about the author
Time spent in China
Time spent not enrolled in a Chinese language program: 4 months (2+ months spent interning at a Chinese NGO, with both Chinese and non-Chinese coworkers)
Time spent studying at a Chinese language program (where the only language permitted, inside and outside of the classroom, 24/7, was Mandarin Chinese, and where the teachers were all native speakers, while nearly all students were non-native speakers): 10+ months (1 semester each of 4th and 5th year Chinese; 1 summer semester of “field studies”)
Formal language learning
High School
- Latin, 4 years
College
- Mandarin Chinese, 7 semesters (1st year, 2 semesters; 2nd year, 2 semesters; 4th year (enrolled abroad), 1 semester; 5th year (enrolled abroad), 1 semester; Field Studies program (enrolled abroad), 1 semester)
- Japanese, 4 semesters (1st year, 2 semesters; 2nd year (1st half), 1 semester; 3rd year (2nd half), 1 semester)
Relevant awards, test scores
Received/placed:
- Silver Maxima Cum Laude recognition on the National Latin Levels 1, 2 and 3 Exams
- Outstanding Achievement Award in First-Year Chinese
- Outstanding Achievement Award in First-Year Japanese
- Level 8 on the HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test) Elementary-Intermediate Test; HSK Intermediate Certificate Grade A
- “Superior” in ACTFL Mandarin Oral Proficiency Interview
