With a name like Sino BootCamps, it is reasonable to assume this language camp is a twisted ode to military hell week - hours of strong-armed Mandarin tutelage, along with gruel for breakfast, pushups for lunch, and lights out at nine. Rather, Sino BootCamps aims to make studying Mandarin easier by swapping semester-long classes for an intensive two-week course. The rationale: the shorter and harder it is, the easier it is. Now there's a paradox we all can fall in line with. Ten-hut!

"It's so concentrated; happening right here right now," program manager Badr Benjelloun said. The camp's "total immersion" school takes place at various hot spring resorts outside of Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, in a rural environment devoid of distraction.

"Most people can handle [the location and schedule], but others can't take the sheer intensity," Benjelloun said.

A typical day consists of six hours of classes, plus two to three hours of personal study. Students are assigned to either beginner, intermediate or extremely advanced classes, with plans to add a fourth class for children.

Benjelloun said the course prepares participants for future Mandarin studies.

"Chances are if you can go through it and survive, you're good. If you can't get through boot camp, it will be hard to get through anything at all."

Despite the military jargon, Sino BootCamp is not as hard as it first appears. Benjelloun credits this to helpful staff, a manageable study schedule and the enthusiasm of the students who take part.

Teachers are not the impatient drill-sergeants one might expect with the boot camp concept, but rather "open-minded, foreigner ready, sociable and willing to offer rational explanations," Benjelloun said. They are also college-educated in English.

"The teachers were quite professional," ex-camper Andrew Bowden said. "They always had well-organized lessons that were challenging but easy to follow."

Sino BootCamp's big draw is a combination of its location, the friendships that begin, and the extra-curricular activities. While organizers pride themselves on offering a vacuum experience void of distraction, it is these extras that keep participants coming back.

"Apart from the benefit of intensive Mandarin study, it was great to see a much different part of China," Bowden said. "It was out in the middle of nowhere. I saw an old lady's teeth being removed by a street corner dentist, who charged less than 3 kuai for services rendered."

Fellow ex-camper Scott Lewis said: "The best thing is the general atmosphere of the camp, a really varied mix of cultures. After classes, one camper taught ballroom dancing, one led a mountain-climbing trip, and another taught kung fu classes."

Benjelloun, a camp student himself as well as the program manager, recognizes the importance of a fun atmosphere.

"The teachers are extra hard on me," Benjelloun said, laughing. "I'm the boss outside of the classroom, but they like the role reversal in the classroom."

Chinese activities are held after classes each day, such as learning how to play mahjong, playing UNO in Chinese, and conducting Chinese treasure hunts (prizes of "red wine and cookies," Benjelloun said). Nights are spent relaxing, playing guitar, swimming in nearby lakes, playing football, drinking and making friends.

For some, the prospect of a two-week Mandarin crash course is enough to send them fleeing China. But for others, it's incentive to come to China. "I now have people flying in from overseas, from Russia, Belgium, Australia, the Caribbean, even a guy from Texas, USA," Benjelloun said. "In fact, last January alone SinoCamps' cast included an Italian, Belgium, Dutchmen, Moroccan, German, Frenchmen, British, and two Filipinos."

"It's a popular program in terms of interest," he said.

A two-week course at Sino BootCamp costs 4,900 yuan ($653) covering classes, books, transportation, housing, food and insurance. Specialized Sino CorpCamps are offered for businesses wanting to teach their employees Mandarin. With CorpCamps, camp length in addition to other variables, are negotiable.

Scott Lewis said: "If you're looking to really get to grips with Chinese in an environment with like-minded people, then there's nothing better. I can't say a bad word about it."

(China Daily 10/10/2007 page14)