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Courses for Spring 2009 Courses
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For course registration, please go to

http://registration.xenegrade.com/umce/


Acupuncture and TCM Basics

Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical technique for unblocking chi (chi’s or qi) by inserting needles at particular points on the body to balance the opposing forces of yin and yang. Acupuncture has been practiced in China for more than 2,000 years and it is more and more recognized by Americans. You are already interested in it? You still don’t believe it? You are curious about it? Just come to our class, and then you will know what acupuncture is and how it changes your life.

Course #: PHC0461W09

Cost: $39

Schedule: Sa, 3/21, 10 AM-12 PM, 1 session

Instructor: Yunna Jiang

Location: UofM Main Campus


Chinese Calligraphy

This class is designed to provide beginners with a fast and efficient way to master 50 basic characters. Through the study of these characters, you can also gain a basic knowledge of the components of Chinese characters. This will enable you to further build up your reading skills rapidly. Open to high school students.

Course #: RAR0181W09

Cost: $69

Schedule: Sa, 2/14-2/28, 10 AM-12 PM, 3 sessions

Instructor: Bo Gong

Location: UofM Main Campus


Appreciating Chinese Calligraphy

This course focuses on an appreciation of Chinese calligraphy and most famous masterpieces. Most well-known Chinese calligraphers are also great poets. You will also get to know some interesting stories about them. Knowing calligraphy is an entry to have a understanding of Chinese literature and culture. You will also learn to write with brush. No class on May 25.

Course #: RAR0201W09

Cost: $69

Schedule: M, 4/27-6/1, 6–7:30 PM, 5 sessions

Instructor: Xuefei Hu

Location: UofM Main Campus


Chinese Culture

This course is provided for those who would like to know more about Chinese culture. You will have a better understanding about Chinese traditional festivals, the six ancient capital cities, and ten most famous scenery spots. The difference between this course and “Travel in China” is that this class deals more in-depth with Chinese culture and less with travel. Open to high school students.

Course #: RMS0101W09

Cost: $79

Schedule: M, 3/16-4/20, 6–8 PM, 6 sessions

Instructor: Xuefei Hu

Location: UofM Main Campus


Chinese Food Culture

This class will provide you with a general understanding of Chinese food culture, including Chinese cuisine and tea. We will cover the history of Chinese food, legends of Chinese dishes, features of Chinese food, culinary schools of different local tastes, nutrition, and typical dishes. You will also experience the amazing world of Chinese tea. This class will also teach you Chinese dining etiquette and some necessary Chinese expressions. Learn to make dumplings. A selection of typical Chinese dishes will be prepared for your lunch and Chinese tea will be served after the meal.

Course #: RHE1311W09

Cost: $69

Schedule: Sa, 4/18, 10 AM-1 PM, 1 session

Instructor: Ying Xiong

Location: UofM Main Campus


Tai Chi for Health

Feeling stressed out? Having joint pain or stiffness? Noticing your balance isn’t quite as good? The ancient Chinese healing exercise, Tai Chi, may be the answer. Tai Chi combines slow, gentle, and relaxed movements with focused deep breathing. It can be done by anyone in any place, without special equipment or clothes. Students will learn and practice Tai Chi principles, warm-ups, cooldowns, and six basic Sun-style movements that are taught world-wide.

Course #: RFT0251W09

Cost: $60

Schedule: T, 1/27-3/3, 5:15–6:15 PM, 6 sessions

Instructor: Veronica Engle

Location: UofM Main Campus


Traveling in China

Are you planning a trip to China? Take some time to familiarize yourself with customs, travel etiquette, and basic phrases that you should know. China is a great nation with a 5000-year history. Learn everything you need to know including where to visit. Through the introduction of some world-famous scenic spots, the geographical, historical and cultural background of China will be presented to you. Learn more about what you will see and experience as well as some simple Chinese words and phrases. Dr. Hu is a geography, tourism, and history expert from China. Open to high school students.

