Caleb Dependahl 戴永凯 Places 2nd in the 10th Annual Chinese Bridge

Story contributed by Caleb Dependahl
Videos by Miaochun Wei



Photo by Jianxin Cui

Participating and placing in the 10th Chinese Bridge Speech Competition was even more enjoyable than last year! I am very happy that I could bring honor to GWU and specifically our Chinese Department once again. One thing that makes our Chinese Department stand out from the rest is our amazing faculty. The amount of support and encouragement I’ve received from every single professor is amazing.

My experience preparing for this year’s competition differed greatly from my experience last year. Due to a heavier workload, I originally had no plans to compete in Chinese Bridge again. However, a few weeks before the competition our Director, Phyllis Zhang, along with several other smiling professors just happened to ask me – repeatedly – if I would be competing in the 汉语桥 coming up. I knew that resistance was futile and decided to jump in and enjoy the ride! Professor Chen Xiaoning was immediately assigned to whip me in shape, and before I knew it I was memorizing speeches and distracting anyone unlucky enough to be down the hall from our practice room!


I give all of the credit to three professors, without whom I would never have competed or done as well as I did. First, I would like to thank Prof. Phyllis Zhang, Director of GW Chinese Program, for urging me to compete these past two years. She has continued to push me to challenge myself and realize my full potential, and for that I am truly grateful. Next, I would like to thank Professor Wei Gengyun again, the visiting fellow from China (2008-10). It was she who helped me prepare for the 汉语桥 last year, and if it weren’t for her I never would have attempted my first “没有快板的快板”. She helped me discover a talent I never knew I had. Finally, I never would have done so well this year without the help of Professor Chen Xiaoning, another visiting fellow from China. Her guidance, patience and encouragement have brought me to the point where I am ready to bring my skills to the next level.

I would also like to thank Professor Wei Miaochun for videotaping our performances, and Professor Dong Hongyuan for driving us to and from the competition.

I sincerely thank you all!

-- Caleb

Caleb Dependahl is a Junior in the Elliott School of International Affairs, double majoring in Asian Studies and Chinese Language and Literature

GW Sweeps Chinese Bridge Speech Competition

(Photos by Prof. Jianxin Cui, Confucius Institute, UMD)

Tim Quinn (GW Chinese minor) and Caleb Dependahl (GW Chinese major) placed 1st and 2nd respectively in the 10th Annual Chinese Bridge Speech Competition preliminaries, Washington DC site. The competition of the DC site was held at the University of Maryland Confucius Institute, with 12 competitors from seven universities. Competitors were required to perform a formal speech, answer questions testing Chinese language and cultural knowledge, and perform a talent related to Chinese culture. The 1st and 2nd place winners of each region are sent to Beijing to represent the USA competing on the International Chinese Bridge on Chinese national television! Look forward to seeing their performances after this summer!








Dr. Julia Chen is currently a visiting fellow from China. Once a TV program host in Hubei TV Station, China, Dr. Chen used her pro skills to coach the two GW competitors. (Photo by Phyllis Zhang)



比赛前一天,我问崑天和永凯,要是没得奖,你们会失望吗? 他们说,我们不会在意,我们更在意这个学习的过程。我的心一下子放下了。现在，我常常想起的不是他们获奖的瞬间，而是在这间不大的办公室里，我们字斟句酌、反复锤炼的一个个场景……
On the day before the competition, I asked Tim and Caleb, if you guys don’t win will you be upset? They told me that winning didn’t even matter, what matters was the experience and what they had learned during the preparation process. I immediately was able to relax. Now, when I reflect on this experience, I generally don’t think about that award winning moment. Instead, I think of the time spent in that small office, practicing over and over, carefully weighing every word......
-- Julia Chen


Prof. Miaochun Wei had taught Tim before Tim went to the ACC program in China.

This is our third year that GW students have participated in Chinese Bridge Speech Contest, and we have the best performance this year. I have felt really delighted to see every contestant contribute tremendous time and efforts preparing for it with our teachers. They all exemplify GW spirit, increasing interest in learning Chinese language and culture, and above all, the mutual understanding of Chinese and Americans. I hope that their victory motivates both Tim and Caleb to continue further studies in Chinese, as well as encourages more of our students to pursue excellence in the global community in the future.
--Miaochun Wei



Prof. Miaochun Wei (left), Tim Quinn, Prof. Julia Chen (center), Prof. Phyllis Zhang (front, served as judge in this competition). Caleb Dependahl, Prof. Hongyuan Dong (right, served as judge in the previous competition).

