On Friday, April 30th at 3:30 pm the Asian Languages & Cultures department faculty, staff, and students came together for an end-of-semester gathering to celebrate the graduating class of 2021. If you weren't able to join us, please watch the recording of the ALC Celebration 2021!
Class of 2021 - Congratulations
ALC Faculty Highlights
Professor of Japanese Literature & Visual Culture Adam L. Kern will be having an hour-long conversation with Alastair Miller about haiku. This conversation will be featured on live UK television on June 1st. Congratulations, Professor Kern!
ALC Student Highlights
In the weeks leading up to graduation, the newsletter will be highlighting a few of our graduating ALC students!
Genevieve Jacobs
BA, Asian Languages & Cultures – East Asian Studies, Mathematics, and Statistics, and Chinese Professional Communication Certificate, May 2021
Interest: I had been studying Chinese language since my freshman year of high school, so I came into college already with an interest. At first, I planned to only take one semester of Chinese, but that turned into pursuing the certificate which then turned into pursuing the major.
Classes: The first class I took in the ALC department was Third Semester Chinese (201) with Zhu Weihua. It was incredible to learn the language with people who also had great enthusiasm for the subject. In terms of courses, they have all been impactful! I will always remember the Gateway to Asia course I took, Manga Unbound. Through the lens of manga and with many guest lecturers across the department, I got to learn a bit about so many countries. It was extremely eye-opening.
Recommendations: I would certainly advise an incoming freshman to go for it! The courses work well with satisfying the general education requirements, two birds one stone. More importantly, though, I would say that the faculty and staff are all friendly and there to help. Their passions for their areas are contagious and it will make your learning even more enjoyable! I cannot say enough great things about the ALC department.
Activities: My most memorable involvement was my membership in the ALC Undergraduate Council. We come from a diverse group of interests but we are all in the same department. It has created a wonderful sense of community. Additionally, from a volunteer position to a job, I worked as a social media intern for the ALC department. This helped me to appreciate and participate in the network even more.
Memories: I will always remember the wholesome classroom environment of my Japanese language courses. Okamoto-sensei made every single class enjoyable. Laughs were a constant. He was very patient with us students as we struggled. Even though we were at the elementary level, he made the grammar and vocabulary feel relevant. I will always admire that the atmosphere was preserved even when we transitioned online. It was truly a gift for me during social distancing times. I always smile when I remember those classes.
Future: I am sure that I will always remain in education. Whether that is being a high school mathematics teacher, teaching ESL abroad, or working my way up to a professor position, I have not yet decided my exact path. However, my one hope for the future has always been certain, I hope to be happy.
BS, Economics with Mathematical Emphasis, Chinese Professional Communication Certificate, May 2021
Interest: When I was young, my father worked in China. My family lived in Korea, but later moved all together to China to be with him. While staying in China, I was fascinated with new cultures, language and people which made me to study Chinese in the university.
Classes: My first Class was ASIALANG 202 taught by professor Weihua Zhu. I think this was most impactful class because it allowed me to learn how Chinese language was taught in university and acknowledge the difference between teaching methods of different nations where I learned Chinese.
Recommendations: Learning a new language is not just learning alphabets and characters – it is learning the history and culture that a country has developed from its beginning to current days. Do not think that language is there just for sole purpose of communication.
Activities: I participated in two Chinese Bridge speech contest and won first place awards in different levels, which was a wonderful experience. In addition, I am a financial officer of CLACC (Chinese Language and Culture Club) to serve the Chinese language community of the university.
Memories: The memory of traveling with professors and TAs for competition would be the memory that I will remember for a long time.
Future: I am currently applying jobs on financial field. However, one day I would like to use my language skills to perform financial duties in China or working with Chinese officials.
BS, Retail & Consumer Behavior, Chinese, and Digital Studies Certificate, May 2021
Interest: I started studying Chinese in high school and instantly fell in love with the language and the culture. When I arrived at UW-Madison, I was ecstatic to find out that I could continue studying this passion.
Classes: My first class was Elementary Chinese. Following this course, I’ve taken numerous Chinese classes. My favorite and most impactful class was Chinese Conversation. I had the privilege of taking this course in Tianjin where I was fully immersed in the culture and learned how to have everyday conversations in Chinese.
Recommendations: I would recommend participating in Chinese Language and Culture Club. This club introduced me to a lot of my peers and teachers and was a fun way to learn outside of the classroom.
