Going Places</h1> <article> <h1>Going Places</h1> <p>tapplega — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 18:25:19 +0000</p> <span>Going Places</span> <span><span>tapplega</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-10-11T14:25:19-04:00" title="Wednesday, October 11, 2023 - 14:25">Wed, 10/11/2023 - 14:25</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Jasmine Mitchell knew a few things she wanted out of college, though she wasn’t sure how she would get them: She wanted to see the world, and she wanted to make a difference in it.</p> <p>“While studying abroad had always been a dream of mine, it wasn't financially feasible,” she recalls thinking.</p> <p>That changed through her experience at �鶹��Ƶ, where she completed a degree in <a href="/node/3341">East Asian studies</a> in 2021 and devoted the next two years to a cultural exchange as a <a href="https://www.shansi.org/">Shansi Fellow</a> in Japan.</p> <p>Mitchell’s practicum course in <a href="/node/3391">�鶹��Ƶ’s Politics Department</a> opened her eyes to a career in the Foreign Service. That’s also when she learned more about Shansi and the ways it could help her get a foothold abroad.</p> <p>“The Shansi Fellowship was one of the reasons I chose �鶹��Ƶ,” she says.</p> <p>Founded in 1908, �鶹��Ƶ Shansi provides opportunities for new and recent graduates to teach English in Asia in collaboration with local universities, NGOs, and other organizations. Shansi traces its roots even further—to the �鶹��Ƶ students who served as missionaries in China in the late 19th century.</p> <p>“Considering my career ambitions, the Shansi Fellowship provided me with a unique chance to enhance my cross-cultural communication skills, adapt to and connect with people from diverse backgrounds, navigate unfamiliar situations, and build resilience,” Mitchell says. It also encouraged her to deeply consider notions of national identity, engage in cultural exchanges, and lead students in their understanding of the U.S. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Fresh off a Shansi Fellowship in Japan, former East Asian studies major Jasmine Mitchell turns her focus to a new fellowship—and a role with the State Department.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-10-11T12:00:00Z">Wed, 10/11/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Henry Hicks IV ’21</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2368">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3937">Afrikan Heritage House</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2397">Shansi</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25336">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25416">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4821">Africana Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" hreflang="und">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics" hreflang="und">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/africana-studies" hreflang="und">Africana Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">courtesy of Jasmine Mitchell</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-32107" class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-el-bq paragraph--view-mode--default"> <blockquote class="blockquote--slicer" data-text-size-large> <p>“Living and working at the Afrikan Heritage House helped me solidify my commitment to pursuing a career in the Foreign Service.”</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-27819" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <p>This fall, Mitchell begins a new chapter: She was selected for a prestigious <a href="https://pickeringfellowship.org/">Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship</a>, which supports her pursuit of a master’s degree in Asian studies at the <a href="https://sfs.georgetown.edu/">Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University</a>. It also offers the unique opportunity to serve in the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service program. </p> <p>“Being selected to be a Pickering Fellow, in short, is a dream come true,” says Mitchell, a resident of Herndon, Virginia.</p> <p>“These amazing experiences as a Shansi Fellow inspired me to pursue the Pickering Fellowship as a means to continue my dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in international affairs.”</p> <p>Mitchell credits her �鶹��Ƶ experience—including the support of faculty mentors such as <a href="/node/42731">Candice Raynor</a> in <a href="/node/3431">Africana studies</a> and <a href="/node/25226">education studies</a>—with preparing her for both Shansi and Pickering. Her impressive tally of on-campus experiences includes serving as a student representative for the <a href="/node/410371">Presidential Initiative on Racial Equity and Diversity</a>; as vice chair of <a href="https://oberlinreview.org/23054/news/off-the-cuff-with-henry-hicks-and-jasmine-mitchell-senate-chairs/">student senate</a>; lead organizer for campus-wide co-curricular events such as Kumba Week, Kwanzaa Celebration, and <a href="/node/33116">Black History Month</a> programming; and, notably, as program assistant and resident assistant at <a href="/node/75981">Afrikan Heritage House</a>, the on-campus program house designated as a safe space for students of the African diaspora.</p> <p>“These experiences deepened my appreciation for the power of inclusive and diverse environments in shaping meaningful connections and driving positive change,” she says.</p> <p>“Living and working at the Afrikan Heritage House helped me solidify my commitment to pursuing a career in the Foreign Service, where I can continue to promote these values on a global scale.</p> <p>“Whether it’s through diplomatic negotiations, cultural exchanges, or policy initiatives, I want to actively work toward creating a more inclusive and cooperative international community,” Mitchell says. “I am deeply committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the field, and the Pickering Fellowship serves as a powerful catalyst to help me achieve this vision.”</p> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Universal Languages</h1> <p>eburnett — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 20:06:20 +0000</p> <span>Universal Languages</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-07-06T16:06:20-04:00" title="Thursday, July 6, 2023 - 16:06">Thu, 07/06/2023 - 16:06</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Kenji Anderson grew up around native Japanese speakers. His mother is Japanese, and when his family visited his grandparents in Japan, he would pick up words and phrases along the way. But it was his Japanese classes at �鶹��Ƶ that expanded his knowledge and fueled his passion for the country’s language and culture.</p> <p>As a <a href="https://piaweb.princeton.edu/">Princeton in Asia</a> teaching fellow, Anderson looks forward to strengthening his language skills and immersing himself in the local community of Yakage, a town in the Okayama prefecture, which will be his home base for at least the next year. As a fellow, Anderson, who departed for Japan on June 19, teaches English in local preschools and provides administrative support to the Yakage Town Hall.</p> <p>“One of the really great things about Princeton in Asia is the focus on community,” he says: “Both the community of the other fellows, but in particular, the community that you’re entering into, because we have specific roles and specific jobs cut out for us in the community.”