Beijing courtyard is a traditional type of residence in Beijing, China. In ancient times, a courtyard would be occupied by a single, usually large family. Today, Beijing courtyard are still used as housing complexes, however, many lack modern facilities, and also the users of courtyard become multi-families, instead of one single big family. The overpopulation issue also changed the courtyard's appearance and function, reducing its formality, consistency and traditionality, because people living in courtyard started to add extra elements to meet their growing demands. Moreover, because the land value around courtyard is so high that governement can only provide a limited number of public toilet to people living in courtyard, which lead to a poor standard of hygiene in the traditional courtyard area. And also, there are other issues, like lacking necessary facilitiess, inconvenient transportation and negative aspect for historic preservation. In a word, there is a great protential to make people living in the traditional courtyard enjoy a better life. / text

The purpose of this qualitative research is to determine the factors involved in adult language learners’ success or lack of success in the private sector in Beijing, and why learners have chosen to voluntarily sign up to learn English as adults. To be specific, I wanted to find out why some learners are more successful than others when all have started learning English at beginner level and under the same context for a period of 9 months to 2 years. A total of six students in Aspire English (AE), a language training school in Beijing, took part in this small scale study. The six learners were interviewed on aspects such as motivation to learn English, reasons for learning English and for choosing AE, language learning strategies and previous learning experiences. Four AE teachers were also consulted to further ensure participants were placed accordingly to the two groups of learners – successful language learners and less successful language learners. The overall results of this study showed that students had negative learning experience when learning English in formal schools. Also, it was found that adult learners would most likely succeed in language learning in the private sector context of they were learning English as a way to obtain symbolic resource and not material resource. This means that learners were learning the language in order to gain a sense of belonging to the target language community, and not as a way to gain capital. Furthermore, learners who were integratively motivated, who used a wider variety of learning strategies along with out-of-class socializing with members in the target language community were also more successful that their peers. / published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

Background: Results from various studies of Long-term Care (LTC) need in China have remained confusing with LTC rates ranging from 2.4% to 22%. Therefore, it has been difficult to ascertain LTC’s sustainability in China. Methods: 672 households with people aged 60+ in Haidian, Beijing, were successfully interviewed between June – August, 2011. interRAI – Home Care assessment tool and scales were used to identify LTC impairment, LTC services use and want, and LTC services drivers. Findings: If LTC need refers to LTC impairment, based on population of Haidian in 2010, it was estimated 3.7% or 14,000 persons aged 60+ in Haidian have LTC impairment. If LTC need refers to people’s use or want of LTC services, it was estimated 38.7% or 147,000 persons aged 60+ in Haidian used and wanted LTC services. In specific, 11.9% (45,000) used Community Care (CC), 6.7% (25,000) and 20.1% (77,000) wanted Residential Care and CC respectively. LTC impairment rate as identified by this study was lower than most of other LTC studies in China, probably due to varied impairment identification and measurement mechanisms. LTC impairment tended to be affected by social activity level (OR: Odds Ratio = 0.29), subjective environmental hazards (OR = 0.20) and poor self-rated health (OR = 2.00). In addition, as compared to their counterparts, respondents with LTC impairment tended to be older; with “fewer” education, social activity and good health practice; and “high” in caregiver stress, objective environmental hazards, behavioral problems and depressive symptoms. There was no statistically significant relationship between LTC impairment and LTC services use/want. For those who used/wanted LTC services, 95% had no LTC impairment. For those with LTC impairment, 54.2% used or wanted LTC services. As compared to their counterparts, respondents who used or wanted LTC services tended to be in more favorable conditions: younger, higher education, more income, living with others, socially active, good self-rated health and more good health practice. These people also tended to have fewer objective environmental hazards, caregiver stress, chronic conditions, behavioral problems, and depressive symptoms. Use of CC was driven by higher age (OR: Odds Ratio = 1.088), being female (OR = 0.268), higher education (OR = 0.260), higher income (OR =3.218), and more objective environmental hazards (OR = 2.522). CC want was driven by higher age (OR = 1.050), being female (OR = 0.625), higher education (OR = 0.348) and more depression (OR = 1.235). Good health practice was the only factor that affecting RC want (OR = 2.842). The overall Pseudo R^2 was 0.219. Implications: Better projection of LTC impairment and LTC services use/want via standardized assessment tool is needed in China. There is also a need to address the issue of mismatch in LTC impairment and services. This is to ensure allocation of LTC services is based on LTC impairment and not because of higher income or education. / published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Social Work and Social Administration / Master / Master of Philosophy

Since housing choice and strategy are the result of both an individual’s financial capability in a particular life stage, as well as overall political-economic circumstances, the study of housing behavior has been used to emphasize processes of urban development and social change. However, housing behavior in the Chinese context has not attracted much research attention. Although many studies have been done on various topics surrounding China’s housing reform, only several quantitative studies have touched upon the topic of individual housing behavior. All of the existing literature is based on statistics before 1998 when work-unit housing distribution was officially repealed. This thesis offers an update of qualitative information on how young white-collar workers approach homeownership after 1998. Ten young homeowners from Beijing, together with some practitioners in the housing market and two governmental officials were interviewed. Based on the information offered by the interviewees, this thesis examines how state policies, market situations, family structure, and special characteristics of Beijing as a capital city impact the housing choices and strategies of young homeowners.

Thesis (M. A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005.

Since housing choice and strategy are the result of both an individual’s financial capability in a particular life stage, as well as overall political-economic circumstances, the study of housing behavior has been used to emphasize processes of urban development and social change. However, housing behavior in the Chinese context has not attracted much research attention. Although many studies have been done on various topics surrounding China’s housing reform, only several quantitative studies have touched upon the topic of individual housing behavior. All of the existing literature is based on statistics before 1998 when work-unit housing distribution was officially repealed. This thesis offers an update of qualitative information on how young white-collar workers approach homeownership after 1998. Ten young homeowners from Beijing, together with some practitioners in the housing market and two governmental officials were interviewed. Based on the information offered by the interviewees, this thesis examines how state policies, market situations, family structure, and special characteristics of Beijing as a capital city impact the housing choices and strategies of young homeowners. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Community and Regional Planning (SCARP), School of / Graduate

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During the early 20th century, artists associated with Beijing Opera reformed various elements of the performance to reflect contemporary events. Attempts at reform were deemed unsuccessful since most traditional components of the Beijing Opera were obscured. This thesis explores the use of theatrical stage lighting with specific emphasis on the use of stage lighting to support the aspects of time, space, and mood which are inherent in the performance. The ultimate objective is to do this without destroying the original performance style associated with Beijing Opera. The practical component of this thesis is based on the McCandless method of stage lighting and the application of this method to the lighting design created for Murder of a Concubine, a traditional piece of repertory of the Beijing Opera. The culminating performance was presented on December 1st, 2013 on the Academic Hall stage in the Department of Theatre of the University of Ottawa.