Activities: I participated in Chinese Language and Culture Club as well as the UW – Tianjin Intensive Language Program.
Memories: My time studying abroad in Tianjin will forever be a highlight of my life and studies at UW-Madison.
Future: I’m currently working as a Sales Assistant and Tribe 9 Foods. Tribe 9 Foods is a B-Corp that is committed to making a positive impact on the community and the environment. I hope that I can continue on with these ethics in any of my future occupations.
Interest: I grew up in Hong Kong where I began learning Mandarin from a very young age. When I moved back to the US for my sophomore year of high school I decided to continue studying Mandarin with a tutor since my high school did not offer the language. When I began my freshman year at UW, I did not intend to study Mandarin, but after a few days I realized It is a valuable skill that I did not want to give up learning.
Classes: The first class I remember taking is first semester Chinese with Zhang Laoshi. I remember feeling so impressed by the students who had never come in contact with the language before because I could understand how hard they must have been working.
Recommendations: The community is so tight knit which is an amazing perk and GO TO TIANJIN!!!
Activities: I participated in CLACC and ASM the most, both are great orgs to be part of! I also did a lot of political canvassing throughout my first and second years at UW. In addition, during COVID I moved back to Hong Kong where I took part in an internship at a recruitment firm and am now working for a restaurant group.
Memory: I will never forget my time in Tianjin. The trip was life-changing and improved my language skills.
Future: I hope COVID ends, I would love to go to China and become fluent in Chinese and I am excited to see where my current job takes me!
B.A., Legal Studies, Chinese Professional Communication Certificate, and Criminal Justice Certificate, May 2021
Interest: I got interested in studying Asian Language and Culture because of wanting to connect with my Chinese roots and culture. As I learned more about the language in high school I wanted to further my studies so that I can expand my career into Asia.
Classes: My first class with the Asian department was ASIALANG 301. The most impactful takeaway from this class is that the professor really do care about her students. She is willing to help each student succeed and provide resources to further their Chinese.
Recommendations: Remain open minded and stay resilient when thinking of learning a new language. Though learning a new language can be difficult, all the hard work will pay off as cliche as it sounds. It is very rewarding when you can communicate with your peerS in their native tongue. Learning a new language is very influential that can bring a lot of new opportunities to your future whether it is professionally or academically
Activities: I was very active with my sorority called alpha Kappa Delta Phi which is focuses on Asian Awareness, Leadership, Scholarship, and Philanthropy. I was also involved in a volunteer organization called Camp Kesem.
Memory: One memory I will take with me is all the relationships I have made through my Chinese class. It has made learning Chinese more fun and easier.
Future: After graduation, I will continue working at the Department of Justice while preparing for Law School.
We will be moving our event to an asynchronous online platform. All submissions need to be in the form of a video link, using UW’s Kaltura Mediaspaceor YouTube. Students may post their projects or performances by May 7, 2021. The department will keep an Asian Studies Symposium homepage to profile student projects, and add to ourALC YouTube page.
Thank you for your participation and sharing your experiences in classes, study abroad, and student organizations. We hope that your videos help to highlight the breadth and depth of learning & opportunities to engage with Asian Studies at UW-Madison. Please let us know if you have any questions, e-mail: rweiss@wisc.edu.
Please view this website for information on course enrollment and how to satisfy major/certificate requirements.
Asian Languages & Cultures (ASIAN) Summer courses:
ASIAN 236 Asia Enchanted (05/17-6/13/2021, MTWR 10:45 am - 12 pm, online) - Com B, H, Elementary OPEN
ASIAN 255 Introduction to East Asian Civilizations (05/17-6/13/2021, online) - H or Z, Elementary OPEN
Asian Languages & Cultures: Languages (ASIALANG) Summer courses:
ASIALANG 203 Third Semester Japanese (06/14-07/11/2021, MTWRF 8:55 am - 12:45 pm, online)
ASIALANG 204 Fourth Semester Japanese (07/12-08/08/2021, MTWRF 8:55 am - 12:45 pm, online)
ASIALANG 205 Third Semester Korean (06/14-07/11/21, MTWRF 8:50 am - 2:10 pm, online)
ASIALANG 206 Fourth Semester Korean (07/12-08/08/21, MTWRF 8:50 am - 2:10 pm, online)
Anthropology 352- Ancient Technology and Invention (flyer attached)
3 Credit Course that fulfills Anthro Major, Arch Cert, and Com B requirements, 2 sections of in-person meetings and online activities
This course is a “hands-on” laboratory course with a focus on Experimental and Ethno-archaeological approaches to the study of traditional technologies and material culture from all periods of human history and from all regions of the world.
