Language and Culture: Making the Connection
2008 exploration seminar in Chengdu,
China
Program director: Liping Yu,
Date of instruction: Aug 25-Sept. 18
The objective of 2008 UW exploration seminar in Chengdu,
China is to give our students first-hand
experience of a China that is ancient yet still young—since China has undergone
dramatic changes in the past 30 years.
Language is culture and culture is
language. This trip will certainly
complement the language classes that are offered at UW. In this trip our students are going to not
only observe China
with their own eyes, but also live like a Chinese by adapting themselves to a
Chinese style of living. UW students
will be paired up with Sichuan
University students in
order to provide an opportunity for UW students to enhance their education
through direct engagement and interaction with Chinese students, teachers, and
ordinary Chinese people.
Our exploration seminar takes place
in Chengdu, the 5th largest city in China. Chengdu is the
capital of Sichuan Province, which is in the
southwest of China. It
is also one of the most important economic centers and transportation and
communication hubs in China. Compared with other big cities like Beijing or Shanghai, Chengdu has less western
influence. It is a city with a profound
historical and cultural background. Sichuan University,
one of the best universities in China,
will be our host. To immerse our
students in Chinese culture in a structured way, our seminar consists of three
major parts: cognitive instruction in Chinese culture, field trips related to
the lectures, and language classes.
There are 10 cultural lectures that will touch a wide variety of topics
of China.
The topics will include Chinese education, Chinese religion, Chinese medical
system, traditional Chinese medicine, culinary art, traditional Chinese
painting and calligraphy, Chinese ethnic groups, foreign enterprises in China, and environmental protection in China. In the field trips we will be visiting
Chinese elementary and middle schools, going to Chinese temples, visiting
Chinese hospitals, making Chinese food, visiting art museums, gathering
together with minority groups and visiting Microsoft and Intel offices in
Chengdu. All these lectures are taught
by professors from Sichuan University and the field trips will be led by faculty
from UW and Sichuan
University. The language classes will be taught by Liping
Yu, the Chinese lecturer from UW, and local teaching faculty. Students will be put into different language
classes according to their language proficiency. In addition to the scheduled 12 hours of
language classes, students will have the opportunity to arrange one-on-one sessions
with local TAs, and can practice speaking Chinese with a professional language
instructor.
Be prepared for the adventure of your lifetime! In
addition to the lectures and classes, students will have the opportunity to
climb Mountain Emei, one of the four sacred Buddhist
Mountains in China; visit the Leshan Giant Buddha, the
tallest stone Buddha statue in the world; and travel to Qingcheng Mountain,
a famous center of Taoism. We will visit
DuJianYan, the oldest and only surviving no-dam irrigation system in the world,
and Lizhuang, a small town that had hosted many famous intellectuals during the
anti-Japanese war. We will also spend one of our weekends exploring Chongqing, the largest and most populous city in China.Students will also have free time to explore the city on
their own. They can experience both
rural and urban life in China,
meet local people, and of course, sample the delicious, world-famous Sichuan cuisine.
Class assignments will include keeping a diary of reactions
to each site we will visit, joining group discussion, and writing a short paper
on a cultural aspect of particular interest to you. There will be a final exam
for the Chinese language class.
Students will receive 5 credits for Chin 395 or CHID
474. Participants should check with their advisors to determine how these
credits can count towards departmental requirements.