Welcome to the Chinese Language Flagship Program!
Dr. Jianjun He, Academic Director, leads class discussion.
Pei-Yu Lin, Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant from Taiwan, presented the history behind the Moon Festival at Chinese Flagship Moon Festival Party given at home of Instructor Yang Liu and Graduate Assistant Gongbo Liang
Sarah, a biology and chemistry double major, has just completed her Capstone Year in China in 2013.
Jessica Brumley, a third year student in Flagship, spent her summer in Suzhou, China on a U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship
J.P., a Spanish, International Affairs, and Asian Religions and Cultures triple major, is currently in China for his Capstone Year. In three years, he has participated in 5 language programs in China, all on full scholarships through WKU and external funding.
Our program
The Chinese Language Flagship Pilot Program at WKU became the 9th such program in the nation in 2009. Sponsored by The Language Flagship, an initiative of the National Security Education Program within the Defense Language and National Security Education Office, our program seeks to bring students from the beginning level of Chinese proficiency to the Superior level during their undergraduate career. Students take Flagship courses every semester in addition to their major or minor coursework, with the intent to reach professional proficiency in the language. Students also participate in many funded intensive Chinese language opportunities in the U.S. and China during the Winter or Summer terms. All students, upon reaching the Advanced-Mid level of proficiency, may apply for participation in a Capstone Year in China. The Capstone Year consists of one semester of direct enrollment at Nanjing University, followed by a 4-6 month professional internship in their field of study in China. Students who complete this requirement and test at the Superior level will receive certification through the National Security Education Program.
Our students…
- Are all students in the Honors College at WKU,
- Represent 21 degree programs across all 5 of WKU’s academic colleges,
- With few exceptions, start the program with no prior knowledge of Chinese,
- Include 3 graduates of The Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky,
- Typically travel to China at least once per year,
- Engage in Chinese class 5 days a week and spend additional time with tutors, and
- Are successfully applying for nationally competitive scholarships
Events & Deadlines
January 30 2-3pm and January 31 9-10 am: Summer Program Scholarships Workshops, both in Helm 100
February 15: Priority deadline for 2014 cohort applications
April 1: Flagship summer funding application due