</p> <p>Anderson, a 2022 �鶹��Ƶ grad who studied <a href="/node/3441">English</a> and <a href="/node/24141">piano performance</a>, also pursued his interest in <a href="/node/388191">Japanese culture and language</a> through his classes and social ties on campus. He credits an East Asian studies course on fantasy in Japanese literature and movies for sparking his interest in the subject.</p> <p>“I’ve always been really interested in living in Japan,” he says. “Over my time at �鶹��Ƶ, my general interest in Japan became combined with my interest in English and literature.”</p> <p>Anderson also took several Japanese language courses. “It was a cool way to really work on a skill that I grew up around. It was also great to have the language-learning process <em>defamiliarized</em> to me.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Kenji Anderson came to �鶹��Ƶ to study English and piano—and left with a deepened love of Japan.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-07-13T12:00:00Z">Thu, 07/13/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Brittany Moseley</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2357">Double Degree Program</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=29541">Piano</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25336">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25346">English</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/english" hreflang="und">English</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/keyboard-studies" hreflang="und">Keyboard Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" hreflang="und">East Asian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">In addition to his studies toward a double degree, Kenji Anderson fueled his fascination for Japanese culture through �鶹��Ƶ courses and social events.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">courtesy of Kenji Anderson</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-32097" class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-el-bq paragraph--view-mode--default"> <blockquote class="blockquote--quotemark" data-text-color-red data-text-size-giant> <p>�鶹��Ƶ’s <a href="/node/24686">Double Degree Program</a> was definitely what drew me in. I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to study in the college coming in, so I landed on the English major, which was also one of the best gifts of �鶹��Ƶ.”</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-27745" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <p>Anderson grew up in “a pretty musical household” in Emporia, Kansas. He began taking piano lessons at an early age and went on to learn the violin. For a while, he considered life as an opera singer. When it came time to apply for college, he was interested in studying at a conservatory, but also wanted to attend a school that was academically strong. For him, �鶹��Ƶ was the perfect fit.</p> <p>“�鶹��Ƶ’s <a href="/node/24686">Double Degree Program</a> was definitely what drew me in,” he says. “I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to study in the college coming in, so I landed on the English major, which was also one of the best gifts of �鶹��Ƶ.”</p> <p>Anderson sees a connection between his chosen majors. Without even realizing it, he invokes musical references when talking about his English major (“Texts are a great instrument for learning about life generally,” he says at one point). He even conjoined them for his English honors thesis: a musical literary analysis on opera, which focused on the art form’s text.</p> <p>Outside of his coursework, Anderson was involved with the Japanese Student Association, which celebrates traditional and contemporary Japanese culture through events held throughout the school year. Early on, he also worked with Ballet �鶹��Ƶ in a musical capacity and contributed to the student newspaper the <em>�鶹��Ƶ Review</em> as well as the student-run literary publication <em>Wilder Voice</em>.</p> <p>Anderson admits that �鶹��Ƶ’s close-knit campus community—roughly 2,900 students pursuing studies across the college and conservatory—was a surprise at first. In time, that very dynamic became a highlight of his experience here. “By the end, it’s really nice, because you can’t get too wrapped up in your own world,” he says. “You run into people so you’re pulled back into the community. That’s a really valuable experience I had at �鶹��Ƶ.”</p> <hr> <p><em>Founded in 1898 and affiliated with Princeton University, Princeton in Asia is dedicated to promoting appreciation and cross-cultural understanding between the U.S. and Asia.</em></p> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Full Immersion</h1> <p>eburnett — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 13:50:14 +0000</p> <span>Full Immersion</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-06-15T09:50:14-04:00" title="Thursday, June 15, 2023 - 09:50">Thu, 06/15/2023 - 09:50</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>At �鶹��Ƶ, Dewi Beer developed twin passions for teaching and studying Mandarin. Now the spring graduate, who completed majors in <a href="/node/3386">economics</a> and <a href="/node/3341">East Asian studies </a>and an integrative concentration in <a href="/node/25226">education studies</a>, will examine effective education systems and dive deeper into her language studies as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant—or ETA—in Yulin, Taiwan.</p> <p>“I have always had an interest in education, and the opportunity to teach in a different education system and bring back what I learn to a possible career was very attractive to me,” says Beer, who is from San Francisco. “I took the most advanced Mandarin classes offered at �鶹��Ƶ, and I’m excited to put what I learned into practice and further develop my language skills through full immersion while working as an ETA.”</p> <p>Beer is grateful to her professors and other mentors for encouraging her to take challenging courses—among them Chinese calligraphy.</p> <p>“�鶹��Ƶ exposed me to a higher level of language learning and gave me a level of confidence that will make a difference in my experience in Taiwan,” she says.</p> <p>Beer also credits �鶹��Ƶ for fostering a solid foundation in teaching that spanned multiple settings. She taught a music class in �鶹��Ƶ’s Langston Middle School under the guidance of Professor of Music Education <a href="/node/6816">Jody Kerchner</a>, part of a conservatory course in <a href="/node/42011">Pedagogy, Advocacy, and Community Engagement</a> (PACE). She also designed lesson plans for multiple student-taught <a href="https://www.oberlinexco.org/">Experimental College</a> (ExCo) courses and after-school programming for the middle school. From 2019 to 2022, she served as a mentor in the Girls in Motion ExCo, which is dedicated to empowering young people through dance.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Dewi Beer’s love of teaching and language converge in a Taiwanese fellowship.