College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University

Chinese studies

New minor created in the Department of Foreign Languges and Literatures.

The need and demand were there.

"The classes fill almost instantly," said Aili Mu, assistant professor of foreign languages and literatures of the Chinese language courses on campus.

Now in these uncertain economic times, the only question was if enough resources were available to offer a minor in Chinese studies.

Mu says various departments across campus already were offering courses with a focus on modern China. In addition to three core language classes, the 22-hour minor will require a nine-hour cultural core.

Classes in the cultural core have been offered in the past not only in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, but other departments such as anthropology, architecture, history and political science.

"By focusing on modern China, the minor emphasizes a curriculum relevant to the dynamic intercultural exchange that students are likely to experience in their future professional careers," Mu said.

The Board of Regents, State of Iowa, approved the Chinese studies minor last spring, making it the only such, stand-alone minor in the state.

Mu says that from a pedagogical and curricular standpoint, the new minor will meet the needs of students interested in acquiring a solid grounding in the Chinese language as well as those of students who see the study of a culture and its language as much more comprehensive, including not only literature, but also the social, intellectual, artistic, political and historical facets of the culture.

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures currently offers seven Chinese language courses at four different levels. The elementary Mandarin Chinese courses will serve as prerequisites for prospective students in the program.

Not ironically, the development of the Chinese studies minor coincides with the arrival of Mu, the first tenure-track professor instructing the Chinese language. The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures also has a full-time adjunct professor to continue teaching Chinese.

Chinese instruction began at Iowa State in 1989. Interest in the Chinese courses has grown steadily over the years, but retention in the first-year language program hovered around 50%. That has changed dramatically in the last two years, with the retention rate of students enrolled in Chinese 101 was then enrolled in Chinese 102 standing at over 90%.

Students enrolled in Chinese classes come not only from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (55%), but also in the College of Engineering (20%) and the College of Business (15%).

"Our surveys of students enrolling in Chinese 101 confirms that professional and career considerations are one of the primary motivations for enrollment," Mu said. "Students with clearly defined career goals recognize the importance of mastering the language and acquiring a solid grounding in the culture."

Approximately half of the students enrolled in Chinese language courses are what Mu terms as "heritage students" students who have some sort of Chinese background.

"They may know a few words, but they don't speak the language very well," she said. "They also don't read or write the language at all and their cultural knowledge of China is very limited."

The remainder of the enrolled students is "non-heritage students."

"These students basically have to start from zero," Mu said. "But they are very motivated by the economic and cultural exchange that China offers."