A Half-Year Visit: Reflections from CCLE Visiting Scholar Yu-Sheng Chang
CCLE Author, Yu-Sheng Chang
May 3, 2024
On August 13, 2021, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM) and National Tsing Hua University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation and exchange between the two universities. A program agreement on establishing a Center for Chinese Language Education under the UHM College of Arts, Languages & Letters was also signed between the two institutions, determining the Center’s mission and scope of work.
Prior to the signing, two visiting scholars, Meng-Ting Lin, Yu-An Lee, and one visiting teacher, Jing-Tian Huang, were selected from the candidates recommended by NTHU to fill the Center’s visiting positions for the 2021- 2022 academic year. Visiting scholars Meng-Ting Lin and Yu-An Lee were officially installed as part of CCLE staff in July 2021. The Center also appointed a Graduate Assistant, Ying-Yu Chen, for the Fall 2021 semester to help with teaching, tutoring, and activity planning.
Following the end of Meng-Ting and Yu-An’s staffing period with CCLE, in November 2023, the Center welcomed a new visiting scholar, Yu-Sheng Chang. Below is a self-written reflection of her time working at the Center for Chinese Language Education.
Yu-Sheng Chang
Chinese language education encompasses a wide range of activities, including language teaching, cultural exchange, academic exchange, and assessment. In the past, my focus has primarily been on language instruction, with fewer opportunities to explore other aspects of Chinese language education.
Since joining the CCLE program in November 2023, I’ve been excited about collaborating on various projects and working with teams. So far, I’ve participated in several Chinese Corners, Lunar New Year Cultural Day, and the IHER13 conference, and have assisted with tasks such as organizing Chinese language proficiency tests and writing for the newsletter. What impressed me the most was participating in the New Year Culture Day. Each teacher has showcased profound cultural expertise, such as calligraphy, Tai Chi, tea tasting, Guqin (ancient Chinese zither), painting, and etc. I’ve also picked up a new cultural skill—Chinese knot tying.
While many students initially found Chinese knot-tying challenging, I assure that mastering a few basic knots can lead to creating incredibly complicated knots. Additionally, being inspired by international conferences has encouraged me to think beyond teaching and consider future development opportunities.
As a teacher, I’ve learned the most from students themselves. With students coming from various fields such as psychology, economics, computer science, and communications, I’ve come to view language learning and communication through diverse lenses. Observing the fluent and compact teaching style of instructor Jing Wu, has inspired me to adjust my teaching style. Furthermore, I’ve learned leadership and management skills from my sponsoring officer, Associate Professor Jiang Song, realizing that the office vibe can be relaxed and stress-free while still maintaining efficiency. My colleagues, Hsin-Tzu Jen, and Maxwell Koenen, have always provided tremendous assistance.
Time has flown by, and looking back on my initial hurried arrival, after a series of holidays, I now have less than one month left before leaving Hawai’i. My journey has been filled with enriching experiences. I’m grateful to every member of the CCLE team for their proactive approach, as well as their willingness to take on responsibilities and embrace challenges. It’s been an honor to be part of this collaborative project.
