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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:

Meet Our Faculty

Junqing (Jessie) Jia

Associate Professor of East Asian Languages and Literatures (Chinese)

jjia@hamilton.edu

East Asian Languages and Literatures, Chinese language pedagogy, psychology of language learning

Tiao-Guan Huang

Visiting Assistant Professor of East Asian Languages and Literatures

thuang2@hamilton.edu

Chinese linguistics, teaching Chinese as a second/foreign language, learning and teaching strategies

Zhuoyi Wang

Professor of East Asian Languages and Literatures

zwang@hamilton.edu

Chinese cinema and literature

Chinese language and pedagogy, language acquisition

Lulu Yuan

Teaching Fellow in Chinese

lyuan@hamilton.edu

Chinese language and pedagogy, language acquisition

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

Huang Gives Online Talks at Wenzao Ursuline University

Tiao-Guan Huang, visiting assistant professor of Chinese, was invited by Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages in Taiwan to deliver two lectures in November.

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.