Interest in China has grown dramatically as that country emerges as an economic powerhouse and Asia’s cultural giant. Two of Minnesota’s two-year colleges have developed online courses that will enable students to study China and Chinese from a variety of perspectives, beginning this fall semester. The courses are Chinese Civilization and Culture (HUM 2009), offered by Duluth’s Lake Superior College (LSC) and Beginning Chinese (CHIN 1000), offered by Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC).
Students may sign up for either or both classes through Minnesota Online ( www.minnesotaonline.org), the Internet portal for all online classes offered by the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.
“This presents a new opportunity for students to combine two courses from two institutions to build a richer learning experience,” said Jim Berg, Lake Superior College’s dean of liberal arts and sciences.
“The opportunity for online students to take both a Chinese language course and a civilization and culture course should enhance learning in both courses,” said Linnea Stetson, Minneapolis Community and Technical College’s dean of academic affairs.
“This is the first of many global learning offerings we plan to make available through the Lake Superior College Virtual Campus and Minnesota Online,” said Barry Dahl, vice president of technology and the Virtual Campus at Lake Superior College.
Dahl recently returned from China, where he toured with a group of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities educators. He hopes that the trip will identify additional educational partnerships and exchanges, including some that can be delivered via the Internet.
Lake Superior College has collaborated on several projects with Chinese artists and educators in recent years. The Lake Superior College Art Department has conducted several student tours of China to participate in art conferences and tours of the region’s ceramics factories and studios. Teaching exchanges with Guangzhow University have also occurred. A celebrated high-profile ceramics artist, Wenzhi Zhang, taught at Lake Superior College during the spring of 2005 and Lake Superior College instructor Dorian Beaulieu recently returned from China where he demonstrated ceramics. Pieces by art faculty members Beaulieu and Bob Husby are in permanent collections in China.
Minneapolis Community and Technical College has been involved with universities in China for several years. For the last two years, Minneapolis Community and Technical College faculty members have taught at a summer arts camp for youth at Ningbo University. Ten Minneapolis Community and Technical College faculty and administrators recently returned from a two-week trip to China for a cultural study tour that also included 17 colleagues from other Minnesota Colleges and Universities. Currently, ten Minneapolis Community and Technical College nursing students are at Hanghou University studying nursing with their counterparts there. Planning is underway for continued educational exchange opportunities with three Chinese universities.
Robert Kosuth, a Lake Superior College instructor, will teach Chinese Literature and Culture. A Chicago native, Kosuth has master's degrees in East Asian Studies and Linguistics and a Ph.D. in Second Languages and Cultures. During the past 30 years, he has taught and traveled for extended periods in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. His command of Chinese language and interactions with everyday Chinese citizens enable the course to connect the classic culture of the past with the actual culture that Chinese people live every day.
Beginning Chinese (CHIN 1000) will be taught by Faye Merritt, Minneapolis Community and Technical College instructor. Merrit was born in Ningbo, Zhejiang. She graduated from Zhejiang University in Hangzhou with a B.A. degree in English and literature. She went on to study second language teaching at Utah State University as a graduate student and taught Chinese language courses there.