FALCON Program

From CUWiki

The FALCON (Full-year Asian Language CONcentration) programs enable beginning students of Chinese or Japanese to study in a concentrated and uninterrupted manner over a period of time long enough to gain working proficiency. They are offered by the Department of Asian Studies. Participants have ranged from undergraduates who plan careers in East Asia, to graduate students with specializations involving Chinese or Japanese, to interested high school students, to people outside the academic world who need a strong foundation in the language for careers in business, law, or religion, or simply for residence in China or Japan.

[edit] FALCON programs

[edit] Japanese FALCON

The full-year program in Japanese consists of a beginning level in the summer, an intermediate level in the fall, and an advanced level in the spring. Students need not enroll in the entire full-year program to participate in FALCON. Some students enroll in the summer course to get an intensive introduction to the language, then either go to Japan or continue in regular, non-intensive courses at Cornell or at their home institutions. Also, students who can demonstrate appropriate knowledge of the language can join the program at non-beginning levels (fall or spring). However, because introductory programs differ widely in content and methodology, completing an introductory course elsewhere does not necessarily enable students to qualify for the fall FALCON program. Students without the necessary background are normally required to begin their study of Japanese at Cornell in the summer if they wish to enroll in fall or spring FALCON courses.

[edit] Chinese FALCON

The full-year program in Chinese consists of a beginning level in the summer, an intermediate level in the fall, and an advanced level overseas in the spring. Students need not enroll in the entire full-year program to participate in FALCON. Some students enroll in the summer course to get an intensive introduction to the language, then either go to China or continue in regular, non-intensive courses at Cornell or their home institutions. Also, students who can demonstrate appropriate knowledge of the language may join the program at non-beginning levels (fall or spring). However, because introductory programs differ widely in content and methodology, completing an introductory course elsewhere does not necessarily enable students to qualify for the fall FALCON program. Students without the necessary background are normally required to begin their study of Chinese at Cornell in the summer if they wish to enroll in the fall or spring FALCON courses.

The summer portion of the program is particularly valuable for students who wish to get a good start in Chinese before going abroad in the fall. The full-year program offers students the opportunity to acquire sufficient language skills for the Chinese-speaking workplace, further academic study, or other pursuits, and—most importantly—the ability to develop these skills further.

[edit] Eligibility

Applicants do not need to be in a degree program to enroll in FALCON. FALCON is a rigorous and intensive program, so all applicants should be highly motivated to learn Chinese or Japanese and be ready to put steady effort into the endeavor. Applications are welcome from anyone, regardless of citizenship or student status. Qualified high school students are also considered for admission. A placement test is required to begin study in any term other than summer.

[edit] Degree or non-degree

All FALCON students earn a certificate of completion and Cornell credit.

[edit] Degree program compatibility

Some students enroll in FALCON in order to satisfy the language requirement for a degree program such as the M.A. in Asian Studies or the B.A. in China and Asia-Pacific Studies. You should talk with your advisor about whether FALCON would satisfy your language requirement.

[edit] Non-degree status

Students who are not in Cornell degree programs are welcome to apply to FALCON as non-degree applicants. If you have already completed an undergraduate degree at Cornell or elsewhere, and you are interested only in attending FALCON, you will be considered a non-degree graduate applicant. If you are not in a degree program at Cornell, and you have not yet received an undergraduate degree, you will be considered a special student applicant in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Once you are accepted into FALCON and submit the deposit that enables us to hold your place in the course, you will be granted the appropriate non-degree status with the University. You do not need to submit an additional application to Cornell.

[edit] Contact

FALCON Program Department of Asian Studies 388 Rockefeller Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14850-2502

Email: falcon@cornell.edu Phone: 607.255.6457 Fax: 607.255.1345 http://lrc.cornell.edu/falcon/

Program Office Hours: Mon–Thurs 9am–5pm, Fri 9am–4:30pm

[edit] References

• FALCON Program