Frequently Asked Questions

• How much does the COCC/STARTALK My Summer in China program cost?
  The program is free. All costs are covered by STARTALK, a federal language grant. STARTALK covers all students' tuition, as well as provides free lunch and snacks to all participants during the two summer camp sessions. 
• Who can enroll in the COCC/STARTALK My Summer in China program?
  Students who will be enrolled in grades 9-16 as of September 2025 (including homeschooled students) are eligible to participate in the 2025 My Summer in China program. Preference will be given to low-income, ethnic minority, and rural students, and to applicants who show a commitment to the full length of the program. This program will accept 15 high school students and 10 college students; it will be open to applicants from across the US, with a focus on Oregon residents. 
   
  High school students (those who are enrolled in grades 9 – 12 as of September 2025) who successfully complete the entire My Summer in China program (pre-camp, both summer sessions, and post-camp) are eligible to receive four college credits at COCC.  They must declare their intent to be eligible for credit before the camp begins.
• When will I know if my application has been accepted?
  Once the COCC/STARTALK My Summer in China application period closes on Thursday, March 6, 2025. Program staff will select students and notify successful applications by Thursday, March 27, 2025. Program staff will also notify waitlisted students at this time, as well as those whose applications were not accepted. 
• Is the $20 registration fee fully refundable?
  Yes, the $20 registration fee will be refunded after a student successfully attends the first week of summer camp. If this refundable fee is cost-prohibitive for a student or their caregivers, please reach out to mysummerinchina@cocc.edu for financial assistance.   
• What technology do I need? 
  COCC has a technology lending program (laptops, tablets, WiFi hotspots, etc.) for students who do not have access to their own tablet or reliable internet. If you need assistance accessing appropriate technology, please contact mysummerinchina@cocc.edu.
• Can I receive college credit for participating in the COCC/STARTALK My Summer in China program?
  Students (those who are enrolled in grades 9 – 16 as of September 2025) who successfully complete the entire My Summer in China program are eligible to receive four college credits at COCC (a $529 value covered in full by COCC’s STARTALK grant). 
   
  Other students can contact their school’s counselor to learn whether their institution will accept credit from the COCC/STARTALK My Summer in China program. 
• Will I be graded?
  Students will receive a grade of P (Pass) or NP (No Pass) at the end of each summer session. In order to receive a grade of Pass, students must: 
  

  • Miss no more than 6 hours of class. 
  • Meet or exceed expectations on all class assessments. 
• What if I can’t attend the entire program? Do I have to attend pre-camp and post-camp?

  The 15-hours of pre-camp instruction are mandatory for all participants with no Chinese learning experience. Participants who have previous Chinese-language experience and who wish to skip the pre-camp can take an online placement test to determine whether they can waive the pre-camp requirement and still be eligible for college credit. Pre-camp can provide some flexibility in terms of scheduling conflicts. If you can both study the recorded pre-camp online classes that you miss and finish all the assignments on time, you can still apply to the COCC/STARTALK My Summer in China program. 
   
  Summer camps include two sessions. Participants are strongly recommended to attend both sessions, and preference during the application selection process will be given to students who are committed to attending both summer camp sessions. However, if you only can attend one session, you can still apply to the COCC/STARTALK My Summer in China program.  
   
  The post-camp is a 30-hour extension from August to December 2023. Post-camp is an extension of the summer camp sessions in which participants will continue to learn the sub-theme of “School.” Students are strongly recommended to take advantage of the post-camp to maintain their Chinese proficiency as they determine the next step of their Chinese learning journey. During post-camp, students will complete online work and the teachers will provide support and feedback through Zoom meetings. If you can’t attend the post-camp and you don’t need the college credits, you can still apply to the COCC/STARTALK My Summer in China program.  

• Why should I apply to the COCC/STARTALK My Summer in China program?
  You will have the rare opportunity to study Chinese, a critical-need language in the United States, and you can gain an experience similar to that of being an exchange student in China without traveling overseas.  
   
  There are no tuition costs. 
   
  You can experience college-level courses, which will support future college applications and help you adapt to college life and studies.  
   
  High school students can earn four college credits at COCC; these credits are transferrable to many four-year institutions in Oregon and across the country.  
   
  You will be prepared to continue studying Chinese at COCC if you so choose.  
• How do I access Canvas?
  Please visit Canvas Course Information on this page and scroll down and click on the Canvas Course Information section for how to log in to Canvas, a video tour of Canvas, as well as a technology requirements checklist.