Course #: PFL0281W09

Cost: $79

Schedule: M, 2/2-3/2, 6–8 PM, 5 sessions

Instructor: Daohua Hu

Location: UofM Main Campus


Thai Kickboxing (muay Thai)

Thai Kickboxing, or muay Thai, has been the national sport of Thailand for over 400 years. It originated from the Thai military discipline, krabi krabong, and has become known in the West as a devastating ring sport, involving use of knees and elbows in addition to kicks and punches. School children in Thailand learn muay Thai techniques for self-defense. This class will focus on proper technique and conditioning, using Thai pads and focus mitts (provided) to develop power, as is done in Thailand. For safety, there will be no sparring and enrollment will be limited. Registration must be made one week prior to beginning of class so that Rhodes ID cards can be issued; $20 for Rhodes activity fee is not included in course cost and must be paid to instructor on first night of class. (If taking both Kickboxing and Wing Chun, only one $20 fee is required.)

Course #: RFT0151W09

Cost: $79

Schedule: M & Th, 1/15-3/5 (no class 1/19 & 2/19), 8–9 PM, 13 sessions

Instructor: Milan Vigil

Location: Rhodes College, Bryan Campus Life Center, Aerobics room (upstairs)

Course #: RFT0152W09

Cost: $79

Schedule: M & Th, 3/9-4/30 (no class 3/16, 3/19 & 4/9), 8–9 PM, 13 sessions

Instructor: Milan Vigil

Location: Rhodes College, Bryan Campus Life Center, Aerobics room (upstairs)


Wing Chun

Wing Chun kuen is a southern, close range style of Chinese martial art. Famous in the West as the martial art Bruce Lee studied in Hong Kong, Wing Chun kuen is unique among martial arts as, according to legend, it was created by a Buddhist nun and named after her first student, a girl named Wing Chun (“kuen” means “boxing”). Since the style relies on efficiency, quickness and sensitivity rather than brute strength, it is well suited to women and men of slight build. Wing Chun kuen is not a sport. It develops coordination, balance and self-defense skills. Registration must be made one week prior to beginning of class so that Rhodes ID cards can be issued; $20 for Rhodes activity fee is not included in course cost and must be paid to instructor on first night of class. (If taking both Kickboxing and Wing Chun, only one $20 fee is required.).

Course #: RFT0211W09

Cost: $79

Schedule: M & Th, 1/15-3/5 (no class 1/19 & 2/19), 7–8 PM, 13 sessions

Instructor: Milan Vigil

Location: Rhodes College, Bryan Campus Life Center, Aerobics room (upstairs)

Course #: RFT0212W09

Cost: $79

Schedule: M & Th, 3/9-4/30 (no class 3/16, 3/19 & 4/9), 7–8 PM , 13 sessions

Instructor: Milan Vigil

Location: Rhodes College, Bryan Campus Life Center, Aerobics room (upstairs)


Business Chinese

Learn basic business vocabulary and forms of communication appropriate for various business situations. You will be introduced to basic conversational Chinese as well as Chinese articles and correspondence. It also covers some manners in Chinese culture. Focus will be on conversation and your ability to communicate effectively within the Chinese business culture. This course is for people who have learned beginning Chinese I or have already had some basic Chinese language knowledge such as pronunciation and basic vocabulary. It is taught by a native speaker. No class on 4/6.

Course #: PFL0311W09

Cost: $79

Schedule: M, 3/16-4/20, 6–8 PM, 5 sessions

Instructor: Daohua Hu

Location: UofM Main Campus


Beginning Chinese I

This class will cover the basic vocabulary and expressions needed to deal with simple conversational situations with Chinese friends. To further develop proficiency, it is recommended that you take Beginning Chinese II in sequence. Join this fun class and expand your language horizons. It is taught by a native speaker. Open to high school students.

Textbook: Short-term Spoken Chinese (Threshold Vol. 1).

Course #: PFL0211W09

Cost: $149

Schedule: T & Th, 2/3-3/5, 6–8 PM, 10 sessions

Instructor: Ying Xiong

Location: UofM Main Campus

Course #: PFL0212W09

Cost: $149

Schedule: T, 3/17-5/19, 6–8 PM, 10 sessions

Instructor: Ying Xiong

Location: UofM Main Campus

Course #: PFL0213W09

Cost: $149

Schedule: T & Th, 4/28-5/28, 6–8 PM, 10 sessions

Instructor: Zhaohui Liu

Location: UofM Main Campus


Beginning Chinese II

This class is designed for those who have completed Beginning Chinese I or have a basic Chinese vocabulary. Learn more expressions for conversational situations and further improve Chinese communication skills. The syllabus is topic-based and situation-based. After finishing this course, you can express yourself in Chinese in your daily life. It is taught by a native speaker. No class on 4/9. Open to high school students.