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-06-15T12:00:00Z">Thu, 06/15/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tessa Sternal ’25</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2580">Experimental College (ExCo)</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25226">Education Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25336">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25341">Economics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/jody-kerchner" hreflang="und">Jody Kerchner</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" hreflang="und">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/economics" hreflang="und">Economics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Dewi Beer graduated from �鶹��Ƶ with majors in economics and East Asian studies—and a fully formed passion for teaching.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">courtesy of Dewi Beer</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-32091" class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-el-bq paragraph--view-mode--default"> <blockquote class data-text-color-red data-text-size-large data-indent> <p>Beer looks forward to studying language at local universities, working with fellow Fulbright ETAs and teachers and students—and trying “as much Taiwanese food as possible.”</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-27735" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <p>�鶹��Ƶ also opened the doors to international travel. Beer has experience learning and researching abroad through a pair of very different <a href="/winter-term">Winter Term</a> projects in China: one of them a <a href="/node/3361">geosciences</a> excursion that traveled to Sichuan Province and the other a volunteer position as a teacher’s assistant at an orphanage for children with developmental disabilities in Tianjin.</p> <p>In Taiwan, Beer looks forward to studying language at local universities, working with fellow Fulbright ETAs and teachers and students at her placement school—and trying “as much Taiwanese food as possible, especially the seafood.” She also plans to learn to ride a scooter.</p> <p>Though she’s unsure of her next steps after her year in Yulin, she’s considering options that revolve around education policy and law.</p> <hr> <p><em>The <a href="https://us.fulbrightonline.org/about/fulbright-us-student-program">Fulbright Program</a> was established in 1946 to increase mutual understanding between Americans and people of other countries by sponsoring students and scholars to study, teach English, and conduct research overseas. The U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program, Fulbright supports exchanges between the U.S. and more than 150 countries around the world. In February, �鶹��Ƶ was named a <a href="/news/oberlin-top-producer-fulbright-students-2022-23">top producer of Fulbright students</a> for the 14th consecutive year. It ranks third among U.S. colleges and universities on the all-time list, with more than 260 Fulbright recipients.</em></p> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Tongue Ties</h1> <p>eburnett — Wed, 17 May 2023 15:36:56 +0000</p> <span>Tongue Ties</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-05-17T11:36:56-04:00" title="Wednesday, May 17, 2023 - 11:36">Wed, 05/17/2023 - 11:36</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>For Nondini Nagarwalla, learning new languages is an opportunity to foster understanding between cultures. This, as well as her parents’ experiences immigrating to the United States from India in the 1980s, influenced her decisions to study Spanish and Mandarin.</p> <p>Now Nagarwalla, a graduating senior from Brooklyn, New York, will share her experiences with Taiwanese students and help them share their own stories during an upcoming year teaching English as a Fulbright Fellow in the Asian island nation.</p> <p>“I want to give them the opportunity to learn English and be able to influence more of the world, and communicate with more of the world, and share their voices and ideas and their identities as Taiwanese people,” says Nagarwalla, who will be matched with a grade-school language program upon arriving in Hualien City this summer. In her free time, she looks forward to immersing herself in Taiwanese culture and putting her Mandarin language skills to use with native speakers.</p> <p>Nagarwalla’s interest in Taiwan was sparked by the class Taiwan Native-Soil Literature, taught by her advisor, Visiting Assistant Professor of Chinese <a href="/node/171566">Chialan Sharon Wang</a>.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Nondini Nagarwalla shares her love of language with students in Taiwan.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-05-17T12:00:00Z">Wed, 05/17/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Brittany Moseley</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3893">Office of Spirituality and Dialogue</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25341">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25336">East Asian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/economics" hreflang="und">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" hreflang="und">East Asian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">courtesy of Nondini Nagarwalla</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-flex-content field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden vertical-spacing--basic field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-32086" class="paragraph paragraph--type--pb-el-bq paragraph--view-mode--default"> <blockquote class data-text-size-large> <p>“I want to be a part of fostering an understanding between people and representing the debate and democratic ideals of the U.S.”</p> </blockquote> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"> <div id="obj-27723" class="paragraph paragraph--type--para-el-copy paragraph--view-mode--default o-flex--basic-copy basic-copy"> <p>“We read a lot of Taiwanese literature, and they talked about seeking to make an identity for themselves, because they’ve been colonized by China and Japan in the past,” Nagarwalla says. “We learned about their process of having their own written vernacular language…because it’s always been Chinese or Japanese or Roman symbols.”</p> <p>Her hopes for the fellowship rise above mere bonds over language. “I want to be a part of fostering an understanding between people and representing the debate and democratic ideals of the U.S.,” she says.</p> <p>Through her majors in <a href="/node/3386">economics</a> and <a href="/node/3341">East Asian studies</a>, Nagarwalla developed interests in international affairs, policy, and environmental issues. She completed an internship with International Bridges to Justice, a Geneva-based organization that works to protect the rights of citizens in developing countries. That experience, which unfolded remotely over the summer prior to her senior year, involved creating an e-learning module about China’s legal system used by lawyers in China; she also co-wrote a “youth manifesto” that was part of a global campaign focused on youth justice.</p> <p>She is a member of the South Asian Students Association and the Women and Nonbinary Finance Group as well as a facilitator for Barefoot Dialogue, a program of the <a href="/node/4241">Office of Spirituality and Dialogue</a> through which students are invited to share personal stories and engage with one another over meals.</p> <p>Sparking dialogue is a recurring theme in Nagarwalla’s work, both academically and outside the classroom. It’s one of the aspects of �鶹��Ƶ she will miss the most. “I feel like people are always willing to have a dialogue and are very accepting and welcoming,” she says.