Orientation

Greetings from all over the world!

 

 

PowerPoint: East Asian Languages and Cultures Presentation and Major Overview

 

Please download the EALC Presentation PowerPoint, play the presentation, and listen to the audio! You will have to manually click to get to the next slide. There is a transcription below for your convenience.

ealcwhy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to UC Davis, from your EALC Peer Advisors!

 

 

Why study Chinese or Japanese at UC Davis?

 

 

 

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EALC Presentation Transcript

Slide 1

Hi everyone! Congrats on your acceptance into UC Davis!

As you watch this presentation, there will be audio on every slide, so when the audio is finished, be sure to manually click to the next slide. 

Slide 2

If you are watching this presentation, chances are that you are part of the Languages & Literatures community! 

Sometimes we just call ourselves “LangLit” for short. Basically, we are a collection of majors and programs at UC Davis focused on the humanities and world languages and cultures!  

Slide 3

On campus, we are located at Sproul Hall, which is a short walk away from the Shields Library or the Memorial Union and Quad! Fun fact: At 9 floors high, we are one of the tallest buildings in Davis! 

On the right, you’ll see a list of programs within Languages & Literatures, and you probably see your own hopeful major too! Whenever you come by for major advising, you’ll find us on the 2nd floor.

Slide 4

Now, let’s be more a little more specific: if you are watching this virtual presentation, you probably signed up for UC Davis as a Chinese or Japanese major! Together, we form the East Asian Languages and Cultures department, or EALC for short. 

Slide 5

Introductions: My name is Lauren Wong, and I am the undergraduate program coordinator and advisor for EALC. If you have more questions after this presentation, feel free to reach out to me through my email on the screen. 

Some fun facts about me: I can spin a basketball on any of my right fingers, I have an unhealthy coffee addiction, and I am actually a UC Davis graduate myself! 

Slide 6

In terms of my role as your advisor, I am here to explain your major requirements and work with you on developing your academic plan! Beyond the realm of academia, I am here to listen to your questions and experiences, share opportunities for professional development on campus, and help you hope in yourself during challenging times that may come. 

Slide 7

Let’s talk about the EALC program! It would be helpful for you to visit our website, ealc.ucdavis.edu, when you have spare time. Check out the orientation tab for regular updates. Under the “academics” tab, hover over “advising” and you’ll find a page that details the major requirements for Chinese and Japanese majors. This will be helpful when it comes time to register for fall classes in the summer.  

Side note: Be on the lookout for emails from the College of Letters & Science about Aggie 101, Aggie Advising, and Aggie Orientation. These are resources that will help you with course registration questions. Be sure to set up a remote advising appointment with your College of Letters & Science advisors over the summer! 

Did you know that the Chinese and Japanese programs at UCD are ranked as one of the best language programs in the country?? Beyond language, you’ll get to study so many diverse topics like film, poetry, drama, linguistics, and popular culture in our program. In addition to gaining advanced Chinese and Japanese language skills, you’ll learn a global perspective, critical thinking, written communication, and teamwork skills too – skills that every employer in the career world looks for. 

Even more, the Chinese and Japanese majors are only about 40-70 units, meaning the programs are small enough for you to easily double major or minor in another field of your choice at UCD, like International Relations, Design, Economics, and more. Our small courses provide space for meaningful connections with your other classmates and professors. A bit later in the presentation, I will also talk about study abroad opportunities. 

Slide 8

Part of you may be worried: What can I do with a major in Chinese or Japanese? 

Well I am here to tell you: anything and everything! You have to think about it in terms of transferable skills. Like I touched on before, there are so many skills you gain through the Chinese and Japanese programs beyond language acquisition.  

Growth mindset: It is difficult to learn the nuances of a new language. Majoring in Chinese or Japanese demonstrates self-motivation and reveals an ability to push through challenges and receive constant feedback with a growth mindset. It demonstrates your exceptional level of commitment to law, medical or graduate schools, as well as potential employers. 

Public speaking: It's hard enough to speak in front of people in your native tongue, but in a foreign language too?! Chinese and Japanese classes foster confidence through oral presentations and in-class discussions. 

Writing: It is so important that you know how to effectively articulate your thoughts in the professional world. Chinese and Japanese literature and culture classes can sharpen your written communication expertise, and the upper division courses work together to develop powerful argumentative skills. 

Teamwork: Chinese and Japanese classes are often organized around working in groups or pairs! These classes foster your ability to work with people of different cultural backgrounds—to overcome issues and make decisions together. 

Critical thinking: It is crucial that you know how to analyze issues in the world. Chinese and Japanese classes shed light on diverse perspectives and help you evaluate new ideas. 

Cultural humility: In an increasingly diverse and yet polarized world, it is important to develop a framework of cultural humility and compassion for people of all backgrounds. 

One point I want you to remember is that your major doesn’t equal your career. Always think about what skills you want to sharpen. 

Slide 9

Some important notes on language placement. Regardless of your AP/IB/SAT language scores, if you plan to take Chinese and Japanese language courses at UCD (which are required for the Chinese and Japanese majors, of course), you will need to take a placement test through the Davis Language Center. Please be sure to speak to the College of Letters & Science advisor about this during your remote advising appointment. 

Slide 10

Study abroad: The next couple of slides include mini student testimonials about studying abroad, so be sure to pause the video and read about their experiences! We will be featuring two of our peer advisors who have studied abroad in Japan, but be rest assured that there are many more countries you can study abroad in, such as Thailand, Korea, and China!

Slide 11

This is Kana, who studied abroad at Waseda University in Tokyo.

Slide 12

And this is Ryan who studied abroad in Kyoto. 

Slide 13

If you have questions about study abroad, visit globallearning.ucdavis.edu! 

Slide 14

There are endless internship opportunities available to you at UCD. To name a couple, be sure to look into the UC Sacramento Center and Washington Program! These are internships that take place in the capitals of the state and country! You definitely don’t need to be a Political Science major to participate – there are many humanities and language-based internships available through these programs too. 

Slide 15

On campus, there are also other opportunities for you to get involved. Sproul hall offers language tutoring at all levels, and there are many Chinese and Japanese culture clubs that you can join to meet more people and form friendships. Check out csi.ucdavis.edu for a fuller list of the student organizations at UCD. 

Slide 16

Also, if are an avid Instagram user, make sure you go follow us @ucdlanglit to stay connected and updated! 

Slide 17

And lastly, just final thoughts. Here are some pictures of our EALC community. From award ceremonies, study abroad, and even just in class, the faculty and staff are all here to support you and celebrate your achievements. We look forward to what you will accomplish here in EALC! 

Slide 13

*cute picture* :)