The Chinese program in the Department of World Languages and Cultures is staffed by Professor Timothy R. Bradstock and Dr. Cao Zhen. We offer courses in modern Chinese language (putonghua or Mandarin) and Chinese literature and civilization.

Currently, we provide two years of language instruction, but a third year may be added in the near future. Our language courses give top priority to developing oral and aural skills, although learners are taught to read and write Chinese as well. The textbook series used in this program is Integrated Chinese, published by Cheng & Tsui Company in Boston (www.cheng-tsui.com ). We employ the traditional character version of this series, but students are guided toward acquisition of the simplified characters, especially during their second year.

As instructors, Drs. Bradstock and Cao place a high premium on being helpful and approachable, striving hard to foster interest in China by developing and maintaining close contact with students in their classes. They maintain extensive office hours, where students (and anyone simply interested in China) are welcome to drop in and seek help with their studies, get career advice, and talk about anything else on their minds.