</p> <p>Nagarwalla is interested in a career that combines economics with sustainability and the environment. Upon completing her Fulbright, she may pursue a graduate degree in public policy, research, and development or environmental social governance.</p> <hr> <p><em>The <a href="https://fulbrightprogram.org/">Fulbright Program</a> was established in 1946 to increase mutual understanding between people of the United States and people of other countries by sponsoring students and scholars to study, teach English, and conduct research overseas. The U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program, Fulbright supports exchanges between the U.S. and more than 150 countries around the world. In February, �鶹��Ƶ was named a top producer of Fulbright Fellows for the 14th consecutive year. It ranks third among U.S. colleges and universities on the all-time list, with more than 260 Fulbright recipients.</em></p> </div> </div> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Finding a Calling in �鶹��Ƶ's Writing Associates Program</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 16:58:41 +0000</p> <span>Finding a Calling in �鶹��Ƶ's Writing Associates Program</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-02-23T11:58:41-05:00" title="Thursday, February 23, 2023 - 11:58">Thu, 02/23/2023 - 11:58</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Ryo Adachi cultivated interests in education and writing through a variety of peer mentorship positions at �鶹��Ƶ. A 2022 graduate, Adachi came to �鶹��Ƶ as as an international student. She studied <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics">math</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/economics">economics</a> with minors in <a href="/linguistics">linguistics</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies">East Asian Studies</a> and a concentration in <a href="/education-studies">education studies</a>. In addition to her coursework, she gained experience as a writing and speaking associate, a Japanese conversation tutor, a teaching assistant for English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), and a <a href="/arts-and-sciences/resources-and-support/pal">peer advising leader</a> (PAL), part of �鶹��Ƶ’s support network for new students.</p> <p>After graduation, Adachi started working full-time with the <a href="/arts-and-sciences/resources-and-support/wap">Writing Associates Program</a> at �鶹��Ƶ. On February 25, Adachi will facilitate an interactive workshop, “Overcoming the Comfort Zone,” in collaboration with the Office of Entrepreneurship and the Office for Disability & Access.</p> <p>Read more about Adachi’s career entry in the following Q&A.</p> <p><strong>How did you develop an interest in writing and communication while at �鶹��Ƶ?</strong></p> <p>Initially, it started from an interest in language education. During my first year, I was a Japanese tutor and took a class in Japanese language pedagogy. I then also took Kim Faber’s language pedagogy class, which furthered my interest in language education. As part of the class, I worked as an ESOL TA, teaching English lessons to international students. Tutoring and working with students led to being a writing associate. As I grew up bilingual, I resonated with the program’s core values that emphasized embracing language diversity.</p> <p><strong>What did you learn from your mentorship and teaching positions on campus?</strong></p> <p>I learned about the importance of reflection, especially as an ESOL teaching assistant. I originally had rigid lesson plans, but learned the importance of being flexible in my teaching. I was also informed by reflections of past experiences. Even though I’ve done a lot of workshops and presentations, I always reflect on what went wrong and how things can be improved next time. I also learned the value of building good boundaries with students. It’s possible to be sympathetic to students’ struggles while cultivating responsibility.</p> <p><strong>Which people at �鶹��Ƶ had the greatest impact on your experience?</strong></p> <p>Along with cultivating an interest in language education, Kim Faber encouraged me to spend more time writing. There was a specific assignment where she complimented my writing abilities and told me I had potential as a writer. Her comment was the first time I thought about pursuing writing more seriously. She really made an impact on me, and I still see her a lot. Additionally, Tania Boster, former director of the <a href="/bcsl">Bonner Center</a>, who played an important role in my college life. First as an academic advisor and then as a mentor. Tania Boster always listened to me and connected me with people on campus. She was very supportive throughout my college career.</p> <p><strong>How did you end up in your current role as the Writing Associates Program Fellow?</strong></p> <p>I first became involved in the Writing Associates Program at �鶹��Ƶ in the fall semester of my third year. During my last two years at �鶹��Ƶ, I was working on a lot of different projects for the program. I worked as a Writing Center writing associate, course writing associate for three different classes, and a speaking associate. With the involvement I had in the program, it made sense that I could fit into this role after graduation. Given my passion for language and writing education, I felt like this position would enhance my experience in the field.</p> <p><strong>Can you describe your responsibilities in the role?</strong></p> <p>I do a lot of logistical work in the writing and speaking centers to ensure that everyone gets the information they need. This includes training student writing associates and ensuring they are paid for their work. I also am in charge of workshop programs and outreach. I lead workshops that give writing and speaking advice that tailors to different audiences and contexts. For example, I work with the office of <a href="/fellowships">Fellowships and Awards</a> to help students with personal statements for programs like the Fulbright fellowship, Truman scholarship, and Goldwater scholarship. I also work with the <a href="/undergraduate-research">Office of Undergraduate Research</a> to support students who are applying for various summer programs.</p> <p><strong>What’s next for you after this role?</strong></p> <p>Down the road, I’m very interested in working with multilingual students and international students. Finding a way for everyone to incorporate their own unique voice and tap into linguistic resources is very important to me. I’m hoping to pursue literacy education.</p> <p><strong>Do you have any advice for students interested in your position?</strong></p> <p>My advice is to keep a teaching journal and record what you are thinking before and after lessons. It’s really helpful to look back and see what changes you can make.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Ryo Adachi helps students hone their writing and speaking skills—a role she started as a student.