Dear ALC students,
I am writing to share with you an exciting new course I am teaching for the first time this summer! A COMM–B course, HISTORY 201: SEX AND LOVE IN ASIAN RELIGIONS will explore questions like:
What did the Buddha say about homosexuality, and what is life like today for queer Buddhists?
What do love letters teach us about religion and migration?
Was there widespread gender and sexual pluralism in Asia prior to European colonialism?
How are sex work and Islamic spirituality connected in urban mega-cities?
While the course is entirely online, the format is flexible and—dare I say—maybe even verges on fun now and then.
We will collaboratively write, review, and edit a digital journal to showcase your emerging research and thinking about histories of love, intimacy, power, and desire in Asia-originating religious traditions. No weekly reading responses or comments; no discussion sections! Consider signing up and getting your COMM–B out of the way, or take an extra History class this summer.
Have questions? Want to learn more or look through the syllabus? Don’t hesitate for a moment to drop me a line at tlehrer@wisc.edu.
I look forward to learning with you this summer!
SuccessWorks career courses are a fantastic option for the summer or fall! These courses offer valuable opportunities for career development and exploration regardless of major, and students will work on practical skills such as resume writing, interviewing, networking, and more.
Inter-LS 210 & 215are designed to help students build skills they can use now for job and internship searches. Inter-LS 210: Career Development, Taking Initiative is a one-credit course, while Inter-LS 215: Communicating About Careers is a three-credit course that also fulfills the Comm B requirement. Please see the attached flyers.
*Inter-LS 210 is a great addition for students already planning to enroll in summer courses, as it only adds one credit but can help kickstart career development!
Inter-LS 260: Internship in the Liberal Arts & Sciencesapplications for Summer 2021 are currently being accepted. This one-credit online course is open to any UW-Madison student seeking to earn course credit while completing an internship. This is a permission-only course, and the instructions to apply can be foundhere.
Please view this website for information on course enrollment and how to satisfy major/certificate requirements.
New Course for fall 2021!
African 275: Lead with Languages:
Put Your Language Skills to Work
1 credit - sophomore standing - intermediate - Tuesdays 4 - 4:50pm
Whether you developed your language abilities at home, abroad, or in an educational setting, learn how to leverage your language skills to maximize potential employment opportunities.
Develop an understanding of transferable skills unique to language learners and work toward articulating these skills for resume, cover letter, networking, and interviewing exercises. Connect your enthusiasm for learning languages with your personal interests, skills, and abilities to begin exploring career pathways.
Learn from peers, alumni, and other guest speakers with language majors and multilingual backgrounds who have succeeded in a variety of careers.
This is a one-time course offering. The class is open to students from all disciplines and experience levels. No prior music study is necessary. The course counts towards the Asian Languages & Cultures major*.
The Universal Language of Rhythm: Explorations Through Konnakol and Black American Music
Course Number: Music 497, sec 096
Day/Time: Mondays & Wednesdays | 4:00 – 5:15 p.m.
Location: 2441 Humanities Building | 455 N. Park Street
Credits: 3 | Prereq: None
* Please contact Rachel Weiss if you enroll in this course for a DARS exception for ALC Humanities.
The application for the 2022-2023 class of Schwarzman Scholars is officially open. As the world’s geopolitical focus on China continues to intensify, our Scholars have a front-row seat to the importance that collaboration and mutual understanding play in tackling global challenges.
The program is open to candidates aged 18 to 28, regardless of nationality, who are proficient in English and have an undergraduate degree or its equivalent. Mandarin skills are not required for admission. Whether in politics, business, sciences, or the arts — successful applicants are young people who have already demonstrated both the ability to lead in their fields and a commitment to building understanding among people with differing perspectives.
To access the U.S./Global application and learn more about application requirements, please visit the Schwarzman Scholars website. The U.S./Global application will close at 11:59PM EDT on September 21, 2021. The deadline for candidates who hold passports from Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao is May 20, 2021. The China application can be found here.
Applications will be reviewed by a distinguished team of readers from around the world. From there, more than 300 finalists will be invited to interview virtually in late October and early November. Selected candidates will be notified of their acceptance by mid-November 2021.
