Ni Hao! (你好!) Welcome to the Chinese Language Program at Columbia University.

In 1917, a generous donation from Mr. Ding Long of Canton helped establish the first professorship in Chinese studies. Over the past century, the Chinese Language Program at EALAC has grown to become the largest on the East Coast, with over twenty full-time lecturers and teaching associates teaching approximately 800 students annually.

Our program offers courses across five levels with two tracks (heritage and non-heritage) and in two types (comprehensive and professional). All instructors adopt a cognitive-functional approach to language education, emphasizing both oral proficiency and literacy skills.

Due to the pandemic, our study abroad program in Beijing has been suspended. In response, we have expanded our on-campus offerings and now provide summer Chinese language courses (from 1st-year to 3rd-year levels) through Columbia’s School of Professional Studies (SPS). We are actively working toward resuming our overseas summer programs soon. In the interim, we encourage students to consider studying abroad through the Inter-University Program (IUP) at Tsinghua University, a prestigious intensive language program in which Columbia is a member institution. 

The Chinese Language Program remains deeply committed to pedagogical research and innovation. Our faculty and instructors develop all classroom teaching materials, many of which have been published for adopted by programs beyond Columbia. In addition to our core language curriculum, we offer courses in Chinese Linguistics, Language Pedagogy, History of the Chinese Language, and Acquisition of Chinese as a Second Language. These courses reflect our long-term goal of establishing Columbia as a leading center for Chinese linguistic research and teacher training in the United States.

We provide students with exceptional educational opportunities and look forward to supporting your journey in mastering the Chinese language.

Taking Chinese courses will allow you to fulfill Columbia’s language requirement.

Important links:

Chinese Placement Test:

http://ealac.columbia.edu/program/language-programs/chinese/clp-placement/

Chinese Study Abroad Programs:

https://iupchinesecenter.org

https://global.undergrad.columbia.edu/program/

Columbia Directory of Classes:

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/