UW-Eau Claire’s Chinese program receives national award

Dr. Kaishan Kong, associate professor of languages, at the 2023 American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Convention.

The Chinese program at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has received a national award from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

UW-Eau Claire received the Global Engagement Initiative Award at the 2023 American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Convention Nov. 17 in Chicago, Illinois. 

Orlando Kelm, chair of the Global Engagement Initiative Award Committee, says Dr. Kaishan Kong, an associate professor of languages, and the university’s “Intercultural Talk: Engaging Students Globally” program are “dazzling because of the breadth of activities."

“Students not only participate in virtual exchanges, but they also enjoy guest speakers, research opportunities and cultural activities in the communities,” Kelm says. “Students learn to advocate for language learning, and they do so beyond the classroom.”

Kong says UW-Eau Claire has a “growing and dynamic” Chinese program that values intercultural learning. The award reflects the continuous passion, compassion and dedication of the faculty and students, Kong says.

“Over the years, students in the Chinese program have actively engaged in communication with people from Chinese linguistic and cultural backgrounds, from guest speaker series to tandem learning, from participatory cultural celebrations to global virtual exchange,” Kong says. “Such experiences aim to nurture intercultural citizenship among students and inspire them to bridge differences, promote intercultural empathy and create positive changes in the world.”