To give those interested in Schwarzman Scholars the opportunity to learn more about our selection process and unique elements of the Scholar experience while engaging with our Admissions officers, current Scholars, and alumni, we will be hosting webinars through the next several months leading up to the application deadline. Please also reach out to us anytime with questions; we are here to help!
The Chicago Federal Executive Board, in partnership with the Government College Relations Council (GCRC) would like to invite you to a career webinar with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Please join us as we provide an in-depth look and understanding of the FBI's mission, the variety of career paths they can offer, as well as insight into the federal application process.
The area and international studies centers of the Institute for Regional and International Studies are each awarding up to $1,000 (actual award amounts vary) to the best paper/s and projects written by an undergraduate and focused on their respective world regions.
To be eligible you must be currently enrolled as an undergraduate student at the UW-Madison.
The paper must be/have been submitted to fulfill a UW-Madison course or thesis requirement during the 2020-2021 academic year (Fall 2020 & Spring 2021 terms).
Submissions must substantially address issues related to the world region of the center you are submitting to; papers submitted to the Institute for Regional and International Studies should have a trans-regional focus.
The University of Chicago is now accepting applications for their Discover UChicago program, their annual diversity visit weekend scheduled for October 17-19, 2021. This program is intended for individuals from diverse backgrounds who are planning to apply to graduate school in the fall of 2021 with the intention of matriculating in the fall of 2022. This exciting event combines workshops on applying to graduate school, individual meetings with faculty and UChicago students, and opportunities to explore the community and the city of Chicago.
Students interested in doctoral programs, as well as master’s programs in the majority of their schools and divisions, are encouraged to apply online by August 16, 2021 at 11:59 PM. Students from underrepresented backgrounds, first generation students, women in STEM fields, and undocumented students are especially encouraged to apply. A full list of participating programs may be found on the DU program website.For application instructions, students should visit the application page. To hear directly from program alumni who are current students at the University of Chicago, applicants can check out the student testimonials page.
Please save the date for Virtual Open House: Explore and Apply to Graduate School at the University of Wisconsin-Madison event on Wednesday, June 23rd, a one-day online recruitment event created by the Graduate School. The event registration will be open to all interested undergraduate students, and we will reach out specifically to underserved and underrepresented student populations. We are currently exploring different platforms for this virtual experience and will provide more updates soon.
11 am - 1 pm: Break out sessions - pre-recorded sessions covering topics related to preparing & applying for graduate school, accessible at any time in any order; 1 live session with professional staff in the AM and 1 live session with graduate students in the PM
The virtual Graduate Recruitment & Resource Fair in the afternoon between 1 - 3 pm is where graduate-level academic programs and campus service providers will get the opportunity to interact with prospective applicants virtually. Details on the technology setup with be shared with registered vendors.
Graduate Student News
This fall, consider taking English 859: Another Extravagant Postcolonialism Modernity, Multilingualism, and Theory/Practice Paradigms in Urban Indian Theater. This course is taught by Aparna Dharwadker, Professor of English and Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies, on Tuesdays 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM.
Call for Applications: ILS Law & Society Graduate Fellows Program, 2021-22 Academic Year The Institute for Legal Studies, University of Wisconsin Law School, is pleased to announce its call for applications for the ILS Law & Society Graduate Fellows Program for the 2021-22 academic year. This two-year fellowship supports graduate students engaged in research on socio-legal studies at UW-Madison.
Applications are due on Friday, May 14, 2021. Decisions will be made by Friday, June 4, 2021.
The WID is accepting applications for the Marie Christine Kohler Fellowship program of students interested in connecting across the arts and sciences. The application will remain open until May 15th. To learn more, please view the attached flyer or visit: https://kohlerfellows.illuminatingdiscovery.wisc.edu/2021-applications-now-open/.
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters and Science is seeking TWO Graduate Alumni Relations Interns this spring semester and continuing into the summer and next academic year.
During your internship, you will increase your knowledge of higher education and career development and improve your program coordination and communication skills. You will work on a variety of projects related to individual programs, including logistics, communication, promotion, and assessment. You will receive training and supervision; have plenty of interaction with students and alumni from across the University, and also have the chance to contribute your thoughts and ideas as our alumni relations operation continues to expand and develop.
