Chinese minor at Hope
The study of the Chinese language opens the way to different important fields such as
Chinese politics, economy, history or archaeology. At the heart of Chinese civilization is
its rich heritage of novels, short stories, poetry, drama, and, more recently, film.
Mandarin Chinese is the mother tongue of over 873 million people, making it the most
widely spoken first language in the world. In the past few decades, China has become a
huge market, and business leaders are looking for people who can speak Chinese and
operate successfully in a Chinese cultural context. Knowing Chinese may give you an
edge when competing for an important position, as China continues to play a major role
in world affairs. Furthermore, China now has opened up to the West, which means that
there are opportunities for employment in all areas.
5 good reasons to study Chinese
1. One fifth of the planet speaks Chinese.
2. In addition to the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan, Mandarin Chinese is
also spoken in the important and influential Chinese communities of Indonesia,
Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, and Mongolia.
3. China is the second largest economy in the world.
4. China is one of largest trading partners of the United States.
5. Many US companies do business in China and have long-term investments there.
Catalogue description
The Chinese minor at Hope consists of a minimum of 20 credits taken at the college level
and approved by the chairperson or the director of the Asian Studies program. Of these,
16 credits must be language courses numbered 200 or higher; the additional 4 credits may
be completed with Chinese 490 (Special Problems in Chinese) or by selecting one class
from the listing below:
Philosophy 241 (Philosophies of China and Tibet)
History 270 (Modern China)
History 371 (Paris and Shanghai)
Pol. Sci 303 (Asian Politics)
Students are strongly encouraged to complete the 300-400 level courses abroad.
Moreover, students seeking to complete the minor requirements abroad must select their
courses in consultation with the Chinese faculty and the approval of the department
chairperson.
Note: The courses in the minor will fulfill the 4 credits of the General Education
language requirement. Students in the Chinese program are expected to learn to
communicate, read, understand, and write in Mandarin Chinese. Students are also
expected to gain an appreciation and understanding of the Chinese and Asian cultures and
literatures. Assessment is conducted at all levels in the four language skills listed through
exams, homework, class presentations, and assignments.
Goals and objectives
The goals and objectives of this minor are the same as those of the other DMCL's
programs:
Objective 1: Language proficiency in a foreign language
Outcomes:
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students will develop competence in the areas of listening and reading
comprehension, as well as oral and written expression in a second language. This
goal involves expanding the range of basic second-language vocabulary and
establishing more firmly an understanding of the grammar of a second language
(and the native language for native speakers).
students will be able to participate meaningfully in overseas study programs
Objective 2: Knowledge and appreciation of history, politics, society, literature and
culture
Outcomes:
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Students will develop an increasingly sophisticated awareness of and appreciation
for the cultural and social life of the countries in which the target language is
spoken.
This will involve:
learning to identify the cultural difference between regions of a country and/or
continent in which the target language is spoken.
asking informed questions, discussing, and making decisions and judgments about
worldviews different than their own, with an understanding of how politics and
history shape cultures and societies.
developing the capacity to analyze issues from multiple perspectives
learning to apply knowledge and values to try to solve global issues related to
diversity, equity, and social justice.
becoming familiar with writings and ideologies of major writers of the ancient
world and modern period.
Objective 3: Global learning and study abroad experience
Outcomes
Students will gain knowledge and understanding of world’s peoples and cultures by:
 exploring the historical legacies that have created the dynamics and persistent
tensions of the world.
 developing intercultural competencies so they can move across boundaries and
see the world from multiple perspectives.
 gaining opportunities to engage in practical work with fundamental issues that
affect communities and societies.
 forging a customized, coherent education by integrating classroom and
experiential learning, study abroad, and co-curricular activities into a unified
whole.
Objective 4: Scholarly (individual and collaborative) research
Outcomes:
 Students will develop academic excellence and integrity through individual and
collaborative research. It is essential that they develop intellectual curiosity
through expressing and articulating their own ideas and evaluating those of their
peers. They will be able to do this by learning to collaborate with peers and
faculty conducting academic research. They will gain the confidence to evaluate
arguments, analyze facts, and discuss their own ideas regarding a wide variety of
issues. Through conversation with each other and with faculty, they will learn to
express their own opinions and points of view both orally and in writing.
Objective 5: Service learning
Outcomes
 Students will learn to integrate their knowledge into practice through experiential
learning. Interacting outside of the academic institution will lead them to
 understand diverse cultures and the complexities of individual and community
identities.
 Students will thus acquire the ability needed to communicate across cultures in a
variety of settings both in professional and non-professional environments.
 Students will gain the experience of practicing their linguistic and academic skills
in the real world.
 Students will be able to identify and pursue an intellectual passion through service
learning thus enriching their personal aspirations.
Objective 6: Christian faith.
Outcomes
 value ethical and moral reflection and action in light of the historic Christian faith.
 develop a sense of civic engagement and responsibility towards social issues and
social justice.
 gain empathy by learning to respect and understand personal and cultural
differences, in particular, of minorities as well as peoples and communities of
underdeveloped nations.
 understand the complexity of the interactions among different religious traditions.
 sustain a caring, supportive climate throughout the College.
 gain a broader understanding of the Christian faith.
Study Abroad
Hope College, through its international consortia, offers programs in Beijing, Shangai,
Nanjing, and Yunan. Students studying in China for the semester may complete 12
credits towards their major and/or minor plus 4 credits towards their General Education
requirement. They may also complete an internship or volunteer.
Beijing: Chinese Language and Ethnic Studies (CIEE)
Beijing: Advanced Chinese Studies (CIEE)
Beijing: Intensive Chinese Language (CIEE)
Shangai: Advanced Chinese Studies (CIEE)
Beijing (IES)
Nanjing: Intensive Chinese & Culture (CIEE)
Shanghai: Business, Language and Culture (CIEE)
Shanghai: China in a Global Context (CIEE)
Yunnan Province: Language,Cultures and Ethnic Minorities (SIT)
Shanghai (IES)