Spring Break
China Craze brings Jinan University scholars
Chinese professors give speaches in Davies Center about importance of cultural understanding
Rachael Kloek
Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: News
When Hongbing Peng, a visiting scholar from Jinan University in China, first came to America, her undergraduate professor changed her name to Carol. He did this because it was more accommodating for him than to try and pronounce her name each day. This was one of Peng's many adjustments to life in American culture.
Peng and colleague Yongzhong Deng, also another visiting scholar from Jinan University, spoke in Davies Presidential room Wednesday for the China Craze Series. The presentation was designed to give both students and faculty a chance to understand Chinese history, as well as its present culture.
An important aspect of understanding a culture is understanding its language, Deng said of Chinese Calligraphy. More than 1.2 billion people speak the Chinese language, which was developed as a form of story telling. Each character derives from a different symbol, which Deng said makes it easier to learn and understand. Chinese Calligraphy is composed of many different dialects; there are more than 56 ethnic groups in China and each group adds a different aspect.
"It is a family of languages," Deng said.
Throughout the presentation, Deng stressed the importance of learning languages and being exposed to other cultures.
"If you only know your own culture and language, you are kept in a prison," Deng said.
Cultural communication is detrimental, especially to a growing economy, Peng said. Peng felt some schools lack diversity so it is important for students to take the initiative to educate themselves about China, as well as other cultures.
"Students upon graduation might travel or do business in China, opening their eyes and understanding the culture is important," Peng said.
Peng realizes that stepping outside of one's own culture to explore others is not easy; most times people in America do not understand her gestures and confuse her shy, polite nature for being disinterested.
Peng and Deng also discussed the 2008 Summer Olympics, which were held in Beijing. The Olympics had a significant impact on China's economy. With an annual economic growth of 8 to 10 percent of China's industries are thriving, they said.
Eau Claire has had a relationship with Chinese higher education institutions such as Jinan University, for more than two decades, said Karl Markgraf, director of the Center for International Education. Eau Claire is also in collaboration with the Chinese 1+2+1 Partnership Program, a program designed for Chinese students to receive a bachelor's degree from UW-Eau Claire and their institution in China.
Peng and colleague Yongzhong Deng, also another visiting scholar from Jinan University, spoke in Davies Presidential room Wednesday for the China Craze Series. The presentation was designed to give both students and faculty a chance to understand Chinese history, as well as its present culture.
An important aspect of understanding a culture is understanding its language, Deng said of Chinese Calligraphy. More than 1.2 billion people speak the Chinese language, which was developed as a form of story telling. Each character derives from a different symbol, which Deng said makes it easier to learn and understand. Chinese Calligraphy is composed of many different dialects; there are more than 56 ethnic groups in China and each group adds a different aspect.
"It is a family of languages," Deng said.
Throughout the presentation, Deng stressed the importance of learning languages and being exposed to other cultures.
"If you only know your own culture and language, you are kept in a prison," Deng said.
Cultural communication is detrimental, especially to a growing economy, Peng said. Peng felt some schools lack diversity so it is important for students to take the initiative to educate themselves about China, as well as other cultures.
"Students upon graduation might travel or do business in China, opening their eyes and understanding the culture is important," Peng said.
Peng realizes that stepping outside of one's own culture to explore others is not easy; most times people in America do not understand her gestures and confuse her shy, polite nature for being disinterested.
Peng and Deng also discussed the 2008 Summer Olympics, which were held in Beijing. The Olympics had a significant impact on China's economy. With an annual economic growth of 8 to 10 percent of China's industries are thriving, they said.
Eau Claire has had a relationship with Chinese higher education institutions such as Jinan University, for more than two decades, said Karl Markgraf, director of the Center for International Education. Eau Claire is also in collaboration with the Chinese 1+2+1 Partnership Program, a program designed for Chinese students to receive a bachelor's degree from UW-Eau Claire and their institution in China.
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