Chinese Flagship continues its impact
Article By: Clark Leonard
The University of North Georgia's (UNG) Chinese Flagship Program has been renewed through 2028. This is the third renewal since UNG was first awarded its Chinese Language Flagship in 2011.
UNG is one of only eight institutions in the nation with this program.
"UNG's renewal, especially in this particularly competitive environment, is a testament to the great work being done by the Chinese language faculty and the program coordinator. UNG is also fortunate to have consistent support at the highest administrative levels," Dr. Christopher Jespersen, dean of UNG's College of Arts & Letters, said. "Everyone works together for the benefit of UNG’s students in the program."
In the Chinese Flagship Program, students from various majors study the Chinese language in the Department of Modern Languages and complete a Flagship capstone year abroad or at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey, California. The Flagship is sponsored by the National Security Education Program and the U.S. Department of Defense.
Students are eligible for up to $20,000 in scholarship funding toward their capstone year or summer programs. They also receive 1-on-1 tutoring and individualized support from the Nationally Competitive Scholarships office when seeking awards for study abroad.
"The Chinese Flagship Program is dedicated to teaching language skills and boosting student engagement in Chinese culture, broadening their horizons and opening new possibilities," Dr. Tianyu Qin, Chinese Flagship academic director, said. "For years, all our capstone applicants were admitted. Upon graduation, our students are ready to use Chinese in the workplace."
Maren Cooper, a senior from Grovetown, Georgia, pursuing degrees in modern languages with a concentration in Chinese for global professionals and international affairs, completed her capstone year at National Yang Ming University and National Chengchi University from February 2023 to January 2024.
Cooper is a cadet who completed National Service Leadership Track requirements. She first learned about the Flagship program at the Chinese Summer Language Institute (SLI) at UNG the summer between graduating high school and her freshman year. She is grateful for her fellow students learning Chinese.
"There's our own little community," Cooper said. "We can practice our Chinese with each other and with our tutors."
The Chinese Flagship Program is even partly responsible for bringing a couple together. Taylor Berry and William Allen are engaged after meeting through UNG's Chinese Language Flagship.
Berry, a senior from Villa Rica, Georgia, pursuing a degree in modern languages with a concentration in Chinese for global professionals, started at UNG by pursuing a degree in chemistry before switching to Chinese as a junior. Berry was awarded the 2024 Boren Scholarship to attend the capstone program. She said the 1-on-1 tutoring has been invaluable.
"That's a big reason I could get to the point where I'm going to capstone even though I started late," Berry said.
Allen, a senior from Acworth, Georgia, is pursuing a degree in modern languages with a concentration in Chinese for global professionals with minors in Chinese Flagship and leadership and public service. As a member of UNG's Corps of Cadets, Allen was among the 11 cadets named Distinguished Military Graduates for 2022-23. He is in his capstone year at National Chengchi University.
"My favorite part of the program has always been the amount of resources the program offers to help dedicated Chinese learners to succeed in the language," Allen said. "I have always wanted to work as a language analyst for a federal agency. Flagship has provided me with opportunities to study Chinese overseas, allowing me to improve my Chinese proficiency to a higher level, which will make me more competitive in the future workplace."
Jaden Davidson, a senior from Hiram, Georgia, is a commissioning-track cadet pursuing a degree in cybersecurity, and a minor in Chinese. She learned about UNG's Chinese Language Flagship on a campus tour and enrolled in SLI the summer before she started at UNG.
"My professors helped learning Chinese be doable and engaging. You are not just learning the language," Davidson said. "You are learning this shared experience of people all the way across the world."
Dr. Ran Chen, Chinese Flagship coordinator, expressed her excitement about the program's renewal.
"This renewal will allow more students to achieve professional proficiency in Chinese, giving them a competitive edge in the job market in the U.S. and abroad," Chen said. "We look forward to welcoming more students to join us and benefit from this opportunity."
Other schools renewed with Chinese Language Flagship programs for the 2024-2028 cycle are Arizona State University, Hunter College, Indiana University, University of Mississippi, University of Minnesota, University of Rhode Island, and Western Kentucky University.
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