Meet Our Students
Rina Ashkenazi
"These days, I am completing the first year sequence of Chinese language courses - CHN 1011/1012. Both courses get thumbs up in every aspect. The atmosphere in the class is friendly and encouraging. It picks up pace pretty quickly even in the first semester, and within not too many weeks, after some critical mass of vocabulary and grammar has been mastered, I found myself having (simple) conversations with Chinese speaking students and co-workers. The projects (both speaking and writing) vary in nature, fostering creativity, encouraging interaction with other students and provide with a sense of accomplishment. In summary, I have a fantastic experience with the Chinese Language program at the U of Minnesota. The dedication of the instruction team and the positive class environment promote progress while having fun!"
Anna Borromeo
"I have had some experience in the past studying Spanish, French, and Chinese, and I decided to continue my study of Chinese in college. However, I find studying Chinese very interesting. It intrigues me to understand the history and meaning behind each character. I have also gained knowledge on the Chinese culture and its influence on the composition of the language. My experience has strengthened my appreciation for studying foreign languages and the power of communication. I have plans to go to Taiwan this summer for a mission trip to teach English to incoming college freshmen students, and I hope to use the knowledge and experience I gained this past year during this trip and in the future.”
Haley Dahl
"I have had a very positive experience in Chinese 3021 and 3022 this year. As a freshman, I was nervous about continuing learning Chinese at the collegiate level, but all of the professors were extremely helpful and held many office hours each week. The small class size was also a benefit because the students got to know each other well and everyone felt comfortable asking questions, which I believe helped us all grow in our knowledge of Chinese. Homework worksheets and weekly one-on-one speaking practice with the professors were the key to improving my writing, reading, and speaking skills. My Chinese speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills have improved greatly over these past two semesters because of the positive classroom environment and accessible faculty who have helped me improve. I am excited to keep learning Chinese in the future as I believe it will be an asset in my future business career."
Martin Miller
"I've had the great opportunity of working with the Asian Languages and Literatures (ALL) department over the last couple of years. I've developed a strong relationship with various professors and know them on a personal level. My classmates are genuinely interested in Chinese, and it shows in their participation. I know many of them and spend time with them outside of the classroom. Upon graduation, it is my intention to pursue a career in interpretation and translation, thereby utilizing the skills I've learned to build bridges between people through language."
Eva Moe
"I began my Chinese learning with ALL in the summer of 2014. I was immediately met with a group of excellent teachers who know how students learn best. When I don't know a particular word, my professors teach me A) the word and B) how to work around the sentence without knowing the word. Part of being fluent is the ability to construct sentences even without a perfect Chinese Dictionary in your head. ALL gave me a solid foundation with which to build new language skills and create international friendships."
Samuel Ronchak
"My experience with the Chinese program at the University of Minnesota has been nothing less than excellent. I would say that my high school program was very good, but ever since I started taking classes here at the U, my Chinese proficiency and overall understanding has accelerated even further. The class is great because the coursework is not overwhelming by any means, but there is enough work that it really gives me a chance to master the material. Both of my instructors this year have been two of the best I have ever had. Not only do they cover the material in the book, but they will also talk about things not necessarily in the book, but can increase our knowledge and understanding of Chinese culture. I'm very glad I decided to continue my Chinese studies here at the U."
Aleisha Smith
"I have taken Chinese 3021 and 3022 during the 2015-2016 school year. During this time I've found the instructors to be helpful, open to many different questions, and thorough in their feedback. Our classes are interactive and employ various learning methods every day, which has really helped me understand new concepts. I am a first-year Ph.D. student in English literature and I plan to continue studying Chinese, both at the university and beyond, in order to look at how the United States and China represent human rights and minorities in literature. Our instructors have provided helpful information regarding other opportunities for study and summer programs as well."
Jessi Wyatt
“About halfway into my undergraduate career, I felt like something was missing. My degree is in Environmental Sciences, Policy, and Management, but I decided to add a Mandarin Chinese minor because I had never had the opportunity to study a language and Chinese sounded exotic and challenging. It was the best decision I ever made. After the equivalent of 4 semesters, I got to spend a summer in Beijing, soaking up an amazing cultural immersion. Not only did studying Chinese enhance my marketability and create interesting dimension to my resume, it was the most fun, frustrating, and, ultimately, rewarding part of my undergraduate career."