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About the Major

The rapid growth of the Pacific Rim as an economic and technological giant in world affairs has spurred interest in the region's languages and people. Chinese is one of the most widely taught languages in the U.S., essential for politics, diplomacy, business, education, and technology. The Chinese curriculum at Hamilton is designed to meet the need for China specialists who are competent in the language and able to study China through original materials. Students hone language skills throughout their four years, and many choose to study in China.

A Sampling of Courses

Chinese New Year in the Wellin

Americans & Chinese: Case Studies of Cross-Cultural Communication

Through film screening, role-play, skit performances and discussions, students learn to identify differences in the behavioral culture between Americans and Chinese. The course brings students of different cultural backgrounds together and conducts cross-cultural comparison through observation, first-hand experience sharing, and critical analysis. It helps Americans to interact more effectively when dealing with Chinese counterparts in their future careers. It also helps Chinese native speakers to better adjust to the American culture. All course materials are in English or subtitled.

Explore these select courses:

This course is for students with little or no background in Mandarin Chinese. The course covers the first five units of the learning materials, Basic Mandarin Chinese (Speaking & Listening; Reading & Writing). The course will help students develop skills in Mandarin Chinese to conduct basic communication across ethnic, cultural and ideological boundaries and to develop an understanding of Chinese interpersonal behavioral culture. At the end of the course, students will be expected to perform in speaking, listening, reading and writing Chinese at a level of proficiency appropriate for continuing on to the next course in the sequence. Students should also demonstrate a level of cultural understanding suitable for correct performance of assigned tasks in Chinese.

Since 1919, Chinese literature has played a decisive role in interactions between tradition and modernity. This course examines the development of Chinese literature against such interactions. Students will familiarize themselves with the most representative modern and contemporary Chinese literary works and gain a broad understanding of many modernity-related issues, including politics, culture, class, labor division, ethnicity, gender and sexuality.

Continuation of Advanced Chinese I, with emphasis on making the transition from textbook to an advanced level of competence for reading periodicals and journals in China. Discussion, written and oral work. Taught in Chinese.

Through examining twelve contemporary issues in China, this introductory course on Chinese civilization will explore some fundamental themes that help to shape and define the culture. Students are expected to be engaged in readings, lectures, discussions, video screenings, and interviews. Issues that we will discover include the food and environment in China; Taoism’s transformation in modernity; Neo-Confucianism and the education system; media censorship and its background; the legacy and future of Chinese language, and so on. Taught in English. No prior knowledge of China is required.

Does Hollywood cinema dictate its reception across the world? Are there clear-cut boundaries between non-Hollywood cinema’s submission and resistance to Hollywood? Facing worldwide competition, how does Hollywood maintain its dominance of global culture? This seminar examines such questions by focusing on the nuanced negotiations between Hollywood films and diverse Chinese-language cultures, including China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Students will gain insight into Chinese-language films, literatures, and cultures as well as their own culture shaped by Hollywood-dominated media.

Meet Our Faculty

Junqing (Jessie) Jia

Assistant Professor of East Asian Languages and Literatures (Chinese)

jjia@hamilton.edu

Chinese language pedagogy, with emphasis on development of language learning motivation; research-based curriculum design and material development; gamification in foreign language learning

Zhuoyi Wang

Professor of East Asian Languages and Literatures

zwang@hamilton.edu

Chinese cinema and literature

Xin Xu

Visiting Assistant Professor of East Asian Languages and Literatures

xxxu@hamilton.edu

Modern Chinese literature, comparative poetics, modernist poetry, avant-garde poetry, lyricism, literature and urbanization

Yuan Tzu Chang

Teaching Fellow in East Asian Languages and Literatures

ychang@hamilton.edu

Elementary education, Chinese language pedagogy

Xi Chen

Visiting Lecturer in East Asian Languages and Literatures

xchen@hamilton.edu

Linjun Yao

Teaching Fellow in East Asian Languages and Literatures

lyao@hamilton.edu

Yin Zhang

Administrative Director, Associated Colleges in China Program

yzhang@hamilton.edu

Careers After Hamilton

Hamilton graduates who concentrated in Chinese are pursuing careers in a variety of fields, including:

  • 5th Grade Science Teacher, Teach for America
  • Equity Trader, Goldman Sachs
  • Educator, Museum of Chinese in the Americas
  • Owner, Council on International Educational Exchange
  • Research Technician, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
  • Television Reporter and Producer, Thomson Reuters (Beijing)
  • Marketing Specialist, GCIS China Strategic Research
  • VP Global Education Initiatives, The National Center for Sustainable Development

Explore Hamilton Stories

2023-2024 Top Fulbright Producer graphic

Hamilton Continues Streak as Top Fulbright Producer

In the 20 years since the Fulbright Program began announcing its top-producing colleges and universities, Hamilton has appeared on that list nearly every time.

Little Know Facts Illustration - May 2022

Professors Share ‘Little-Known’ Facts

Is there life on other planets? What does the term ‘Viking’ really mean? Is Earth due for another reversal of the magnetic field? Expert faculty members from several departments, including history, east Asian languages, art history, geosciences, government, and physics, share a little-known fact about their discipline.

Michelle Chung '20

A Return to Publishing

Fresh from graduation, Michelle Chung ’20 began an extensive job search and, having previously interned for Penguin Random House, knew that she had an interest in publishing. After identifying an opening with Simon & Schuster, a top publishing company based in New York City, she reached out to Brian Belfiglio ’90.

Contact

Department Name

Chinese Program

Contact Name

Jesse Jia, Program Coordinator

Office Location
198 College Hill Road
Clinton, NY 13323

Help us provide an accessible education, offer innovative resources and programs, and foster intellectual exploration.

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