Universities expand Chinese curriculum

Published: Sunday, April 1, 2007

As China becomes increasingly important to Oregon's economic future, the state's universities are taking steps to turn out more graduates who can conduct business with the Asian giant.

Some of the new programs, such as seminars in Chinese culture and business practices, are focused on immediate results. Others, such as a Chinese language program that begins in kindergarten, won't achieve results for at least 20 years.

Why are leaders in state government, businesses and universities so interested in China?

"China is becoming such a player economically, culturally and politically, and I think Oregon wants to have its own share of that excitement," University of Oregon official Chunsheng Zhang said last month after he testified on China's rising importance to Oregon at a legislative subcommittee in Salem.

Zhang emigrated from China to the United States 20 years ago. Now he is the UO's vice provost for international affairs and outreach.

Since he and a dozen other representatives from the state's major universities testified in Salem, lawmakers have drafted three bills in support of Chinese language and foreign exchange programs.

One of the bills, HB 2763, would direct the superintendent for public instruction to contract with the UO's Center for Applied Second Language Studies to develop Chinese language curriculum for kindergarten through grade 12. It allocates $350,000 from the general fund for the work.

The center has received national recognition for the Chinese language program it set up two years ago in partnership with Portland Public Schools- the first of its kind in the United States. Students as young as kindergartners take Chinese language classes, with the goal of eventually developing the proficiency to engage in professional discussions and produce in-depth business reports in English and Chinese.

This fall, the UO admitted its first nine Flagship scholars - freshmen with Mandarin Chinese skills - who will develop advanced proficiency while they pursue the major of their choice. The scholars take two classes taught in Chinese each term and will study abroad at Nanjing University.

One of the scholars, Lotos Chen, 18, is working toward a degree in political science or international studies, and she hopes one day to become a diplomat.

"My uncle is a diplomat from Taiwan to Russia, so watching him made me interested in politics," said Chen, who was born and raised in Corvallis. Her parents emigrated from Taipei, Taiwan, to Corvallis so her father could attend Oregon State University. He now works at a high-tech firm in Corvallis, and Chen's mother teaches art and Chinese.

Chen began studying Chinese at "Chinese School" - two hours of classes on Friday nights - when she was 4 or 5 years old.

"When I was little, I wondered why do I have to go to 'Chinese School?,' '' she said. "But later, after I studied Chinese, and then Spanish, I realized the advantage of speaking multiple languages."

The Eugene School District is considering partnering with the Flagship Program for a Chinese immersion school. If the school board approves it, the school could start serving kindergartners in the '08-'09 academic year, said Abby Lane, the district's English language learner coordinator.

Another UO effort to prepare students for work in China is the Engaging China Initiative for MBA students at the Lundquist College of Business.

As part of the federally funded program, students take seminars in Chinese language, culture, politics and history, and then head to China for about 10 days. Last year, a group of about 30 sports marketing students and faculty viewed sports facilities and preparations for the '08 Olympic Games in Beijing.

This year, another batch of students and faculty who are focused on supply chain innovation will tour manufacturing and design facilities in Shanghai and Beijing.

The school is raising private money to continue the program when the two-year federal grant expires, business school dean James Bean said.

He said a range of Oregon businesses, from high-tech start-ups to large sports apparel companies, have indicated a need for more graduates who are culturally and linguistically capable of moving back and forth between China and the United States.

Along with new programs for students, the UO is positioning itself as an information source for local government and business officials.

As part of its East Asia Initiative, the UO plans this year to compile a directory of faculty with expertise in China and East Asia, Zhang said. The university also is spreading the word that it can act as a "resource bank" to help answer questions that business and government officials might have about China.

If, for example, a local business seeks information or help on expanding in Asia, "then we'd immediately look into our network of faculty expertise," Zhang said. In the future, he said, the university hopes to better package and publicize the assistance it can offer.

- Sherri Buri McDonald