2023 Chinese Language Excellence
Three Reed College Graduates Honored by National Collegiate Chinese Honor Society!
Celebrate the remarkable achievements of three graduates in Chinese major who were recognized by the prestigious National Collegiate Chinese Honor Society this year! Sponsored by the Chinese Language Teachers Association, USA (CLTA), the National Collegiate Chinese Honor Society aims to acknowledge outstanding academic excellence in Chinese language learning among college students, encourage further study of Chinese after graduation, and promote Chinese language, literature, and culture in the United States. Join us in applauding these accomplished individuals, Sierra Abbott, Sophie Bacher, and Stephanie Shu, for their exceptional dedication and passion for Chinese language studies, as they share their enriching experiences in learning Chinese language, literature, and culture at the Chinese Department!
Stephanie Shu
Like many other Chinese-American kids, I began studying Mandarin from a young age. However, my studies only began in earnest after I came to Reed. My language skills developed rapidly through the rigorous language curriculum during my first semester at Reed, and after I fell in love with Chinese literature during my second semester, my path was set. I continued my language study abroad in Taiwan, and after returning to Reed, enjoyed taking a broad selection of courses in Chinese literature, history, and art history. My thesis, titled "Writing Love and Liminality: Female Homoeroticism in Early Republican Chinese Fiction,” aims to understand how depictions of female homoeroticism in Republican era Chinese fiction were influenced by, and articulated through, the national-scale issues of Chinese modernity and women’s independence.
Sierra Abbott
I hadn’t studied Chinese before coming to Reed, and registered for Chinese on somewhat of a whim. I have always loved learning languages, and immediately fell in love with learning Chinese. As the classes progressed, and we were able to learn more about the culture in addition to the language, I became more interested, and decided to become a Chinese major. The wonderful professors and students in the department have made studying Chinese such an enjoyable and memorable experience. My thesis, titled "More Than Words: An Examination of Different Functions of Language in Han Shaogong's A Dictionary of Maqiao" examines the interaction between power, culture, and language in Han Shaogong’s novel Dictionary of Maqiao.
Sophie Bacher
It’s been about eight years since I began learning Chinese. Before coming to Reed, I studied Chinese in high school and really enjoyed it. Most of the classes that I’ve taken at Reed have been Chinese literature courses, which have introduced me to so many different facets of the rich history, literature and thought that surround China and the Chinese language. I’ve had the opportunity to take classes on Classical Chinese, early Chinese thought, the four Chinese novels, as well as on modern Chinese art and film. I’ve also found ways to incorporate studying Chinese into my free time. I really enjoy practicing Chinese calligraphy, cooking Chinese food and watching television adaptations of the four novels! My thesis, titled "Swayed and Swaying All Under Heaven: A Consideration of the Mao Commentary to the Poetry ", investigates the Mao Commentary, a traditional commentary to the Classic of Poetry, dated to the second or third century BCE. I aim to consider the commentary’s interaction with the poems of the Poetry, as well as its broader arguments and functions.