Chinese Flagship Program Curriculum

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EFFECTIVE AND ENGAGING CURRICULUM

The UW Chinese Flagship Program is bolstered by one of the nation’s strongest Chinese language and literature curricula. Dating back to 1926, Chinese language education at UW has served as a hub of fostering globally minded multilingual professionals in academia, government, not-for-profit, business, and other fields. The Chinese Flagship curriculum draws on this rich history of language education, as well as accessible and engaging Chinese language program faculty, to help students reach professional-level proficiency in conversing, reading, and writing.

The Chinese Flagship curriculum can be understood through four phases: Foundational, Expansion, Professional, and Application. The courses comprise a reinforcing body of knowledge that advances language proficiency at every phase. Course sequence is flexible when students reach the advanced reading level. Depending on the level of Chinese proficiency at which a student enters the program, it is possible for a student to begin the Flagship experience in the Expansion or Professional phases of the curriculum.
 

GUIDED PATH TO CERTIFICATION

Time to completion of the Flagship program varies from student to student as applicants arrive with varying levels of proficiency. For those entering the program at the first-year Chinese level, the entire Chinese Flagship experience (including the Capstone year) can span up to five years depending on the student’s course schedule.  Flagship students benefit from various course pathways to professional-level proficiency.

As just one example of what such a pathway may look like, a student who enters college with no Chinese knowledge could take First-Year Chinese their freshman year, summer intensive Second-Year Chinese their first summer in college, Third-Year Chinese their second year, study abroad at a Flagship-approved summer program the summer following their second year, return to take Fourth-Year Chinese courses in their third year, while applying for the Capstone year program to begin in their fourth year. 

For students starting Chinese later than Freshman year, or balancing major course requirements, it is common to apply for the Capstone year to take place as a fifth year of their undergraduate experience.

No matter what level of Chinese proficiency a student is at when they enter the Flagship Program, we work with each student to develop an individualized roadmap to graduation.
 

QUALIFYING FOR CAPSTONE

The ultimate goal of the UW Chinese Flagship program is to send students abroad for an immersive experience in language learning via a Capstone year of study.  The Capstone program spans a 10-month school year, and involves a curriculum of high-level Chinese learning, major-area courses taken alongside native Chinese-speaking university students, and a semester-long internship experience tailored to the student’s interest at a local business or organization.

To qualify for Capstone, students must perform at a high level on language proficiency exams, exhibit cultural knowledge (usually gained by studying abroad) and professional skills in presentation.  At a practical level, these skills require a level of modern Chinese ability to function at the Fourth-year Chinese level, as well as enrollment in courses of Classical/Literary Chinese and at least one course on Chinese literature, history, politics or culture.  Students meeting the below, Flagship-mandated parameters, will present a strong application for studying abroad on the Capstone year:

1. General Language Proficiency (ILR 2 speaking, IRL 2/1+ reading and writing)
2. Media Chinese Proficiency (Discuss course selection with program coordinator and instructors)
3. Exposure to modern literature, history, and politics (e.g. CHIN 385 or 463; courses from China Studies/Taiwan Studies)
4. Basic Literary/Classical Chinese (e.g., CHIN 451; CHIN 373)
5. Domain Training (courses in your major; tutoring in Chinese about your domain research project)
6. Pre-Capstone Cultural Preparation (e.g., study abroad; internship)
7. Presentational skills (domain research project; CHIN 431/432; ASIAN 498)

Connect with us to plan and strategize your pathway to Flagship Certification as you complete your degree.
 

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