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-02-23T12:00:00Z">Thu, 02/23/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Ava Miller '25</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2360">After �鶹��Ƶ</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2381">Bonner Center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2396">International Students</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25236">Linguistics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25226">Education Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25336">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25341">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25401">Mathematics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics" hreflang="und">Mathematics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/economics" hreflang="und">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" hreflang="und">East Asian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Ryo Adachi graduated from �鶹��Ƶ in 2022.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Chloe Lai Receives Fulbright to Taiwan</h1> <p>anagy — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 14:49:24 +0000</p> <span>Chloe Lai Receives Fulbright to Taiwan</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-06-07T10:49:24-04:00" title="Tuesday, June 7, 2022 - 10:49">Tue, 06/07/2022 - 10:49</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Spring graduate Chloe Lai will reconnect with her family’s heritage and hone her skills in language pedagogy in Taiwan as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA).</p> <p>During her Fulbright year, Lai will live and learn in Hualien county, a rural mountainous region on the eastern coast of the island. She applied for a Fulbright ETA because she is passionate about learning and teaching. </p> <p>“I enjoy all parts of the teaching process, from planning to reflection, and am constantly striving to become a better educator,” says Lai, an <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/art-history">art history</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies">East Asian studies</a> major with an education concentration. </p> <p>Lai has taken Chinese at �鶹��Ƶ for three years, and she has worked as an America Reads tutor in the same fourth-grade classroom in the �鶹��Ƶ elementary school for all four years. She has also taken a course in language pedagogy, and she has been a teacher with the <a href="https://www.oberlinsites.org/">Spanish in the Elementary Schools</a> (SITES) program. </p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Lai speaks with one of her faculty mentors, Associate Professor of Art History and East Asian Studies Bonnie Cheng. Photo credit: Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</figcaption> </figure> <p>“I love language teaching and learning because for me, these classes make the world seem so big,” she says. “Through (SITES), I learned a lot about language acquisition and leading student-centered classes.”</p> <p>Outside of the classroom, Lai has been a member of the Third World Co-op, a writer in the Arts Students Committee, and a gallery guide at the <a href="https://amam.oberlin.edu/">Allen Memorial Art Museum</a>. A resident of Redwood City, California, she plans to continue teaching in the future, and possibly pursuing graduate studies. </p> <p>“I think I am prepared to adjust to challenges, and I'll be able to find questions and pathways to pursue my interests. During my year in Taiwan, I am most excited to learn about the nuances of cultural identity, explore the natural landscape, and try new foods!” </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Through courses and experiences at �鶹��Ƶ, Lai developed a particular interest in education and language acquisition.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2022-06-08T12:00:00Z">Wed, 06/08/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2377">Arts & Humanities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2378">Allen Memorial Art Museum</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25226">Education Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25301">Art History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25336">East Asian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/bonnie-cheng" hreflang="und">Bonnie Cheng</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" hreflang="und">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/art-history" hreflang="und">Art History</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Chloe Lai '22 has been selected as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Taiwan.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Arman Luczkow Receives Fulbright to Taiwan</h1> <p>anagy — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 20:06:14 +0000</p> <span>Arman Luczkow Receives Fulbright to Taiwan</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-06-03T16:06:14-04:00" title="Friday, June 3, 2022 - 16:06">Fri, 06/03/2022 - 16:06</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Spring graduate Arman Luczkow will combine his interests in teaching and East Asian culture with a desire to improve his knowledge of Mandarin as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Taiwan. </p> <p>Luczkow will be placed in the school system in Chiayi, Taiwan, beginning this August. He plans to spend his Fulbright year exploring as much of Taiwan as possible and learning from his students. </p> <p>A <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics">politics</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/english">English</a> major with an <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies">East Asian studies</a> minor and <a href="/international-affairs">international studies</a> concentration, Luczkow studied Mandarin at �鶹��Ƶ for one year, and he hopes to develop his language skills further in Taiwan. </p> <p>“My time at �鶹��Ƶ has always encouraged me to try many different things, and I can truly say I’ve been a part of all of the groups and projects that I have wanted to,” says Luczkow, who is a resident of Hastings on Hudson, New York. “In Taiwan, I’m hoping to embrace this same �鶹��Ƶ mentality of not shying away from new experiences, even if that can be a little uncomfortable at first.”</p> <p>In the summer before his sophomore year, Luczkow studied away at the National University of Singapore with a scholarship from the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs. There, he took courses on public health in Asia and economic development in East Asia. </p> <p>“My mother grew up in Singapore and my grandfather still lives there, so I stayed with him. After that trip and the courses I took there, I knew I wanted to live and learn in Asia again after graduation.”</p> <p>At �鶹��Ƶ, Luczkow has been engaged in a variety of leadership and service roles: as a member of �鶹��Ƶ Student Senate, he was chair of student life, health and wellness, and disability equity working groups; he was a member of the Student Finance Committee; he was founder and co-chair of the Multiracial Students Association; he served as president and vice president of the �鶹��Ƶ College Fencing Team and led a fencing <a href="https://oberlinexco.org/">ExCo</a> for five semesters. He also held positions with the <em>�鶹��Ƶ Review</em> student newspaper for two years.