An American Chinese Education

I have attended Mandarin classes for over a decade, mostly in the US and a few in China. Courses in the US have been rather frustrating. Class conversations regularly included a great deal of English, and testing primarily tested student capabilities. Other measures for assessing progress were largely absent. Classes in China were incredible. Obviously, testing stood out as a main educational tool, but class time included significant oral practice and a bare minimum of English.

One week in this Chinese class reminds me a lot more of China than my primary and secondary Mandarin education in the US. I appreciate Dai Laoshi’s more modern approach to education, among other things ignoring testing. While this approach may seem more relaxed, she complements it with requiring a great deal of work. She emphasizes speaking and listening, as well as conceptual thinking.

I am excited for this semester.