6^th ANNUAL ASIAN BUSINESS LANGUAGE WORKSHOP

Workshop for Language Professors and Instructors on Teaching Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Business Languages

June 30 - July 1, 2000  

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INTRODUCTION

In today’s highly interdependent and competitive international business environment, an increasing demand exists for knowledgeable managers capable of conducting business in a foreign language.  Because the supply of such managers falls short of the demand both at home and abroad, the need for education in foreign business languages at universities and colleges is higher than ever before.

To meet this growing challenge, the Brigham Young University-University of Utah Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) and the Utah Asian Studies Consortium (UCON) offer a two-day workshop designed to enhance teaching skills in Asian business languages and knowledge in the basics of international business.  The workshop is intended for university and college professors and instructors of Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Korean who are interested in or are already offering business language courses.

 

SPONSORS

The workshop is sponsored by the Brigham Young University-University of Utah CIBER and the Utah Asian Studies Consortium (UCON).

Brigham Young University and the University of Utah each have a rich diversity and vast concentration of international and multicultural backgrounds among their faculty, staff, and student body.  Supported by this strength, BYU and the U of U have been ranked among the top universities in foreign language education.  In addition, because of their commitment to quality education, they have been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as one of the nation’s 27 CIBERs.

As part of their efforts, the sponsoring universities are offering various foreign language courses for business purposes to students, including MBA students.  The courses include Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

The Utah Asian Studies Consortium includes Asian studies programs at nine Utah universities and colleges.  UCON was established in 1993 to promote a greater understanding of Asian business and culture.  One of its programs, the U.S.-Japan Center of Utah, has sponsored this workshop in past years with the assistance of the Japan Industry and Technology Management Training Program (JIMT) of the U.S. Government.  Another one of its programs, the U.S.-China Center, is co-sponsoring this workshop this year with the assistance of the National Security Education Program (NSEP) of the U.S. Government.

 

PURPOSE

More and more students and professionals are wanting to learn foreign business languages, many hoping to use these skills in their profession.  Consequently, more professors and instructors at colleges and universities are offering or are considering offering business language courses.  However, business language education has not been recognized as a discipline, so resources for providing such education are scarce.  Still in its infant stage, it is so widely diversified that professors and instructors often have difficulty defining their courses and providing the instructions needed.

The purpose of this workshop is to provide a forum for people who are offering or are considering offering business language courses where they can freely exchange ideas and information.  Our goal is to learn from one another and develop courses to better meet the needs of the students.

 

SEMINARS

INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

The seminars will provide an overview of international business, with discussion of current events and issues, particularly in Asia.  Participants will acquire basic knowledge about government policies, exports/imports, financial markets, economics, and human resource management.  Directed and taught in English by business professors from the sponsoring universities, these seminars will draw upon the faculty’s extensive experience.

 

TEACHING ASIAN BUSINESS LANGUAGES

There will be three separate seminars: Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.  They are intended to provide resources and information to help develop business Chinese, Japanese, and Korean courses and to enhance the teaching skill in each language.  Participants will be exposed to various teaching methods, resources and ideas and discuss other related issues such as management style, business etiquette, and business culture.

The three seminars are chaired by the following faculty:

Chinese: Qinghai Chen

Qinghai Chen, senior lecturer of Chinese at the University of Michigan, has been teaching business Chinese since 1992 and has developed business Chinese courses at both undergraduate and graduate (MBA) levels.  His academic writings include "Teaching Business Chinese to College Students: Issues and Concerns" and "Business Chinese Education: A Challenging  and Promising Endeavor into the Twenty-First Century."  His CD product "Chinese Listening Comprehension Test in Foreign Trade" (CLCTFT) is being distributed by the U-M Language Resource Center.  At present, he is working on a joint development project between U-M and the PRC educational authorities, which will lead to a textbook and CD entitled "Chinese for the Professions."

 

Japanese: Shoji Azuma

Dr. Azuma received his PhD in linguistics from the University of Texas at Austin in 1991.  Currently he is an associate professor in the Dept. of Languages and Literature at the University of Utah, and teaches Japanese and Japanese Linguistics.  Among his numerous publications in the field of language and culture he has completed a business Japanese textbook with colleagues entitled Nihon no Shyakai to Keizai wo Yomu (Readings in Japanese Society and Business) (Kenkuyusa Publishers1995). He has recently published Shakai Gengogaku Nyumon (An Introduction to Sociolinguistics)  (1997), also with Kenkuyusa.

 

Korean: Cha Bong Kim

Dr. Kim received his PhD in educational leadership from Brigham Young University.  He was a full-time faculty member of the Dept. of East Asian Languages and Civilizations at Harvard University.  While at Harvard, he received the Certificate of Distinction in Teaching.  He teaches Korean, Korean Linguistics, Korean Literature and Korean Business (MBA program) as an associate professor in the Dept. of Asian and Near Eastern Languages at BYU.  The author of A Confucian Theory of Leadership and The Garden of Spirit, he has been a business management columnist of the Korea Times and Chosun Daily newspapers since 1995.  His recent academic writings include “Considerations on Curriculum and Teaching Methodology for Intermediate Business Korean” and “Teaching Methodology and Creation of a Syllabus for Business Korean in the MBA Program.”

 

GUEST LECTURERS

To enhance participants’ understanding of the needs for language education in the Asian business environment, we have invited professionals who have experience doing business in Asia, sometimes in a foreign language.  One such lecturer will be Professor Yasuo Yoshioka of the Japanese Language Research Institute.  As they share their personal and professional insights, we can learn from them what we can do to provide better business language education.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Location

The workshop will be held at the Radisson Inn in Park City, Utah.  Located about one hour from the Salt Lake City International Airport, Park City is a world-renowned mountain resort and a site of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

Accommodations

Participants are welcome to stay at the Radisson Inn for up to three nights, from Thursday evening, June 29, through Sunday morning, July 2.  Brigham Young University will make your reservations.

Schedule

The workshop begins the morning of Friday, June 30, and ends after lunch on Saturday, July 1.

Fee

Thanks to the support of sponsors, the participation fee for the workshop is only $150.  The fee includes all instruction, instructional materials, accommodations, continental breakfasts, lunches, breaks, and one banquet dinner.  It does not include travel to and from the workshop locations, other meals, and incidental expenses.  Participation fee must be paid in advance and submitted with your application by May 5, 2000.  Make checks payable to Brigham Young University CIBER.  Grants are available of up to $200 to help offset airfare.

Application

Complete the application form and mail it along with your check to Terri Hagler, Brigham Young University, 650 TNRB, Provo, Utah 84602-3143.  You will be notified of acceptance by email within two weeks of our receiving them.  All applications and checks must reach us by May 5, 2000.