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Suzanne Bessenger Self-Intro
in NJ Star
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In the 2001-2002 academic school year, I began my formal study of the Chinese language in Tseng Laoshi's elementary Chinese class at the University of Virginia. Although I have studied foreign languages before, nothing prepared me for the enormous task of learning this complicated language. Many elements of the classroom environment helped me to progress in my understanding of this language. Tseng Laoshi is a very persistent and organized teacher-her own extensive preparation for each class meeting, as well as her emphasis on drilling and on-the-spot quizes, forced me and my classmates to prepare extensively for class everyday. Similarly, being in a class of University of Virginia undergraduate students was also very inspiring. The students all did their best to support each other in the learning process. Also, because many of the students were of Asian descent, they had many stories to share about Chinese culture and Chinese characters that deepened my own understanding of the material. Finally, the instructional materials of the course were excellent. The curriculum emphasized all four aspects of the process of learning a foreign language: reading, writing, speaking and listening comprehension. The required supplemental hours at the language lab provided excellent support to the classroom work. I feel that this year of studying Chinese has provided me with a wonderful foundation of basic knowledge in the language. I am very excited to continue in my studies of Chinese. |
