June 9, 2009
Ni hao! Bryant hosts international experts on Chinese
More than 100 educators from around the world take part in 21st North American Conference on Chinese Linguistics.
Educators from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, the United States, and the United Kingdom converged on the Bryant University campus this weekend for the 21st North American Conference on Chinese Linguistics (NACCL-21).
A recognized expert in the area of second language acquisition, Yun Xiao, associate professor and chair of Bryant’s Modern Languages Department, led the conference.
The three-day event focused on a full range of topics in Chinese linguistics and explored new research about the language, which has more native speakers than any other in the world. (Learn more about the NACCL-21.)
“We are honored to host this program, which is one of the most prestigious Chinese education conferences in the United States,” says Yun.
Scholarly exchange
David Lux, dean of Bryant’s College of Arts and Sciences, says academic conferences like the NACCL-21 provide a forum for scholars and students to meet with people who share the same passion.
“This is where rising scholars get to know the established authorities, where students have the chance to meet scholars who wrote their textbooks, and where professionals exchange new ideas,” says Lux.
Adjunct Lecturer of Chinese Ying Zhang presented her research that focuses on one of the biggest barriers to learning Chinese – vocabulary acquisition.
“The research idea came from my teaching and a motivation to seek effective and efficient ways of helping students increase their Chinese vocabulary,” says Ying, who has also taught language and culture programs for elementary and middle school students.
A presenter last month at an international conference on teaching Chinese, Ying will present similar papers at conferences in Taiwan and China in June and August, respectively.
Showcasing Bryant
Both Yun and Lux agree that the conference provided an excellent opportunity for experts in the field to learn more about Bryant’s commitment to Chinese education. Educational resources provided through the University’s U.S.-China Institute, Confucius Institute, and a growing Modern Languages Department allow students to immerse themselves in the Chinese culture.
“My hope is that the conference increased the visibility of Bryant by giving the attendees an opportunity to see our academic leadership in the field, beautiful campus, first-class technology, and supportive University leaders,” says Xiao.
Through initiatives such as internship and immersion programs, semesters abroad, the STARTALK summer cultural camp for middle and high school students, and President Machtley’s continued leadership, Bryant has shown a commitment to develop first-rate programs in Chinese language and culture, says Lux.
“We have a good story to tell and a great curriculum to showcase,” he says. “Our wish is that the participants will want to build on their experiences here and develop strong relationships with our programs.”
The 21st North American Conference on Chinese Linguistics was supported by the College of Arts and Sciences, U.S.-China Institute, Confucius Institute, the Modern Languages Department, and the History and Social Sciences Department.
