This upcoming fall semester, the Modern Languages department will be offering an advanced Chinese course that introduces an even more dedicated and proficient level of Chinese that will give students the opportunity to expand upon their education of the language. Chinese, only having been introduced to the college in 2006, has had an advanced level course three or four times in the past, and is being reintroduced this year in response to the interests of current Chinese students.

Elizabeth Fouts, head of the Modern Languages department, elaborated upon the language’s popularity among students. “Currently we have a well-versed group of Intermediate students, and we have been noticing that there has been a big increase in the number of students coming into the college freshman year that have had previous experience in Chinese and are able to jump right into the intermediate course. Considering how the program has only been offered for six years so far, the response and interest we have been getting from it has been impressive,” says Fouts.

She also mentioned how there are typically two different groups of students taking Chinese. “We have Heritage Speakers, who spoke Chinese at home and have developed oral proficiency in the language, and we have students who took it in high school and thus are familiar with the language.” She continued to state that about five percent of students taking a language are taking Chinese right now and, further showing the continuous growth in the dedication to the language, two students are studying abroad in China next semester.

The elementary and intermediate Chinese professor, Jessie Tsai, elaborated upon what the new advanced course will entail. “It works on improving oral efficiency, listening and writing skills, and also involves an intense immersion into the language,” Tsai says, agreeing with Fouts that she is impressed with the interest students have in learning the language. With this advanced course, students will still be unable to major in Chinese, although a minor is available.

In a closing remark, Fouts stated, “It takes true dedication to be a good student in Chinese, as well as intense motivation. I am impressed with the interest being expressed by students in the language, and hope that it continues to grow and develop for years to come.”