In the fall of 2004, Wofford College and the Department of Foreign
Languages inaugurated a new program in Chinese Language and Culture.
The program, directed by Dr. Li Qing Kinnison, who comes to Wofford
from the faculty at Colby College has been supported by a generous
endowment given by the Peacock Family Foundation headed by Mr. Grant
Peacock, a Greenville, S.C., entrepreneur. Adding the opportunity for
students to understand Chinese language and culture recognizes the
increasing importance of China in international affairs as well as the
employment advantages for students who know Chinese. With the emerging
political and economic importance of China, it will be an advantage for
students to understand the culture and to communicate effectively in
Chinese, not only for their general citizenship in the world community,
but in their careers.
Courses
The program in Chinese and the minor in Chinese
Studies offers a series of first, second, third, and fourth year
language and grammar courses in additon to courses in the history and
culture of China from ancient to modern times as well as Chinese
literature and film. Both first and second year language courses meet
five days per week and introduce students to increasingly sophisticated
uses of spoken and written Mandarin. Students will acquire speaking
skills and learn basic Chinese characters. These courses will be
available to the general public and to students at other local and
regional campuses as well as to Wofford students, providing a resource
for the community at-large and the international business community in
particular. Wofford students will have opportunities to study and to
conduct internships in China through Wofford’s foreign study service
providers which include the Council for International Education
Exchange (CIEE), the Institute for the International Education of
Students (IES) and the School for International Training (SIT). See Study Abroad for more information.
Chinese Faculty
Dr. Li Qing Kinnison, a native of China,
earned her bachelor’s in English language and literature while still in
China. After moving to the United States, she earned the MA in TESOL
(Teaching of English as a Second Language) from Azusa Pacific
University in California, and the Ph.D. in linguistics from Michigan
State University. Her special interests include intercultural
communications, sociolinguistics and second language acquistion.
Chinese Student Perspectives