Student interest leads to changes for fall semester
CU students will have more to talk about this fall. In Indonesian and Farsi, that is.
Thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the Center for Asian studies has integrated more languages into its program.
The first sequence for both classes begins in the fall and continues into the spring semester with the second sequence and the third semester sequence in fall 2008.
This grant also allows funding for speakers and events on campus to help educated students about Asian culture and politics. The funding also covers additional classes and new faculty members to teach classes in political science, art, and art history relative to Asia and Asian history.
“There have been many students who have contacted us showing interest in the addition of Asian language classes to CU’s curriculum,” said Danielle Rocheleau Salaz, assistant director for the Center for Asian Studies.
Salaz said taking Asian language classes could produce long-standing benefits for students.
“These classes are important for students because it is good for Americans to expand their knowledge on the world,” Salaz said. “It is important for the world to work together. Asia is becoming more economically and politically important, and it is good for Americans to be able to communicate with Asians. This way we can gain a mutual understanding of each other, especially in light of what is going on in the world today.”
While it’s apparent these language additions will add to CU’s diversity, some students said they would have a difficulty getting involved with the classes.
“I would probably not (take one of these classes), as I have never studied many of them before. And I think it would be hard just to jump into one, especially since many Asian languages are so different,” said Sydney Segars, a sophomore English major.
Other students see the new classes as an opportunity for all students.
“I think it is a good thing that CU is expanding its Asian language program because it offers more language opportunities for students, and makes CU’s language program more diverse,” said Sarah Steube, sophomore English major.
Contact Campus Press staff writer Alexandria Bath at alexandria.bath@thecampuspress.com