PERFORMING BODY, MIND, SPIRIT: Community Healing in the Time of #BLM, Anti-Asian Violence & BIPOC Solidarity
Thursday, May 6, 2021, 6:00-8:00 pm CST Performance, Discussion, and Q&A
An innovative community of movers, poets, and drummers gather together from California, Wisconsin, to New York, for a unique live-stream event, as timely as it is a welcomed breath of fresh spring air. The presenters represent a potent knowledge source of performing and healing strategies rooted in movement or spoken word praxis that invokes powerful possibilities for bridging difference and antagonism. The artists will open the evening by sharing movement or spoken word, inviting audience participation. Each artist will address how their praxis connects with community healing, and how their praxis provide tools in support of Native Nations sovereignty, BIPOC solidarity, #BLM, and Anti-Asian Violence.
We are so pleased to invite you to join the community of the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center for the 28th celebration of Rainbow Graduation! We will virtually honor the graduates of the Class of 2021, confer Rainbow Leadership Awards, and recognize recipients of the 2021 GLBT Alumni Council Scholarships.
The Center for International Foreign Language Teacher Education (CIFLTE) at Columbia University's Teachers College, has Chinese/English teacher training programs that may be of interest. The programs provide systematic training in foreign language pedagogy, with a special focus on the teaching of Chinese and/or English to speakers of other languages (TCSOL/TESOL).
The application priority deadline for the TCSOL one-year program is May 30 and the final deadlines of the TCSOL/TESOL summer programs are June 6 for Summer A and June 20 for Summer B. Details can be found in the flyer below.
Interested students are encouraged to join us at our upcoming webinar on May 21 at 8:30pm to learn more. Sign uphere.
GUTS Senior Coordinators are responsible for supervising and supporting GUTS student staff (Coordinators), establishing GUTS staff work priorities and schedules, developing operational procedures, establishing and maintaining a positive work environment, and facilitating staff trainings and meetings. In addition, the senior coordinators will work closely with the Coordinator of Academic Support Services (CASS) to manage the GUTS program budget and other duties as assigned.
This is a great position for a student who wants to develop leadership, problem-solving/decision-making, and supervisory skills.
The posting is open now and applications are due by Monday, May 10 @ 11:55 PM.
Study and Learning Skills Specialists (SLSS) Program Coordinators work for the Greater University Tutoring Service (GUTS) and with McBurney Disability Resource Center. In consultation with the McBurney Disability Resource Center Access Consultants, SLSS Program Coordinators hold one-on-one, student-centered appointments to help students with disabilities reflect on their existing study skills, identify academic strengths and weaknesses, and develop a personalized plan for academic success through customized approaches to learning and studying. They also teach learning strategies specific to students with unique learning needs—topics might include time management, organization, note-taking, memorization, motivation, test preparation, and communication.
This is a great position for students who want to develop leadership, problem-solving/decision-making, teaching, and mentorship skills. Applicants should have experience and an interest in developing their experience in working with individuals with disabilities or diverse learning needs.
The posting is open now and applications are due by Friday, May 7 @ 12:00 PM.
SAFEwalk is looking for a diverse group of caring students that want to have a fun, active job at night. SAFEwalkers need to have empathy and good judgment. The pay is $11 an hour, the work expectation is 10-12 hours a week and the hiring process will probably take a month. All work is during SAFEwalk hours, 7 or 8 pm until 1 am. There will be some hours over the summer and more in the fall.
SAFEwalkers must be able to work in partnership with another student with minimal supervision and be willing to smile through whatever kind of Wisconsin Weather we are having at that moment. Training in basic safety and bystander intervention provided.
If this sounds like a job you would like, please consider applying by May 10, 2021 11:55 PM to Campus Job Board number 498529.
The UW-Madison Libraries are offering an Undergraduate Research Award to support and celebrate excellence in undergraduate, library-based research! Undergraduate students who intend to make creative and intensive use of library resources as part of a semester or year-long research project (capstone, independent study, thesis, performance, exhibit, etc.) during the 2021-22 academic year are encouraged to apply. The selected student will receive $2,000 upon completion of the requirements of the award, which include structured library support and a final presentation to library staff.
Interested students can find additional details, along with a link to the application, at the following page: go.wisc.edu/libraryaward. Applications are due Thursday, June 10th, 2021.
To send items for the next ALC e-news please email: Rachel Weiss
Undergraduate Advisor and Graduate Program Coordinator
Department of Asian Languages & Cultures
(608) 890-0138 E-mail: rweiss@wisc.edu
