Academic Residencial Community

    East, West, Bridging Them Is the Best

        To be an ambassador who devotes oneself to bridging the East and the West requires knowledge and skills. Just who are the Chinese and Japanese? Why does Japan become so successful economically? Why did it take so long for China to open up to the West? Why do Japanese always hesitate to disagree openly with other people’s opinion and why do Chinese care so much about their “face?” What do all these have to do with the ways of thinking of eastern peoples? These are what you can start to understand through the new Chinese and Japanese ARC at Seattle University.

        It was only a short while ago that mastering an East Asian language was no more than just wearing a badge of honor for students with a western cultural background, honored but can’t do much with it. Today, students of an East Asian language still have every reason to be proud of their language skills. The only difference is that their accomplishment in mastering the language is no longer just a shining trophy. It carries with it something more tangible as the emerging Pacific Rim provides ample opportunities for scholarly pursuit, business ventures, government and legal services, and other professional undertakings in the 21st century.

        Please come and savor the sensation of eastern languages and cultures through music, film, cuisine, festival celebrations, talks and daily practice in the target languages, etc. You only need enthusiasm but not fluency in the language to join.