Rose Schneider, a sophomore majoring in International Business, said the Chinese Program at the U of A is preparing her for a career in  trade marketing.

She has been studying Chinese for several years, and is passionate about encouraging others to study the language.

"Chinese can be a bit intimidating, but if you devote time and effort into learning the language and about the culture, you will feel a sense of pride," said Schneider. "Plus, it's very impressive to know how to speak a second language."

Schneider began studying Chinese after a failed attempt at learning Spanish. After a few courses, she knew Chinese would forever be a part of her life. Her goal is to work for a company in the United States that outsources to China.

"I would like to work with the company's supply chain to help get our ideas effectively communicated and well executed," said Schneider.

In addition to helping her develop a career path, the Chinese Program has also permitted her to implement skills that she did not know she had until she attended the Intensive Mandarin Chinese & Chinese Culture Program.  

"I was kind of nervous about studying abroad, because I thought that I would not be able to keep up with the pace of the classes. Because of what I learned in my classes at the U of A, I was able to order food and communicate with people to get directions," continued Schneider.

The U of A's Intensive Mandarin Chinese Program enabled Schneider to broaden her language skills and absorb the customs of China. Her mornings were filled with language learning in a classroom, but her afternoons were used for exploring beautiful sites and experiencing the culture.

"One of my favorite visits was to Chengdu. During our visit, we attended culture classes to learn more about the history of the city," said Schneider. "I was so excited about that!"

She encourages students to study abroad, because this experience will enable them to learn and practice their language skills in "real world" situations. "We tend to only utilize our language skills during class time, but studying abroad will require you to step outside of your comfort zone, which is something we all should try," said Schneider.