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-left"> <figcaption>Luczkow was a teaching assistant for Professor of Writing and Communication Laurie McMillin. Photo by Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</figcaption> </figure> <p>In the classroom, Luczkow was a politics research assistant to Assistant Professor of Politics and comparative American studies <a href="/jenny-garcia">Jenny Garcia</a>, and he worked in the Writing and Speaking Center as a Course Writing Associate and Speaking Associate. In the 2019-2020 academic year, he was selected to the <a href="/career/set/obs">Ashby Business Scholars</a> cohort. </p> <p>Through all of these experiences, Luczkow says he has learned how to work in a community: “listening, sharing ideas, and valuing varied positionalities. I think these skills will be especially valuable.”</p> <p>Luczkow’s current post-graduate goals include law school or pursuing a master’s in international studies from an institution in Taiwan or China. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Luczkow has studied English, East Asian studies and international studies at �鶹��Ƶ.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2022-06-07T12:00:00Z">Tue, 06/07/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2377">Arts & Humanities</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25451">Writing and Communication</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=245971">International Affairs</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25416">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25336">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25346">English</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/laurie-mcmillin" hreflang="und">Laurie Hovell McMillin</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/jenny-garcia" hreflang="und">Jenny Garcia</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/english" hreflang="und">English</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics" hreflang="und">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" hreflang="und">East Asian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Arman Luczkow is a 2022 Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Taiwan.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Jasmine Mitchell ’21 Awarded �鶹��Ƶ Shansi Fellowship and Critical Language Scholarship</h1> <p>ygay — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 20:39:34 +0000</p> <span>Jasmine Mitchell ’21 Awarded �鶹��Ƶ Shansi Fellowship and Critical Language Scholarship</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-04-09T16:39:34-04:00" title="Friday, April 9, 2021 - 16:39">Fri, 04/09/2021 - 16:39</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>“I enjoy learning languages because it offers a window into the culture and history of the target language,” she says.</p> <p>Mitchell’s passion for Japanese language and culture sparked in a pilot elementary school program. Since then, she has taken numerous Japanese language courses and found ways to broaden her understanding of the culture by attending events in the Washington, DC area. However, the opportunity to travel to the country for firsthand exposure eluded her, until now.</p> <p>As an �鶹��Ƶ Shansi Fellow, Mitchell will spend two years teaching English at the J. F. �鶹��Ƶ University in Machida, Japan. She will also continue her research on Afro-Asian solidarity movements, and deepen her understanding of diversity within cross-cultural collaboration.</p> <p>As a Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) recipient, she will further develop her Japanese language skills through intensive language and cultural instruction, connect with distinguished alumni of the program, and learn about future career opportunities available with enhanced critical language skills in government, public, and private sector career opportunities. CLS, a U.S. Department of State program, is part of an initiative to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages that are critical to national security and economic prosperity. </p> <p>“Growing up in a family full of public servants, the importance of service to others was instilled in me at an early age,” says the <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies">East Asian Studies</a> major with a concentration in <a href="/international-affairs">International Affairs</a>. “In keeping with this commitment to the service of others, coupled with my passion for international relations and human rights, I hope to join the U.S. Foreign Service to dedicate my career to helping people across the world improve their political, economic, and societal realities.”</p> <p>Mitchell serves as vice-chair of <a href="https://sites.google.com/a/oberlin.edu/studentsenate/">�鶹��Ƶ Student Senate</a> and is a member of the <a href="/about-oberlin/presidential-initiative-racial-equity-and-diversity">Presidential Initiative on Racial Equity and Diversity</a>, where she works on the Student Life and Learning Committee. As a student leader and committee member, Mitchell says she has taken an active role in conducting a series of focus groups to learn more about campus climate and students’ experience through cultural student organizations.</p> <p>“My role on the presidential initiative has given me the invaluable opportunity to engage with students, consult with student-facing offices, and facilitate programming that uplifts the presidential commission's charge,” she says.</p> <p>Mitchell, who also minors in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics">politics</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/law-and-society">law and society</a>, hopes to have a career as a U.S. diplomat.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2021-04-09T12:00:00Z">Fri, 04/09/2021 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>An appreciation of Japanese history, culture, and language makes being awarded an �鶹��Ƶ Shansi Fellowship and Critical Language Scholarship a dream come true for Jasmine Mitchell ’21.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=245971">International Affairs</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25336">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25396">Law and Society</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" hreflang="und">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/law-and-society" hreflang="und">Law and Society</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Jasmine Mitchell ’21</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jonathan Clark '25</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Henry O’Connor ’24 Awarded Critical Language Scholarship</h1> <p>ygay — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 19:34:07 +0000</p> <span>Henry O’Connor ’24 Awarded Critical Language Scholarship</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-04-07T15:34:07-04:00" title="Wednesday, April 7, 2021 - 15:34">Wed, 04/07/2021 - 15:34</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program grants students the opportunity to spend eight to ten weeks studying one of 15 critical languages. The program includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains. CLS winners traditionally study abroad in the summer, however, because of the pandemic, the program will take place online. CLS, a U.S. Department of State program, is part of an initiative to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages that are critical to national security and economic prosperity. </p> <p>CLS is O’Connor’s third language scholarship program involvement. In high school, he took part in a year-long exchange with Rotary International in Thailand, where he studied Mandarin and Thai and explored Chinese and Japanese languages. He has also been recognized as a Thailand Exchange Student of the Year and is an Eagle Scout. </p> <p>O’Connor currently studies Mandarin at �鶹��Ƶ College as well as taking an online Mandarin program with the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y). The program includes 20-plus hours a week of guided language instruction and tutoring as well as cultural sessions. </p> <p>“While I could talk about fascinating linguistic concepts or the beautiful methods different languages use to express similar ideas, I can’t help but love the human connections that come from learning a language more than anything,” O’Connor says. “Having a common language instantly gives you common ground with other people, and from there you can start building relationships. It also allows you to engage with foreign materials in their native language, which helps you appreciate their beauty, without the degree of separation that translation creates.”