How do you take learning a new language, like Chinese, and make it accessible, relevant and fun? If you’re Claudia Ross, professor of Chinese in the modern languages and literatures department, you think start by — literally — writing the book on grammar. And you include a dumpling party or two.
In her 33 years at the College of the Holy Cross, Ross has dedicated her time to not only developing the Chinese program from the ground up, but engaging students and making lasting impressions through her classes. It makes sense, then, that she was awarded the 2019 Donal J. Burns ’49 Career Teaching Medal from the College, given annually to an exceptional faculty member who has devoted their life to teaching at Holy Cross.
Margaret “Maggie” Hannick ’23, who has not decided on her major, has been impressed by and fascinated with Ross — even though she’s taking her Intermediate Chinese course with another professor. The two sat down for a lively conversation about the intricacies of linguistics, the challenges of learning a foreign language and the intangible benefits of immersing yourself in a new culture.