Why Wooster?

› The Chinese Program at The College of Wooster introduces students to Chinese language and culture, teaching the basic skills of reading, listening to, speaking and writing Chinese. The program also educates students about non-Western ideas, conceptual schemes, and modes of thought through courses taught in English on Chinese history, religion, literature, and film. Students interested in taking these courses and hoping to minor in Chinese are expected to spend one semester or a full year in Taiwan, Hong Kong, or mainland China; they may also choose to participate in Wooster in Xi’an Summer Program, a fiveweek program to study the language and culture in Beijing, Xi’an, and Yunnan. Courses taken in Chinese language and culture may be counted toward such majors as Cultural Area Studies, Comparative Literature, International Relations, or minor in Film Studies.

Life After Wooster

Mastery of Chinese and the training in critical analysis of Chinese literary works allow students to consider advanced studies, job opportunities and career paths, both short and long terms, in both the U.S. and China (as well as Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore). Students may decide to go into such fields as education, government, international trade, banking, print or electronic media. In the global marketplace, many businesses and institutions seek employees who have the language skills and background necessary to work in China or Asia. Careers in which Chinese is the primary emphasis include teaching, translating and interpreting, travel and tourism industry at home or abroad.

Most graduates who have studied Chinese at Wooster find opportunities to study or work overseas. Many, like Elizabeth Gill, Michele Neary, Kristin Buemi and Jamie Ganzhorn taught English in China or Taiwan after graduation. Jonathan Seitz took graduate courses at the National University of Singapore on a Fulbright scholarship. Roger Gao (’01) works for a German bank in Hong Kong after two-year experience in Beijing with Morgan Stanley. Ted Burger, after taking more language in the Chinese Department at Peking University, has become a freelance translator and a filmmaker who has presented his documentaries on changes in China in U.S. film festivals.