisis management department, and obtained a clinical professional consultant (LCPC-C) Certification license.
Tentative class schedule: Beginning Tuesday, June 29th, 8:30 AM – 10 AM EST.
2 classes/week, 1.5 hours/class, a total of 18 hours of classes.
Students will learn an overview of history from 1500 years ago to the present as well as world cultural, political, and economic changes. The curriculum covers key world history content in grades 9 and 10. Emphasis will be placed on class discussion, note-taking, extended reading, divergent thinking debate, and research writing.
Instructor Introduction: Teacher P has 9 years of teaching history at a top-ranking high school and is the school’s humanities supervisor. Teacher P graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Master’s in Education.
Tentative class schedule: Beginning Sunday (actual date pending), 8 AM-10 AM EST. A total of 20 hours of classes
This class is a survey of American History and begins at the eve of contact between North America, Europe, and Africa – and the complex societies and cultures each developed – and ends just after the election of President Joe Biden in 2020. The class will cover the rise and fall of empires, the clash and encounter of cultures, plagues, religious fervor, and political intrigue and war. Two interrelated themes will guide the study of American History. First, the class will explore how the United States began as a fledgling Republic to become one of the most powerful nations in the world today. Furthermore, the class will analyze how American society evolved over time to provide more civil liberties and rights to many of its initially disenfranchised peoples including women, African Americans, and immigrants.
Instructor Introduction: Teacher P has 9 years of teaching history at a top-ranking high school and is the school’s humanities supervisor. Teacher P graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Master’s in Education.
Tentative class schedule: Beginning Saturday, June 19, 8 AM-10 AM EST. A total of 20 hours of classes
This course will help students to interpret economic news and economic data and help them to form their insights on economic issues. In addition, this course will provide a solid foundation for students who wish to study advanced economics in the future.
Instructor Introduction: Teacher S, an IB economics teacher at a top American high school, has nearly 30 years of teaching experience in various social sciences subject and graduated from Rice University, a top-20 university in the US.
Tentative class schedule: Beginning Friday, June 18th, 8 PM-9:30 PM EST. A total of 15 hours of classes
Introduce students to the basic concepts of the Spanish language. The emphasis will be on pronunciation, basic grammatical structure, vocabulary, culture, and basic dialogue. The course will also provide practice on listening, reading comprehension, speaking, and writing.
Instructor Introduction: With 25 years of language teaching experience, Teacher L has served as a AAPPL American High School Language Proficiency Test scorer and as the dean of the World Language Department at her high school for many years. Teacher L is a native Spanish speaker has a PhD in Educational Leadership.
Tentative class schedule: Beginning Friday (actual date pending), 8 PM-9:30 PM EST. A total of 15 hours of classes
Intro to French course is an immersive course designed for students who have no French foundation. Students will focus on four aspects of language learning: speaking, writing, reading, and listening.
Instructor Introduction: With more than 26 years of French teaching experience, Teacher E is a French teacher in at a top public high school in Massachusetts and graduated from Middlebury College, a top liberal arts college.
Tentative class schedule: Saturday, June 19, 8:30 PM-10 PM EST. A total of 15 hours of classes
Intro to American Culture Course helps students understand the different aspects of the American culture such as food, clothing, housing, speech, society, and law in the United States in advance. Students will actively participate in discussions in the classroom, explore and learn American culture with teachers, and enhance their understanding of the United States.
Instructor Introduction: Teacher K, has taught at American and international schools for many years. K has 11 years of teaching experience in the United States as well as in China, South Korea, and the UAE.
Tentative class schedule: Beginning Sunday, June 20, 4 PM-5:30 PM, Beijing time. A total of 9 hours of classes
This course aims to help students develop strong writing skills by learning to write and revise three essays that are persuasive, argumentative and narrative. Students will learn to write, cite and avoid common mistakes in academic writing. Before starting the writing process, students will also learn how to annotate and take notes to help them write a paper.
Instructor Introduction: TBD
Tentative class schedule: Beginning Tuesday, June 29, 8 PM-9:30 PM EST. A total of 15 hours of classes
