Chinese Language
About Chinese
Our Program and Courses
The ability to speak Chinese and understand its varieties and cultural impact has never been more valuable given China’s growing global influence. In small classes that emphasize close collaboration between students and professors, you will develop the tools to reflect critically on the cultural practices, products and perspectives of the Chinese-speaking world and your own.
Minor in Area Studies: Asian Studies (China)
You can minor in Asian Studies (China) through F&M’s International Studies program. Our Area Studies minor allows you to tailor your academic experience by focusing your minor on a specific region of the world.
By the time you graduate, you will:
- Have attained proficiency in Chinese and be able to communicate effectively and cohesively orally and in writing
- Be able to demonstrate a solid knowledge of relevant and current social debates through the news, art, history, film, music and literature.
- Be able to present, connect, and analyze Chinese literature and discuss the perspectives they represent.
- Have learned modes of critical analysis that enhance and inform your own questions and interests.
- Be able to build linguistic, cultural, and cross-cultural competence.
Chinese Language Placement Exam
If you’re admitted to F&M and plan to study Chinese, you may be asked to complete a language placement exam. You will complete this test the summer before you arrive on campus.
Wondering what a Chinese course is like? Take a look at our course catalog to explore what’s available to you.
Our Faculty and Staff
Jin Gong
Visiting Assistant Professor, Chinese Language Program
Jennifer Redmann
Professor of German, Department Chair of German, Russian & East Asian Languages (Chinese,
Japanese)
Learning Outside the Classroom
Off-Campus Study
When learning a foreign language, it’s important to experience its use in communities
that speak it natively. Each summer, students will have the option to study abroad
in China, with longer visits possible when demand and availability allow. Some of
the most popular programs include studying at the Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA)
in Shanghai, The Alliance for Global Education in Shanghai, CET in Kunming, China,
and the School for International Training (SIT) China.
Learn more about off-campus study at F&M
Success Beyond F&M
The tremendous success of F&M graduates demonstrates the tangible value of an F&M degree when compared to national outcomes. Within six months after graduation, 92% of the Class of 2024 were either employed or furthering their education. This is higher than the national average, which is typically in the mid-80% range. And by studying Chinese at F&M, the interpretive skills and creative thinking abilities you gain are valuable for any post-college plan.
Alumni Spotlight
“These experiences sparked my interest in global affairs and diplomacy, nurturing my dream of becoming a diplomat myself one day.”
Lam Tran ’21, a joint major in Chinese studies and government, was named a recipient of the prestigious Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Graduate Fellowship Program. The fellowship is a competitive award that prepares outstanding young people for foreign service careers in the U.S. Department of State. “My inspiration to apply for the Pickering Fellowship stems from my upbringing in Vietnam, where my father worked for the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi as a local hire. He often took me to embassy events, allowing me to interact with U.S. diplomats from various backgrounds,” Tran said. “These experiences sparked my interest in global affairs and diplomacy, nurturing my dream of becoming a diplomat myself one day. This interest was further solidified through my education at F&M, where I built a strong academic foundation in international relations.”Read More »
Alumni Spotlight
Young Alumna Bridges the Miles to Wuhan
Teresa Chappell ’18 is no stranger to China. As a student at F&M, Chappell was a double major in creative writing and French with a minor in Chinese and studied abroad in Hangzhou, China her junior year. After graduating from F&M in 2018, she traveled to Wuhan, China as a Princeton in Asia Teaching (PiA) Fellow.Read More »
What does art of the past tell us about the transformation of visual and material
experience over time? By studying History of Art and Architecture at F&M, you’ll actively
engage with this living dimension of the past through its artifacts, images, architecture,
and relevant texts. International studies is an innovative program that combines off-campus study in a
non-English-speaking location with on- and off-campus coursework. As a student of
international studies at F&M, you will develop a global perspective and immerse yourself
in the languages and cultures of non-English-speaking countries and regions. Humans find meaning in many forms, and one of the most widespread and varied of those
is religion. As a religious studies student at F&M, you will have the opportunity
to study numerous belief systems, including American religions, Buddhism, Christianity,
Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam, while challenging your own perceptions and those of
the world around you. July 18, 2025 F&M's global community of students brought together Jordan Samuels and Lyla Loria, co-founders of Fuel for Thought, a nonprofit that provides meals and educational resources to students in South Africa. July 17, 2025 Forging into the unknown to uncover new inspirations — that’s the Diplomat way. For He Zhuo ’24, this meant exploring different fields before discovering an unexpectedly acute interest in chemistry. Now, he’s pursuing a doctorate in chemistry at Vanderbilt University. “Majoring in chemistry at F&M provided me with a robust foundation in the subject,” Zhuo said. July 14, 2025 As he steps into the role of president of Franklin & Marshall College, Andrew “Andy” Rich is spending time with members of the F&M community and learning what they value about being Diplomats. Rich was named Franklin and Marshall’s 17th president earlier this year, and his first official day in that role was July 12.Related Fields of Study
History of Art and Architecture
International Studies
Religious Studies
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