East Asian Languages and Literatures
- Degree Type Bachelor of Arts
- Department East Asian Languages and Literatures
- Academic Division The College
- Offerings Major
The Department of East Asian Languages and Literature offers a full four-year program of language courses in both Chinese and Japanese, as well as literature and culture courses in English. The department’s curricula provide solid disciplinary training, preparing students to meet the challenges in further graduate studies or in career development.
East Asian Languages and Literatures
Language courses in the EALL Department develop advanced communication skills in Japanese and Chinese through intensive language training and provide a foundation for understanding cultural traditions of China and Japan. The literature in translation courses foster an awareness and understanding of East Asian cultures through an interdisciplinary approach, introducing historical background, social, philosophical, political issues and other cultural concerns relevant and necessary to the understanding of the literary and other cultural texts.
Opportunities
The department encourages close interactions between students and the faculty. Diverse East Asian cultural activities such as A Taste of Asia and the Lunar New Year Celebration give students opportunities to practice their language skills outside the classroom in a relaxed, social setting. The department also sponsors Spring Term study abroad programs to China and Japan, where students are not only engaged in immersion language learning, but also in studying East Asian cultures through close contacts with their peoples.
EALL majors are encouraged to spend a summer, a semester or a year studying abroad in China and Japan to enhance their proficiency in language and to broaden their knowledge of East Asian cultures.
Each year the department awards The Andrew M. Hemm Prize of Excellence to two students with the highest average grades during their first two years of Chinese and Japanese studies respectively. In addition, the department offers The James Boardman Study Abroad Scholarship to two students preparing to study abroad.
World Language FDR
One of the Foundation and Distribution Requirements at Washington and Lee is proficiency in a world language. The EALL Department offers coursework towards language proficiency in Chinese and Japanese.
Discovery Through Dance
Nava Berwick ’27 explored culture, society and religion in Japan and Indonesia this summer through the Johnson Opportunity Grant program.
W&L Announces New Fixed-Term Faculty, Fellows and Assistant Coaches
Twenty-eight new faculty and staff members are joining the university this year.
On the Map
This summer, students in W&L’s Summer Research Scholars program are taking an interdisciplinary and interactive approach to environmental studies with ArcGIS mapping software.
Three W&L Students Awarded Boren Scholarships for Global Language Study
With the scholarship, the graduating seniors will conduct intensive language studies in Indonesia and Japan.
W&L Alumni and Student Awarded NSF Fellowships
Oriana Gutierrez ’24, Connor Lafo ’26 and Gabrielle Ursin ’25 have received pre-doctoral graduate research fellowships from the National Science Foundation to support their research.
W&L Introduces New Language Partner Program
A new student-initiated program at Washington and Lee invites the campus and wider Rockbridge area communities into informal world language practice.
W&L’s Ciel Morrill to Study Abroad with Critical Language Scholarship
The Critical Language Scholarship Program funds a summer of overseas language and cultural immersion.
Meet Bella Ferrate ’26
Ferrate chose W&L for its accredited Williams School and the ability to embrace the liberal arts experience.
Educational Odyssey
Ashton Evans ’26 reflects on a W&L experience full of mentorship, global learning and skills she will carry with her for life.
Blending Passion with Integrity
For Sam Tannahill ’91, W&L provided a foundation of integrity, leadership and intellectual curiosity that have guided his personal and professional life.
W&L Presents Screening of Craig Quintero’s Expanded Reality Films
The films will be screened Sept. 25-26 in the IQ Center, followed by an artist’s talk.
Meet the Faculty
At W&L, students enjoy small classes and close relationships with professors who educate and nurture.
Yanhong Zhu
Department Head; Professor of Chinese
- P: 540-458-8277
- E: zhuy@wlu.edu
Yanhong Zhu’s research interests include modern Chinese literature and culture, contemporary Chinese cinema, and Chinese language pedagogy. She teaches Chinese language courses at all levels as well as courses on modern Chinese literature and East Asian cinema.
Janet Ikeda
Associate Professor of Japanese
- P: 540-458-8936
- E: ikedaj@wlu.edu
Ikeda teaches and researches Japanese language, culture and literature. Ikeda has been involved in U.S.- Japan relations and has been a member of several councils, committees and delegations to promote good relations.