</p> <p>O’Connor, A politics major, O’Connor’s main areas of interest are East and South-East Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. He plans to join the Peace Corps and apply to graduate school after graduating from �鶹��Ƶ. His goal is to pursue work in the Foreign Service with the endangered languages project, or possibly the United Nations. </p> <p>Programs like CLS are incredible opportunities to develop skills and build competency in cross-cultural communication, O’Connor says. O’Connor can also appreciate the CLS for its professional benefits, explaining that the alumni grant program and non-competitive eligibility for federal work are very important career-wise, in that they will allow him more options in his career path.</p> <p>He also plans to pursue other language development programs, such as the Fulbright Fellowship, which offers opportunities for recent graduates and graduate students to engage in international exchange and learning in more than 160 countries. </p> <p>“The world’s language heritage is one of our most important relics and I want to do my part in ensuring its longevity,” O’Connor says. “Whatever I choose to pursue [in my career], I intend to make a difference in the world.”</p> <p>He is grateful for the support of the professors, faculty, and mentors who assisted him with the CLS application, including Professor of �鶹��Ƶ <a href="/sebastiaan-faber" target="_blank">Sebastiaan Faber</a> and Director of Fellowships and Awards <a href="/nick-petzak" target="_blank">Nick Petzak</a>.</p> <p><br> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2021-04-07T12:00:00Z">Wed, 04/07/2021 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>“In learning a language, you open your eyes and mind to a whole new world of opportunities and people,” says Henry O’Connor ’24. As a Critical Language Scholarship recipient, he will spend the summer immersed in Mandarin.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25336">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25416">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4796">�鶹��Ƶ</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/sebastiaan-faber" hreflang="und">Sebastiaan Faber</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics" hreflang="und">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/hispanic-studies" hreflang="und">�鶹��Ƶ</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" hreflang="und">East Asian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Henry O'Connor '24</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Henry O'Connor</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>The Hectic and Gratifying Life of a CNN Producer</h1> <p>ygay — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 19:06:34 +0000</p> <span>The Hectic and Gratifying Life of a CNN Producer</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-03-17T15:06:34-04:00" title="Wednesday, March 17, 2021 - 15:06">Wed, 03/17/2021 - 15:06</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Matthew Kendrick’s passion for shooting and editing video led to a position as an associate producer with CNN political commentator Fareed Zakaria. Today, he reflects on his experiences and offers advice to students who have hopes of working in the broadcast journalism industry.</p> <p>The job of a major network host can appear effortless. That’s because behind each segment there’s a lot going on—deadlines, research, pre-interviews, fact-checking, finding appropriate visual material. The long hours and constant grind isn't for everyone. Kendrick ’14 saw it as an amazing opportunity.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-left"> <figcaption>On the job at CNN. Photo credit: Courtesy of Matthew Kendrick</figcaption> </figure> <p>“I always wanted a career that would challenge me intellectually, that required creativity, and a bit of style. [Something] that took me out into the wider world in a way academics or think-tanks wouldn’t. I got extremely lucky to find such a good fit at the right time in my life,” says Kendrick of his position at CNN, even though the road to the broadcast journalism industry wasn’t exactly a straight path. </p> <p>Kendrick, a <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" target="_blank">history</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" target="_blank">East Asian studies</a> major, went to South Korea on a Fulbright scholarship to teach English in several rural elementary schools after graduating from �鶹��Ƶ. He intended to pursue an academic career, but his attention turned to video after meeting British documentarians working in Seoul. After enrolling in a master’s program in history and documentary film at Syracuse University, Kendrick fell in love with shooting and editing video. He applied for documentary and news production internships in New York City, and landed a position as an intern at CNN and worked his way up to production assistant to booker to associate producer of the <em>Fareed Zakaria GPS</em>, a weekly foreign affairs program.</p> <p>“Three extremely talented and experienced producers at CNN—Dana Sherne, Jessica Gutteridge, and Nida Najar—took me under their wings early on,” says Kendrick about his on- the-job education. “They taught me everything I know about organizing and executing edits that are informative, compelling, and beautiful all at once. Having a keen eye for the right visuals and the patience and perseverance to find that perfect shot or make that graphic just a little bit better can be the difference between a segment viewer’s flip away from [the program] and one that they seek out online to retweet.