Chinese Language and Culture

Celebration of Chinese New Year

If you speak to a man in a language he understands, you speak to his head. If you speak to a man in his own language, you speak to his heart.
— Nelson Mandela, 2007

Why should you learn Chinese?

Speaking and Writing Chinese will give you and edge in business, technology, education and other careers.
China's economy is now the world's second largest, and it continues to double every 8 years.
Chinese has the most native speakers of any language on Earth. Over a billion people speak it.
China has a 3000 year history of excellence in science, literature, art technology, and business.

Chinese Minor Form

Join the Chinese minor program today! Apply for the Chinese Minor.

The Instructor

Professor Sophia Chen earned her Ph.D. in Second/Foreign Language Acquisition and has more than eight years of foreign language teaching experience at university level.

Chinese Language and Culture Classes

Students in traditional Chinese
costume during past
Chinese New Year events

Students writing Chinese characters

Beginner Level: CHIN 101 (FALL), CHIN 102 (WINTER), CHIN 103 (SPRING)

This is a Chinese language and culture course for beginners. It aims to help students to develop communicative competence in the four basic skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing the Chinese language. Students will learn basic vocabulary and sentence structures for use in essential everyday situations through various forms of oral practice. Pinyin (a kind of Chinese phonetic system) will be taught as a tool to learn the spoken language. Students will also learn Chinese Characters in order to be able to communicate effectively in real Chinese situations. Approximately 200 words and expressions in both Pinyin and characters will be taught. While linguistic aspects of the Chinese language are the primary focus, introduction to the social and cultural background of the language will also form an important part of the course.

Intermediate Level: CHIN 201 (FALL), CHIN 202 (WINTER), CHIN 203 (SPRING) **any 200 level class fulfills the C5 requirement.**

course field trip for students to try authentic Chinese food
Students trying authentic
Chinese food

student presentation from one of the CHIN 102 classes
CHIN 102 student presentation

This course is the continuation of Elementary Chinese I. Students will continue to learn more essential skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing for daily communication. Approximately 300 words and a broad variety of expressions and complicated sentence structures will be taught so that students can participate in conversations on various topics related to modern Chinese society. Activities related to the broad spectrum of Chinese culture will be organized to facilitate language learning with knowledge and analysis of cultural background of the language.

Chinese Culture Course: ISLA 310 World Culture-Chinese Culture (Spring) **Fulfills the C4 requirement.**

The purpose of this course is to familiar students with the underlining values and practices that shape Chinese to what they are today. Topics covered include history, religion, philosophy, political system, social values, and art. At the end of this course, students will understand how Chinese culture affects Chinese on their every day of life and will achieve a greater perspective on historical and philosophical dimensions of Chinese culture.