The Chinese program in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures is staffed by Professor Timothy R. Bradstock and Dr. Cao Zhen.   We offer courses in modern Chinese language (putonghua or Mandarin) and Chinese literature and civilization.

Currently, we provide two years of language instruction, but a third year may be added in the near future.   Our language courses give top priority to developing oral and aural skills, although learners are taught to read and write Chinese as well.   The textbook series used in this program is Integrated Chinese, published by Cheng & Tsui Company in Boston (www.cheng-tsui.com ). We employ the traditional character version of this series, but students are guided toward acquisition of the simplified characters, especially during their second year.

As instructors, Drs. Bradstock and Cao place a high premium on being helpful and approachable, striving hard to foster interest in China by developing and maintaining close contact with students in their classes. They maintain extensive office hours, where students (and anyone simply interested in China) are welcome to drop in and seek help with their studies , get career advice, and talk about anything else on their minds.  

So come and learn Chinese with us!   Or , if language isn’t your thing, take one of our literature or culture courses. China now has the fastest-growing economy in the world , and in a few years the size of its economy will match, even outstrip, that of the United States. No other nation will loom larger in our lives from now on. Learning Chinese and about China, both past and present, can open all kinds of career doors and provide economic opportunities . Students will also benefit by becoming more informed citizens and experience the pleasure of learning about another civilization, one with richness and depth unparalleled anywhere in the world. So, we’d like to extend a warm invitation to you to study in our program and are ready to answer any questions. Contact Dr. Bradstock at (406)243-2602, timothy.bradstock@mso.umt.edu or Dr. Cao at (406) 243-2154, zhencao85@yahoo.com.cn.