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>On location with CNN. Photo credit: Kendrick</figcaption> </figure> <p>“In the same vein, I learned so much from my mentors about writing clearly and concisely, how to fastidiously fact-check oneself and one’s colleagues, and how a cooperative can-do attitude elevates any piece beyond what could be produced on one’s own. Which gets to a more fundamental lesson for every journalist about listening more than one speaks and seeking to understand before seeking to be understood.” </p> <p>A typical week for Kendrick involved spending hours widely reading to generate pitches for guests and segment topics for the upcoming show. He liked to focus on East Asia, since his language skills gave him an advantage in scouring Chinese and Korean outlets for good stories. Kendrick, who was raised in Chile, had developed an interest in foreign affairs journalism when he was younger. He honed his Mandarin and Spanish language skills at �鶹��Ƶ and gained Korean language skills after graduation. </p> <p>Once a rough outline for the week’s program was generated, writing and production tasks were divided. For interviews he produced, Kendrick would call potential guests and conduct a pre-interview—a longer, more detailed conversation that he can draw on to help the host craft the most germane interview possible on air. </p> <p>For segments that were delivered by the host straight to camera, Kendrick worked with CNN’s reporters in the field and topic experts for facts, working through several drafts of each piece. All of the pieces at GPS went through a peer-led fact-checking system, where his work was reviewed and critiqued by other producers and production assistants and vice versa, Kendrick explains. The final stop was CNN’s “row,” a group of senior network editors who signed off on all copy before it went on air.</p> <p>During the process, Kendrick also worked with a production assistant to locate and license the visual material necessary to tell each story, which he considered the most challenging and time-consuming aspect of the job. Taping usually began Thursday morning, when Kendrick was responsible for managing the recording system and guiding the host through interviews or reads he produced. Afterward, each segment was rushed into editing, where he “worked like mad” through the end of the next day to stitch everything together and get it down to time. But even then, breaking news often required producers to come into the office Sunday morning for a live segment or two, says Kendrick. The grueling scheduling made rare moments of social impact all the sweeter.</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-left"> <figcaption>Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State, with Kendrick. Courtesy of Matthew Kendrick</figcaption> </figure> <p>“It didn’t happen every day or every month, or even every year, but when you got that story you’ve been fired up about through the gatekeeping hurdles—through a rigorous fact-check, a crazy edit, and just over the finish line to air—and you generated some discussion and got people’s minds moving, and maybe, just maybe, contributed to some concrete action that could actually make a difference in the lives of your subjects or audience, I was tempted to feel like what I did for a living might actually matter in the high-brow, philosophical sense that Obies tend to care about, and that’s pretty great.”</p> <p>After four years with CNN, Kendrick decided to step back late last year to support his partner, Nina Axiotakis ’14, during her medical residency at Georgetown University. In the future he would like to continue working in foreign affairs, “but with a more granular focus on human rights. My work on North Korea, Xinjiang, and Hong Kong over the last few years was particularly impactful, and I hope to elevate and center the stories and voices of victims of state violence and genocide in my future work.”</p> <p>Kendrick says he is grateful to each of his �鶹��Ƶ mentors for their patience and guidance, some of whom are reflected in his career: Associate Professor of History <a href="/ellen-wurtzel" target="_blank">Ellen Wurtzel</a>, who mentored him throughout his time at �鶹��Ƶ; Professor of East Asian Studies <a href="/sheila-miyoshi-jager" target="_blank">Sheila Miyoshi Jager</a>, who changed the way he viewed American foreign policy in East Asia and set him on the path to live in South Korea; Professor of History <a href="/renee-romano" target="_blank">Renee Romano</a>, who pushed students to improve their communication skills; and Senior Lecturers in Chinese <a href="http://www.oberlin.edu/kai-li" target="_blank">Kai Li </a>and <a href="/fang-liu" target="_blank">Fang Liu</a>, who provided “a world-class Mandarin education,” and introduced him to Chinese calligraphy and classical literature that continue to enrich his life. </p> <p>For students who are seeking a career in on-screen journalism, he offers this advice: </p> <p>“The thing I wish I had brought more of to the table is simple production experience. Brush up on your skills in Premiere or Pro Tools and use winter term to report and record a short documentary or podcast about something that means a lot to you,” he says. “Prove that you’re an enterprising and creative journalist and you see through what you start. �鶹��Ƶ for internships at publications and productions that you admire, and work as hard as you can to learn what gives them that special touch. Make mentorship connections. I don’t like the term networking because I feel it implies a shallowness and transaction-oriented nature to the relationship. What I have found works best in the industry are relationships based on mutual trust and appreciation.</p> <p>“For foreign affairs in particular, I can’t recommend learning another language enough. �鶹��Ƶ’s Mandarin classes are particularly good. And find a way to spend a year or more in a country that speaks your target language by hook or by crook. If you can do some reporting in-country, all the better. And practice, practice, practice. Hone your writing, production, and language skills to be the best they can be.”</p> <p>Kendrick's history thesis on Papal-Mongol diplomacy was awarded high honors, and is one of the models Wurtzel continues to use with current honors students. He also served as cochair of the Student Honor Committee and president of the <a href="https://goyeo.com/sports/2013/7/8/GEN_0708132007.aspx?id=414" target="_blank">men’s rugby club</a>—“Go Gruffs.”</p> <hr> <p><strong>LIFE LESSON: </strong><em>“When I was 18, I worked as a whitewater raft guide in Colorado during the summer. The key to rafting safely is being able to read the water from far upstream and make a plan for getting through. But sometimes a plan is just a guess in a fancy dress, and a level head and some creativity are all that can really save you if things go wrong.”</em></p> <hr> <p><br> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Matthew Kendrick ’14, former associate producer, shares his experiences and future plans</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2021-03-17T12:00:00Z">Wed, 03/17/2021 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3519">Early Careers</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=181496">Journalism</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25336">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25381">History</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/sheila-miyoshi-jager" hreflang="und">Sheila Miyoshi Jager</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/ellen-wurtzel" hreflang="und">Ellen Wurtzel</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/fang-liu" hreflang="und">Fang Liu</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/east-asian-studies" hreflang="und">East Asian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" hreflang="und">History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/journalism" hreflang="und">Journalism</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Matthew Kendrick ’14 (back row, center) on the set of the Fareed Zakaria GPS talk show.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Matthew Kendrick</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>