Spring registration underway for low-cost Chinese culture classes

KALAMAZOO—The Confucius Institute at Western Michigan University is accepting registrations for spring Chinese culture classes that begin the week of Jan. 20.

The low-cost classes are taught by instructors from Beijing Language and Culture University and are open to the public. They meet once a week, are taught in English, and are offered to adults age 18 or older for personal enrichment rather than academic credit.

Tuition discounts, tutoring

A half-price tuition discount is offered to participants age 55 and older and WMU students. All WMU full- and part-time employees may participate in classes tuition-free. Some classes charge all participants a fee for materials, and those with low enrollment may be canceled.

In addition, free Chinese language tutoring is offered on campus in 2152 Dunbar Hall from 1 to 3 p.m. Fridays, except for holidays and WMU recess periods, during WMU's fall, spring and Summer I terms. Students taking Chinese language classes through the Confucius Institute or at WMU are eligible to receive tutoring, as is anyone else actively studying Chinese language.

Spring 2014 offerings

• Basic Chinese Painting—6 to 8 p.m. Mondays, Jan. 20 to April 14, 3048 Brown Hall. Tuition: $120. Materials fee: $30.
• Basic Chinese Language—6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 21 to April 15, 3003 Brown Hall. Tuition: $120.
• Chinese Minority Dance—6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 21 to April 15, 3010 Brown Hall. Tuition: $120.
• Tai Chi—6 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 22 to April 16, 4025 Brown Hall. Tuition: $120.
• Intermediate Chinese Painting—6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 22 to April 16, 4002 Brown Hall. Tuition: $120. Materials fee: $30.
• Chinese Characters—6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 22 to April 16, 4003 Brown Hall. Tuition: $120.
• Chinese Crafts—6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 22 to April 16, 4017 Brown Hall. Tuition: $120. Materials fee: $20.
• Chinese Calligraphy—6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 23 to April 17, 3002 Brown Hall. Tuition: $120. Materials fee: $20.
• Intermediate Chinese Language—6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Jan. 23 to April 17, 3003 Brown Hall. Tuition: $120.
• Chinese Language Tutoring—1 to 3 p.m. Fridays, Jan. 24 to April 18, 2152 Dunbar Hall. Tuition: Free.

Class instructors

• Huaming Wang is a painting instructor from Guilin, China. His award-winning work has been included in national exhibitions, and he is a member of the Guangxi Artists Association in China.
• Shengang Wang, a Chinese language instructor, is from Shandong Province. He has taught Chinese language classes at Beijing Language and Culture University since 2002.
• Ajun He teaches calligraphy and is from Neinonggu Autonomous regions. She is a teacher at Beijing Language and Culture University and received her master's degree from Minzu University of China.
• Bin Miao, from Henan Province, teaches Tai Chi.
• Ruyuan Yang, from Yunnan Province, teaches Chinese minority dance and crafts.

Information, registration

For more information or to register for Chinese culture classes, visit the Confucius Institute at wmuconfucius.org or contact the institute at wmu-confucius-cc@wmich.edu or (269) 387-3784.

Questions should be directed to Ruyuan Yang at ruyuan.yang@wmich.edu or to Bin Miao at bin.miao@wmich.edu or (269) 387-3784.