Introduction

In collaboration with the sister institutions, Nankai University and Tianjin Foreign Studies University in China and National Central University in Taiwan, the Department of Chinese Language and Literature was established to run the sophomore through senior class curricula including Chinese conversation and specialized subject courses. Jeju National University and our sister institutions signed the presidential agreement for annual student exchange program recognizing the mutual acceptance of credit hours earned by the students. The multilateral agreements enabled for the JNU faculty to actively contribute to the scholastic activities in poetry, play, essay, literary theory and concept, modern literature, political science, economics, linguistics, and phonemics participating in domestic and international conferences since May 2002. In 2001, the department also established a high school Chinese teaching program primarily for the regional senior high schools.

To better understand the Chinese culture and thoughts, students of the Department of Chinese Language and Literature engage in intramural divisional program activities including Spoken Chinese, Dramatic Play, Films, Readings in Mencius, and Chinese Song Lyrics. In particular, the drama division has been staging annual plays and the Readings in Mencius has opened summer Chinese character classes that have been well received. The department has also held annual Chinese speaking contests since 2006.

Aims

The Department of Chinese Language and Literature builds superior leadership of its students with the ability to understand and apply the language skills for the global and information technology era emphasizing comprehensive and systematic studies and analyses of Chinese culture and language.

Careers

Language skills are important in scholarly studies of Chinese language and literature, and the students educated under the departmental curricula are able to seek careers in academia, education, diplomacy, journalism and communication, and international trade businesses. Graduates of the departmental majors are especially in high demand for their capacity to serve as tourism managers, hoteliers, and interpreters in Jeju. In spite of the short history of the department, many students either succeeded in completing or currently pursuing the advanced degrees at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Peking University, Nankai University, the Shanghai University of Transportation in China, and National Central University in Taiwan. A number of  graduates of the department and overseas sister institutions have gotten employed with banks, trade companies, casinos, hotels, duty-free shops, tourism businesses and other firms in China.

History

1992: Opened Department of Chinese Language and Literature
1996: Held 1st All-Jeju-Province Chinese Speaking Contest
1997: Established Graduate College M.A. degree program
2001: Implemented Graduate College Ph.D. degree program