Asia Society

Articles for Asia Society China Learning Initiatives

Learning Languages Is More Than Just About CommunicationAn interview with Chris Livaccari, whose new book touts the many virtues of multilingualism

New Ways of Seeing: How Multilingualism Opens Our Eyes and Trains Our Minds for a Complex WorldIn a new Asia Society publication, Chris Livaccari explores how multilingualism is a key aspect of life for most people in the world—and has been throughout history—and is a rich source of engagement, playfulness, and joy.

New Ways of Seeing: Language AppreciationWhen encountering a new language for the first time, it’s important to grasp the unique patterns and contours of the language—to hear its music.

New Ways of Seeing: Seeing with "Other Eyes"Those who speak (and think in) different languages also organize knowledge and understanding in different ways, and these different modes of organization help us to think more flexibly and to see issues from different perspectives.

New Ways of Seeing: PrefaceA new publication by Chris Livaccari that makes an eloquent case for language learning as a means to enhance and deepen students’ capacity for processing information and analyzing the shape of the world.

New Ways of Seeing: ForewordForeword by Milton Chen, senior fellow at The George Lucas Educational Foundation, chairman of the Panasonic Foundation, and a frequent speaker on educational innovation.

The Extraordinary Benefits of MultilingualismLearning a second language is about more than getting ahead — it teaches a whole new way of thinking.

Language Education for a New GenerationEight ideas to ignite a learning revolution.

Successful Approaches to Immersion TeachingFive skills to hone for effective immersion teaching.

A FarewellChris Livaccari looks back on his diverse engagements with Asia Society over two decades.

On a Day for Languages, Discovering, Celebrating, and Saving Our Mother TonguesOn International Mother Language Day, Asia Society's Chris Livaccari argues that while a lingua franca is important, so is linguistic diversity.

A Rock By Any Other Name: Asia's Premiere Language Game of 2012What's in a name? Territorial disputes in the Pacific Ocean tap into a much older tradition of organizing reality and creating social order through naming.

Is Kim Jong Un a Geek, a Nerd, or a Dork — or Perhaps the Sexiest Man Alive?What's lost in translation can have serious consequences — or it can be just a lot of fun.

The World's Most Incredible AlphabetHint: It was invented to fit a language that previously used a borrowed writing system.

Remembering Professor Jerry NormanHow Chinese can be uniform and ever-changing all at once, and other ideas spread by Norman.

To Boldly Go … Where Foreign Faces Speak Mandarin"When I first went to China in the mid-1990s," writes Asia Society's Chris Livaccari, "I often felt like a zoo animal with all the attention I got just from walking down the street."

Global Competence for Chinese Language TeachersUsing pandas and dumplings in your classroom? Think again.

Hyperpolyglots: Paragon or Folly?Michael Erard's new book, Babel No More, demonstrates that there's much more to being fluent in another language than mastering grammar and vocabulary.

2012: The Year Mandarin Chinese Becomes a 'Commonly Taught Language'?U.S. schools are beginning to see the value in teaching the world's most commonly spoken language. And hopefully the reasons are not just economic, writes Chris Livaccari.

The Three TeachingsHow Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism complement one another. Read on to learn about the "fourth teaching."

Just Who Was Confucius, Anyway?A look at the man and his teachings that have shaped China in profound ways.

The Chinese Language and the Languages of ChinaTeaching about the languages of China helps students learn about the diversity of China.

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