My Hypothetical Certificate in Applied Modern Chinese Studies

Today marks four years since my graduation from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies.  This means I’ve spent as much time as a university graduate as I did as a university student.  The experiences feel parallel in terms of topical variety and timeframe.  I’ve spent three of the past four years in China and one in California; I spent three of my college years in Berkeley and one particularly fabulous(!) year in Chile.  To reflect on what I’ve learned over the past four years, I hereby grant myself a hypothetical certificate in “Applied Modern Chinese Studies.”

A photo from my first week in Jiaxing, in the convenience store across the street from the university.

Looking back at the lessons I’ve learned and the ways I’ve learned them, I propose the following course outline for this certificate:

Applied Chinese Language (3 years):

• Modules include casual chats with vegetable vendors and train travelmates; more than a year of twice-weekly one-on-one lessons with my wonderful tutor Layla; conversations about Barack Obama and basketball with students and taxi drivers; advanced pantomime and guessing; childrens’ books like 喜羊羊与灰太狼 .

喜羊羊与灰 太狼: that translates to “Pleasant Sheep and Big Big Wolf.”   My best purchase today: A book featuring these cute characters, complete with both characters and pinyin.  Its title translates to “The Blue Frog Prince” and I got lots of amused stares as I read it aloud with a patient, amused Chinese friend over dinner at one of my favorite vegetarian restaurants.  Good times.

Cross-Sector Partnerships for Good (3 years):

• Level 1: Research and assess Corporate Social Responsibility in China through close interactions with corporate and non-profit representatives
• Level 2: Apply knowledge to create a Corporate Social Responsibility report for a multinational ports company, to improve its standing with the local government
• Level 3: Provide training and service to non-profit organizations, to help them use a socially entrepreneurial company’s software products
• Level 4: Publicize the work of a non-profit organization that supports small businesses in China and partners with multinational companies for operational support
• Level 5: Support an entrepreneurial Sino-Anglo team in its partnership with one of China’s largest charities to build cross-cultural enrichment programs for young students

Note: I’ve been intentionally vague in these descriptions.  If you’d like a more specific version, check out my LinkedIn profile.

Startupology (2 years)

• Wear many hats
• Be aware of the most important stakeholders and make them look good!

Topics in Environmental Studies (2 years):

• Attend dozens of BEER events to learn about a wide variety of green issues and interact with environmental professionals
• Conduct qualitative research on public perception of environmental issues through continuous conversations with clients, friends, and taxi drivers
• Assist an American professor with his research on China’s Renewable Energy Law

Comparative Education (2 years):

• Teach Oral English to 600 Chinese university students, a hands-on exercise in encouraging individual expression amid a strict educational environment
• Design and deliver training programs for professionals in China’s diplomatic, energy, legal, insurance, mining and technology sectors

Chinese Psychology (3 years):

• Facilitate thought-provoking conversations about creativity with Chinese professionals
• Learn to formulate questions in a way that enables individuals trained in a rote educational system to elicit a wide variety of out-loud answers
• Conduct qualitative research on motivations for Chinese parents, particularly regarding study abroad
• Learn “Negotiation with Chinese Characteristics”

Applied Linguistics (4 years):

• Learn to speak “Special English”
• Create lesson plans to explain the proper use of hyphens, parallel constructions, and the word “although” in accordance with a formal, British style guide
• Learn to say No while maintaining a respectful relationship with the person in question
• Practice advanced pantomime

Digital Communications (4 years):

• Maintain connections with faraway friends and family using email and Facebook
• Make new connections through blogs and Twitter

Self-Knowledge and Personal Development (4 years):

• Recognize the characteristics of the best and worst days, and shape circumstances to better facilitate good days
• Thank mentors and supervisors for attention and candid feedback
• Read books.  Lots of them.  Recent favorite:  Flow

This list is far from exhaustive, but it’s been a good exercise for me, to categorize and share the experiences I’ve gained over the past four years.  The second-to-last item feels a bit ironic considering that I’ve left this blog fallow for a few months.

If you have any comments or questions, I’d love to hear them.   More to come soon, I promise!