Middlesex County College will offer classes in the Chinese language, starting in fall 2015. The first class, Chinese 121, will be held from 9:30-10:50 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Chinese 122 will begin in spring 2016.
“China is a growing economic and world power, so learning Chinese opens up avenues for business, education and government opportunities,” said Gary Abbott, chair of the ESL, Languages and Cultures Department. “It exposes students to an Asian worldview that is very different from our familiar Western assumptions. This, in turn, develops a student’s sensitivity, understanding and respect for world cultures.”
The courses are designed for students with no previous knowledge — or very limited knowledge — of Mandarin Chinese. The emphasis is on acquiring conversational and comprehension skills that stress both language and culture. Students will learn to read and write around 400 Pinyin and simplified Chinese characters.
The two classes satisfy the language sequence requirement for Liberal Arts majors at the college.
For more information contact the ESL, Languages and Cultures office at 732-906-2597.