{"id":93,"date":"2022-05-31T21:49:49","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T21:49:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/cat\/academic-programs\/chinese\/"},"modified":"2026-06-01T13:07:45","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T17:07:45","slug":"chinese","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/catalog\/academic-programs\/chinese\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Professors: Weng, Yang<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Chinese program provides students with exposure to the language, literature, and culture of China. The multiple levels of Chinese language courses offer a balanced emphasis on listening, reading, writing, and speaking, establishing a good foundation for ongoing language study. Students may study abroad in Greater China (Mainland China and Taiwan) or take part in other forms of advanced study to continue developing their language skills. Chinese Studies courses (taught in English) acquaint students with Chinese cultural productions, including literature, film, art, and more, and situate them within the social, political, and cultural contexts that give them meaning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to the overlap in requirements, it is not possible for students to major in East Asian Studies and minor in Chinese or Japanese unless they are pursuing coursework in both languages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Requirements for the Minor in Chinese<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Number of Units<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

6 total units are required; not including CHIN 101-102 No more than two of the total units may be earned during study abroad. With approval, courses from study abroad may replace required courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Required Courses: (<\/strong>4 units)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Language courses (at least 3 units)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

CHIN 201, 202, 203 (or approved equivalent courses for a total of three units)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All students wishing to count equivalent language courses during study abroad must demonstrate the appropriate aptitude with a placement exam. Please note that placement exams are only offered at the beginning of each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One Chinese Studies course taken on campus (1 unit)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

From among CHIN 222, CHIN 224, CHIN 240, CHIN 245 and any other 200-level course above CHIN 203<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elective Course:<\/strong> (2 Unit)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Minors must complete two additional elective courses. These two courses can be Chinese Studies courses taken on campus, or Chinese language courses above CHIN 203 taken on campus or study abroad . With approval, students may count as elective one non-language course from a long-term (six-unit) study abroad program or two non-language courses from an extended term (nine-unit) program. With approval, additional special topic one-time course offerings with Chinese Studies content may count as electives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related Majors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Chinese Program is an essential part of the East Asian Studies Department, and it contributes to the International and Area Studies Program as well. See catalogue listings of East Asian Studies or International and Area Studies for requirements for these majors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Study Abroad Opportunities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The College has established several programs in the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan. Please consult with the Center for International Programs on the different options available. To maximize the benefits of studying abroad, students are strongly encouraged to complete CHIN 203 before leaving for China. For more details about language preparation for study abroad, consult early with professors and the Center for International Programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chinese Courses<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n CHIN<\/span>\n 222<\/span>\n 20th-Century Urban China<\/span>\n This course interrogates literary and cinematic representations of Chinese cities in the twentieth century. By examining urban narrative in Chinese fiction, drama, poetry and film from the Republican and People's Republic periods, this class offers a new understanding of Chinese modernity as marked by its unique urban sensibilities as well as its historical and cultural configurations.<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>
\n CHIN<\/span>\n 224<\/span>\n Chinese Sci-Fi<\/span>\n This course uses Chinese Sci-fi fictions and films to explore how an understanding of the tumultuous past and a perception of the rapidly shifting present in the Chinese cultural context are rendered in an imagination of alternative contemporary realities and of the future of China and of this interconnected planet. All the course materials are in English translation.<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>
\n CHIN<\/span>\n 240<\/span>\n Chinese Text and Moving Image<\/span>\n This course examines how Chinese literary texts from classical tales to modern novels are reimagined through cinema in Greater China. It investigates how filmmakers transform written narratives while negotiating cultural memory, national identity, and gender. Students will also explore related topics such as tensions between local storytelling and global audiences, classical aesthetics and pop culture, and individual authorship and collective production. It is taught in English. No prior knowledge of Chinese is required.<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>
\n CHIN<\/span>\n 260<\/span>\n Women in China<\/span>\n As in many countries subject to imperialism, women's movements in China were an important part of China's modernization project. How, then, have Chinese feminist theories and women's movements been different from those in the West? What is it like to live as a woman in a rapidly changing China through the 20th and 21st centuries? This course takes three approaches to explore these questions. To examine the characteristics and changes of gender roles we look at the representations of women in literature and film. To understand women's experiences we read women writers' essays, memoirs and fictions. To think about how women work as historical agents who make historical changes, we look at women activists, feminist thinkers and women's movements. <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>
\n CHIN<\/span>\n 270<\/span>\n In Search of the Supernatural<\/span>\n This course explores the supernatural in Chinese mythology, folklore, and literature, examining myths of gods, spirits, and strange beings that blur the line between human and supernatural realms. Students will study cosmogonic myths, supernatural creatures, and ghost stories to understand how these narratives reflect cultural, social, and ethical themes in Chinese history. The course also addresses issues like transformation, justice, and gender dynamics. Modern media adaptations of these myths will be analyzed to explore their continued impact on contemporary identity and morality. Students will engage through readings, discussions, creative projects, and analytical writing to develop skills of literary analysis, critical thinking, and intercultural proficiency.<\/span>\n Open to Sophomores only.<\/span>\n <\/div>
\n CHIN<\/span>\n 280<\/span>\n Love and Sexuality in China<\/span>\n This course examines the evolution of love, romance, and sexuality in Chinese culture, from ancient Confucian ideals to modern media. Through theoretical frameworks and case studies, students analyze how these themes reflect cultural, social, and political shifts.<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>
\n CHIN<\/span>\n 300<\/span>\n Advanced Chinese<\/span>\n This course is a continuation of the Intermediate Chinese language sequence. The objective is to make a transition from textbook Chinese to real-life communication situations. The course uses a range of cultural materials and texts to facilitate a language exposure to a wide variety of written and spoken styles of Chinese. Some of the materials selected are original publications drawn from books, magazines and newspapers. This course focuses on content and style with extensive discussion and frequent written assignments in Chinese. It aims to consolidate what the students have learned in the past and help them develop better reading and writing skills. In addition, the improvement of speaking and listening abilities stays in focus throughout this course. This course may be tailored to the needs of the participants and may be taken for credit up to three times.<\/span>\n Must have completed CHIN-203 or equivalent.<\/span>\n <\/div>
\n CHIN<\/span>\n 600<\/span>\n Teaching Assistantship<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Professors: Weng, Yang The Chinese program provides students with exposure to the language, literature, and culture of China. The multiple levels of Chinese language courses offer a balanced emphasis on listening, reading, writing, and speaking, establishing a good foundation for ongoing language study. Students may study abroad in Greater China (Mainland China and Taiwan) or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":15,"menu_order":8,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-93","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"guten_post_layout_featured_media_urls":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"ab-block-post-grid-landscape":false,"ab-block-post-grid-square":false,"gb-block-post-grid-landscape":false,"gb-block-post-grid-square":false,"guten_post_layout_landscape_large":false,"guten_post_layout_portrait_large":false,"guten_post_layout_square_large":false,"guten_post_layout_landscape":false,"guten_post_layout_portrait":false,"guten_post_layout_square":false,"campus-posts-thumbnail":false,"gform-image-choice-sm":false,"gform-image-choice-md":false,"gform-image-choice-lg":false},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/catalog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/93","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/catalog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/catalog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/catalog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/catalog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/catalog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/93\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1613,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/catalog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/93\/revisions\/1613"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/catalog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/catalog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}