East Asian Languages Program
The East Asian Languages Program supports the study of East Asian languages at the campuses.
The East Asian Languages Program supports the study of East Asian languages at the Five Colleges through events such as language and culture programs, workshops and seminars, and professional development opportunities. A committee consisting of faculty from the various campuses meets, plans, and organizes events each academic year.
Categories of Work
Our work is in the following categories:
- Professional development activities for instructional staff at the institutions, such as workshops on language pedagogy and technology.
- Workshops and seminars showcasing scholarship or teaching practices of faculty members and instructors at the five institutions.
- Programming for undergraduates or graduate students studying East Asian Languages or East Asian cultures (lectures, films screenings, workshops, etc.). Events are located on one or more of the campuses.
- Travel by Five College teaching staff to a workshop on language pedagogy, assessment, technology, and/or policies. The successful applicant is required to give a workshop for Five College East Asian Languages instructional staff to share what they learned at the workshop.
2024-2025 Academic Year Events
Chinese Culture Night
Event to learn about Chinese culture and language through participating in cultural activities such as calligraphy, painting, and games.
Chinese Poetry Out Loud
Participants have the opportunity to read Chinese poems out loud and have discussions about the poetry.
Japanese Speech Contest
Join us for the 2025 Five College Japanese Speech Contest, where students from the Five Colleges showcase their language proficiency and cultural understanding.
Korean Speech Contest and Culture Performance
This event consists of a speech contest and cultural performances, where students have the opportunity to gather and celebrate their Korean language learning experience.
Chinese Calligraphy Event
This calligraphy workshop aims to promote Chinese character (or kanji as in Japanese, and Hanja in Korean) writing as a tool of learning common east Asian languages, as well as a unique form of art.
Contact Us
Five College East Asian Languages Program Committee - 2024-2025
Chan Young Park, Chair of Committee, East Asian Languages and Cultures, UMass Amherst
Kentaro Fukube, Asian Languages and Civilizations, Amherst College
Naoko Nemoto, Asian Studies, Mount Holyoke College
Lu Yu, East Asian Languages and Cultures, Smith College
Yi Feng, East Asian Languages and Cultures, UMass Amherst
Mako Koyama-Hartsfield, East Asian Languages and Cultures, UMass Amherst
Five College Staff Liaison
April Shandor, Academic Programs Coordinator, Five College Consortium