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WKCTC's new Chinese professors, (left) Zhiling Wang and Lu Zhang(right) with WKCTC President Barbara Veazey |
Since arriving in Paducah this month, Chinese natives Lu Zhang and Zhiling Wang have not had the time to watch a lot of the television coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics taking place in Beijing, China.
But the language instructors say the games may be peaking interest in Chinese culture in Western Kentucky.
“I think because of the Olympic games the people who I have met here do have an interest in China now,” said Zhang. “Whenever I meet someone in the street, they say something about the Olympic games. It’s really nice for us to introduce a different culture here.”
Zhang and Wang are teaching Introduction to Chinese Culture and Beginning Chinese at West Kentucky Community & Technical College this fall. Classes began on Monday, but registration continues through Friday.
The women are the first female Chinese instructors to be a part of the WKCTC’s international education program. “We have seen good cooperation,” Wang said. “We want the students to understand China and Chinese language and culture.”
It’s the first time in the United States for the women who both work at Tianjin Normal University in Tianjin, China. Zhang, 35, a native of Tianjin, gained her master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Tianjin Normal University. She and her husband, Bai Wei, have a 6 year-old daughter, Bai Yufan. Wang, 44, also a native of Tianjin, gained her bachelor’s degree from Tianjin Foreign Studies University and her master’s degree from Tianjin Normal University. S he and her husband, Yu Guangming, have a 17-year-old daughter, Yu Lu.
The women plan to talk to secondary students in McCracken County at some point during their yearlong visit to WKCTC. “We’re here to work, “ said Zhang, “but probably during holidays, we would like to go out to see other parts of the United States.”
For more information on enrolling in one of the Chinese courses offered at WKCTC, contact WKCTC Director of Diversity Jipaum Askew-Robinson at 534-3420.
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