Course #: PFL0301W09

Cost: $149

Schedule: Th, 3/19-5/28, 6–8 PM, 10 sessions

Instructor: Ying Xiong

Location: UofM Main Campus


Elementary Chinese I

This class is designed for those who have completed Beginning Chinese I and II or want to further their studies in the Chinese Language. Learn even more vocabulary, grammatical usage, and common phrases. Taught by a native speaker. Open to high school students. No class 3/11.

Course #: PFL0371W09

Cost: $149

Schedule: W, 2/4-4/15, 6–8 PM, 10 sessions

Instructor: Zhaohui Liu

Location: UofM Main Campus


Chinese Writing

This class will teach you to know the origination of Chinese characters. Chinese characters are pictographic. Do you want to know how they evolved from the pictures? This class will provide that answer. You will also learn how to write Chinese characters by recognizing the strokes and radicals. It will be a very interesting class. It’s taught by a native speaker as well as a language expert. Open to high school students. You must enroll in this class in order to take Elementary Chinese II unless you can already write in Chinese.

Course #: PFL0411W09

Cost: $119

Schedule: F, 2/6-5/15, 5:30–6:30 PM, 15 sessions.

Instructor: Ying Xiong

Location: UofM Main Campus


Elementary Chinese II

Already taken Beginning Chinese I, Beginning Chinese II, and Elementary Chinese I or have some knowledge of Chinese phonology, character and word, grammar, and Chinese cultural awareness? After you take Elementary Chinese II, then you can take HSK! HSK is the Chinese Proficiency Test just like the TOEFL. Test and prove yourself! Taught by a native speaker. Open to high school students. No class on 3/13. Must take Chinese Writing concurrently or be able to write in Chinese.

Course #: PFL0381W09

Cost: $219

Schedule: F, 2/6-5/22, 6:30–8:30 PM, 15 sessions

Instructor: Ying Xiong

Location: UofM Main Campus


Beginning Chinese I for High School Students

This course is for high school students who are interested in Chinese language and culture. Students will learn pronunciations, basic vocabulary, grammar, and expression in daily life. It will be helpful for students who plan to take Chinese at the college level. It is taught by a native speaker. No class on 3/14.

Textbook: Happy Chinese (kuai le han yu).

Course #: PFL0361W09

Cost: $149

Schedule: Sa, 2/21-5/2, 10 AM-12 PM, 10 sessions

Instructor: Ying Xiong

Location: UofM Main Campus


Beginning Chinese II for High School Students

This class is designed for high school students who have completed Beginning Chinese I or have a basic Chinese vocabulary. Learn more expressions for conversational situations and further improve Chinese communication skills. It is taught by a native speaker. No class on 3/14.

Course #: PFL0401W09

Cost: $149

Schedule: Sa, 2/21-5/2, 10 AM-12 PM, 10 sessions

Instructor: Xuefei Hu

Location: UofM Main Campus

Go To Top

The CIUM will host two New HSK tests (Chinese Proficiency Test) this fall.
Click here for details.


Scholarship for Oversea Chinese Teachers

“Scholarship for Oversea Chinese Teachers” initiated and funded by Confucius Institute Headquarters. A training program of non-Chinese citizens to meet the needs of Chinese language teaching in the United States. More details


CLICK HERE for photos from the Chinese summer bridge camp.

View other PHOTO GALLERIES from the Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis.


The CIUM provided SCHOLARSHIPS to study in China recently.
Click here for details.


The CIUM  presented a successful CHINESE SUMMER CAMP IN MEMPHIS recently in collaboration with Hutchison School. The camp served 75 students from across the mid-south region. The CIUM will host this Chinese immersion camp every summer.
Click here for details.


The CIUM is pleased to sponsor a "CHINESE BRIDGE" SUMMER CAMP in 2009 from July 14th to August 1st. Thirty-five high school students will participate in this wonderful experience.

Click here for details.


The CIUM hosted a one-week EDUCATION TOUR TO CHINA for school and district leaders from across the United States.

Click here to view the notice and application form

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