{"id":181,"date":"2020-02-24T16:07:37","date_gmt":"2020-02-24T21:07:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/academics\/faculty\/qgao\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T11:52:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T15:52:22","slug":"qgao","status":"publish","type":"faculty","link":"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/academics\/faculty\/qgao\/","title":{"rendered":"Gao, Qian"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

Learning a language is only a competition with oneself. When you learn it, imagine what you want to do with it.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

When Qian Gao asked one of her students at the University of Oregon why he wanted to study Chinese\u2014a question she always asks her new students\u2014he replied, \u201cBecause Chinese just doesn\u2019t make any sense to me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gao thought that was a terrific answer. As she explains, not everyone confronted with a difficult task\u2014such as trying to decipher something that seems inherently unknowable or mysterious\u2014will find the motivation or the discipline to tackle it. \u201cIt is this precious tickling curiosity that motivates one to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And where is that student today? After majoring in Chinese in college, he is now working at the U.S. Embassy in China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gao quotes Chinese philosopher Mencius who said that one of a gentleman\u2019s three joys is \u201cto have fine youths as students to teach and nurture.\u201d The students at Transylvania are certainly a joy for Gao. Her teaching is \u201cstudent-centered, proficiency-oriented, context-based, and technology-assisted.\u201d In other words, Gao wants her students to practice using their language skills in real-life situations where they have to rely on their language proficiency to deal with whatever circumstances arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gao also believes that \u201clanguages are deeply rooted in cultural practices.\u201d Students learning a language naturally learn about the cultural and historic backdrop that helped mold that language. Likewise, engaging in common cultural practices makes it easy to learn words and phrases associated with specific social conventions. And it\u2019s fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLearning a language is not about passing the many dictations, quizzes, and exams. It is not about receiving a good grade, or fulfilling a requirement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, Gao wants her students to imagine they are in China, and they must rely on their language skills to connect with the people they meet and make new friends. Developing proficiency helps them \u201copen up so many windows and doors and immerse themselves in an amazing culture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a student can do that, the learning is just beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Academic History<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Ph.D.<\/strong> \u2013 Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature and Film, University of Oregon, 2007<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • M.A.<\/strong> \u2013 Asian Studies, University of Oregon, 2003<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • B.A.<\/strong> \u2013 English Language and Literature, Northwest University, 1995<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Courses Taught at Transy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    • Chinese I, II, III<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Advanced Chinese Grammar and Composition<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Chinese Cinema<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Introduction to Chinese Culture<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • The Chinese Cultural Heritage<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Chinese\/English Translation<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Tales and Traditions<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Cultural Chinese<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Mandarin through Films<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Traditional Chinese Medicine: Philosophical Foundations<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Modern China in Fiction<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Introduction to Modern Chinese Literature<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Contemporary Asian Films (KIIS study abroad)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Taiwanese Films (KIIS study abroad)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Areas of Research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      • Modern and contemporary Chinese literature and film<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Popular culture in contemporary China<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Cultural studies in the Chinese context<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Chinese language pedagogy<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Traditional Chinese Medicine<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Awards<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        • Bingham Chair for Teaching Excellence, 2024<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Kenan Faculty Research Grant, Transylvania University (multiple years)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Young Faculty Research Grant, Transylvania University, 2016 & 2022<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Bingham Start-up Grant, Transylvania University, 2011<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • University Faculty Research Fellowship, Oakland University, 2010<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
          \n

          Recent Publications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

          Book<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          • History and Memory in the Marketplace\u2014Cultural Representations of Mid-20th Century China<\/em>. Peter Lang Publishing, January 2022.
            <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            Articles<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
              \n
            • \u201c\u4ea4\u9645\u5f0f\u8bed\u8a00\u6559\u5b66\u7684\u65b0\u5c1d\u8bd5\u2014\u9690\u5f62\u6559\u5b66\u201d (\u201cCommunicative Learning through Invisible Teaching\u201d), Journal of Northwest University<\/em>, January 2016.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • \u201cHard History, Soft Story\u2014Resistance in a Nostalgic Key,\u201d Modern China Studies<\/em>, 2013, Vol. 20, Issue 1: 45\u201365.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • \u201cHidden In the Heat of the Sun: Mimesis, Sacrilege and Aporia\u2014Reading Jiang Wen\u2019s Filmic Re-creation of the Cultural Revolution,\u201d Virginia Review of Asian Studies<\/em>, 2010: 84\u201397.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Book and article reviews, multiple<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

              Professional Memberships<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
                \n
              • Chinese Language Teachers Association<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • The Association for Asian Studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • AsiaNetwork<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS), Board of Directors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                Additional Information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

                Dr. Gao served as Director of the KIIS China Study Abroad Program (2014\u20132018) and is currently Director of the KIIS Taiwan Program (since 2023). She encourages students to \u201clearn the language where it\u2019s spoken\u201d<\/em> and to immerse themselves in other cultures and societies through study abroad experiences<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":10519,"template":"","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"academic_division":[40,12,5],"class_list":["post-181","faculty","type-faculty","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nGao, Qian - Transylvania University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.transy.edu\/academics\/faculty\/qgao\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Gao, Qian\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learning a language is only a competition with oneself. 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