The Hastings College Department of Languages and Literatures will offer an Introductory Chinese course open to area high school students beginning fall 2011.

Adjunct Instructor of Languages and Literatures Grace Abel, who is currently teaching Introductory Chinese as a two-part, year-long course (CHS 101-103) at Hastings College, will offer next fall’s classes at a more convenient time for high school seniors in response to requests from local high schools. Next fall’s classes will be held Monday-Wednesday-Friday from 3-3:50 p.m.

High school seniors can take courses through the HC Early College Program and receive college credits for reduced tuition. Application forms and requirements for high school seniors can be found online at www.hastings.edu/earlycollege or by contacting the Office of Admissions at 800-532-7642 or 402-461-7320.

Adult learners can also take this course and other classes through the HC 22-Plus Program and receive college credits for reduced tuition. More information can be found online at www.hastings.edu/22plus or contact the Office of Admissions at 800-532-7642 or 402-461-7789.

Grace Abel is a native speaker and an outstanding teacher of Mandarin Chinese who holds an M.A. from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and is trained as an AP reader and instructor for Chinese. She has been teaching Mandarin in the U.S. at the college, high-school, and elementary school level since 1996. Her CHS 101-103 is a beginning course sequence in modern Mandarin Chinese that is designed for students with no significant background in the language. The class will guide students to develop functional communication ability in spoken and written Mandarin, help them gain linguistic, social and cultural background knowledge, and develop students’ confidence in the use of the language. 

Hastings College, founded in 1882, is a private, four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). A total of 64 majors in 32 areas of study and 12 pre-professional programs are offered to more than 1,190 students. Hastings College was named among “America’s Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report, a “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review, and a “Best Buy in College Education” by Barron’s. Visit www.hastings.edu for more information.

For more information, contact Dr. Antje Anderson at aanderson@hastings.edu or at 402-463-7351.