Things I've Learned, with professor of Chinese Liman Lievens
N-L: How did you first become interested in your field of study?
LL: Like they say, it's a family business. I started as an undergraduate as a sort of intern, and I liked it so I stayed in that position. Also, my husband was in my class.
N-L: Is that how you met your husband? He was a student in your class?
LL: Yes, he was one of the better students of mine. He speaks very fluently.
N-L: You were stationed in many different countries with your husband before you came to Hopkins. Did you continue to teach before you came here?
LL: I tried to teach wherever he was stationed. At one time I was teaching at the National University in Singapore. They have a foreign language center, so many students came from all over the world, many through study abroad programs. That was fun.
Now with globalization, it means learning languages is important. I hope our students can know the language and also the culture that exists as well, that's the first step for globalization. We want our people here in the States to understand other people. Through this understanding, we build respect.
N-L: Did you pick up any other languages as you traveled?
LL: I speak French, Dutch and three different dialects of Chinese.
N-L: Every year, Chinese international influence grows. How have you seen this new focus on China affect the Chinese language program here at Hopkins?
LL: Well, when I came on board 12 or 13 years ago, we had almost 50 students. We were always worried, asking, is this enough to fill three sections? Now we have over 200 students in Chinese language, and I'm sure it will grow.
N-L: Do you foresee any changes in the program in the future?
LL: I hope. We have to improve so we can accommodate the great amount of students. Times are changing. We hope we can create more courses focusing on current issues. I would continue to teach Chinese language courses - that's want I'm good at.
N-L: Certainly understanding other cultures is very important. What aspect of American culture did you have the most difficulty adapting to?
LL: Like they say, it's a family business. I started as an undergraduate as a sort of intern, and I liked it so I stayed in that position. Also, my husband was in my class.
N-L: Is that how you met your husband? He was a student in your class?
LL: Yes, he was one of the better students of mine. He speaks very fluently.
N-L: You were stationed in many different countries with your husband before you came to Hopkins. Did you continue to teach before you came here?
LL: I tried to teach wherever he was stationed. At one time I was teaching at the National University in Singapore. They have a foreign language center, so many students came from all over the world, many through study abroad programs. That was fun.
Now with globalization, it means learning languages is important. I hope our students can know the language and also the culture that exists as well, that's the first step for globalization. We want our people here in the States to understand other people. Through this understanding, we build respect.
N-L: Did you pick up any other languages as you traveled?
LL: I speak French, Dutch and three different dialects of Chinese.
N-L: Every year, Chinese international influence grows. How have you seen this new focus on China affect the Chinese language program here at Hopkins?
LL: Well, when I came on board 12 or 13 years ago, we had almost 50 students. We were always worried, asking, is this enough to fill three sections? Now we have over 200 students in Chinese language, and I'm sure it will grow.
N-L: Do you foresee any changes in the program in the future?
LL: I hope. We have to improve so we can accommodate the great amount of students. Times are changing. We hope we can create more courses focusing on current issues. I would continue to teach Chinese language courses - that's want I'm good at.
N-L: Certainly understanding other cultures is very important. What aspect of American culture did you have the most difficulty adapting to?
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James Pearse
posted 3/29/08 @ 4:53 PM EST
No one is more deserving of the Excellence in Teaching Award. Li Laoshi makes our Chinese department something to be cherished among all of the large, fiscally extractive research oriented departments. (Continued…)
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