GW Summer Intensive Chinese Courses

Good news for students who wish to take summer Chinese courses:

CHIN1011:
INTENSIVE BEGINNING CHINESE
May 16-July 7 (Eight Weeks, 8 credits, equivalent of one academic year's work!)
Monday-Thursday 10am-3pm (with lunch break)
Instructor: Hongyuan Dong


CHIN2003 and CHIN2004
INTERMEDIATE CHINESE I AND II
May 16-June 25 & July 6-August 16 (4+4 credits)
Monday-Thursday 12-2:30pm
Instructor: Miaochun Wei


Questions? Contact us:

By phone:
202-994-7106 (Department office)

By email:
hdong@gwu.edu (CHIN1011)
mwei@gwu.edu (CHIN2003/4)

Prof. Chaves to Visit and Lecture in Shanghai University, China

Jonathan Chaves, Professor of Chinese of Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, has been invited to visit Shanghai University, China. Prof. Chaves is going to give three lectures. See details below.






主持人：陶飞亚教授

题目：《吴历的绘画与书法》On Wuli’s Painting and Calligraphy in the Context of Chinese Art History

The lecture on Wu Li would be delivered in Chinese, and would introduce his painting and calligraphy, placing him in the context of Chinese art history. It will be argued that there is no Western influence in his painting, despite claims to the contrary by some scholars. His poetry will then be discussed, in the context of the Jesuits using poetry as part of their evangelization. Wu Li's Christian poems will be analyzed in some detail and Chinese texts handed out to the audience.

预告：

4月13日上午10：00 A602B， 《论中国诗歌的韵律及其英译》On Chinese Poem’s rhyme and its English Translation: case study on Zhangji

The lecture would address the question in particular of rhyme and why English translators have avoided it. My recent book on Zhang Ji, Cloud Gate Song, of which Prof. Dong has a copy, is the first to attempt rhymed translations which track the rhyme-schemes of the originals. This lecture will be delivered in English but with some Chinese as well, as needed.

5月25日上午10：00 A602B，《欧美研究中国文学史的现状与反思》

Teach English & Study Mandarin in Shenzhen

(Opportunity for Chinese majors and non-Chinese majors)

Teach English & Study Mandarin in Shenzhen

Spend a year teaching English and learning Chinese in Shenzhen. This large, well-established, government-sponsored program is now in its 14th year. Shenzhen is a Mandarin-speaking city. It is the only program of its kind.


Preparatory training at Peking University includes the TEFL in China Certificate training and Mandarin classes (4 levels available) in August. Teach English September - June in a Shenzhen public school, and continue your study of Mandarin in our own courses, taught by Shenzhen University faculty.


Salary, housing, and contract bonus

Housing & tours during the training

On-Site Coordinators

Airline tickets reimbursed

Paid 3-week vacation Jan/Feb

Requirements: College degree (by July 2011), native speaker of English with citizenship USA / Canada / UK / Ireland / Australia / New Zealand

All majors are welcome. Teaching experience is not required. Prior study of Chinese is not required.

For information and an application: www.chinaprogram.org

E-mail: china.program@gmail.com

The Chinese Government Scholarship Available

Each year we send a GW student to China to study Chinese under the Chinese government scholarship. The awardee will be able to study in a Chinese university (normally in the mandarin program) for a year fully paid by the Chinese government except for international travel expenses. Please note the scholarship does not apply to non-Chinese programs such as U.S. sponsored overseas programs.

Application deadline: March 10, 2011.

For more information please contact Prof. Phyllis Zhang.

Summer Scholarship: Summer Field Studies in China

This is a U.S. government sponsored program administered by Associated College in China (ACC), Hamilton College. The following information is provided by ACC.


All students who are admitted to the program will receive a full scholarship to participate.

To apply, or for more information visit: www.hamilton.edu/china
(Application deadline is March 1!)

Who: A small group of highly qualified US students with advanced abilities in Chinese language. Applicants must have completed at least one semester of a study abroad program in China. Admitted students will receive full scholarships (Scholarship includes: international travel, program tuition, and lodging in China).

What: Further improve cultural competency and language proficiency through field experience and advanced language instruction.

Where: Several regions of China with an emphasis on rural areas; language instruction based in Beijing.

When: Summer 2011 (June 17-August 5)

Field Experience:

· Three- week field study in different parts of China

· Engage in comparative study of US and China’s contemporary society and educational systems through hands-on projects

· Focus on education in rural areas

· Deliver presentations at conferences/workshops for Chinese school teachers

· Teach at day camps in rural schools

· Participate in a one-week de-orientation and preparation for outreach activities


Advanced Language Instruction:

· Three- week intensive Chinese language courses and culture lectures in Beijing

· Focus on advanced language and culture studies

· Native speaking faculty with extensive experience teaching foreign students

· Earn credits from Hamilton College

All students who are admitted to the program will receive a full scholarship to participate.

To apply, or for more information visit: www.hamilton.edu/china