Chinese Program Resources

The Strategic Languages Initiative (SLI) Certificate Program in Chinese-English Translation and Interpretation at San Francisco State University, part of the California State University Strategic Language Initiative Consortium, offers a certificate program in Chinese-English Translation and Interpretation, which aims to impart professional translation/interpreting skills and enhance language proficiency in students with advanced-level Chinese proficiency. 

The program is open to both undergraduate and graduate students with native or near-native proficiency in both Chinese and English language committed to receiving professional translator/interpreter training alongside the pursuit of their course of study.

The program consists of training modules both at the home campus and abroad. To be eligible for the SLI Certificate of Completion, students must:

  1. complete at least 6 units of coursework in translation and/or interpretation on the home campus;
  2. complete (via Study Abroad) 12 units of graduate-level coursework in translation and/or interpretation at the Graduate Institute of Translation and Interpretation at National Taiwan Normal University;
  3. complete a translation project with the approval of the SLI director; and
  4. achieve superior level or higher in the ACTFL/ILR Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI).

1. Home Campus Coursework (6) – choose from

  • CHIN 411 Media Chinese (3)
  • CHIN 881 Translation (3)
  • CHIN 882 Consecutive and Simultaneous Interpretation (3)
  • CHIN 883 Advanced Translation and Interpretation (3)

2. Study Abroad Coursework (12)

3. Translation Project

  • Prior approval required
  • Project may double as undergraduate Culminating Experience or as one subject test in graduate Culminating Experience

4. Oral Proficiency Interview

  • Must achieve superior level or higher

Note that the SF State Strategic Language Initiative Certificate Program in Translation and Interpretation is a mid-level translator/interpreter training program which seeks to impart aspects of Chinese-English translation and interpretation theory and techniques to the novice learner. It is not a translator/interpreter certification program; nor is it a credentialing program for teachers of Chinese language and/or translation/interpretation.

The San Francisco State University Chinese Flagship program is an exciting initiative for undergraduate students seeking careers related to China and the Chinese-speaking world. By providing intensive language instruction and cultural training, including dedicated classes and individual tutors for each student, the program works closely with each participant to facilitate mastery and application of the language for long-term success.

The San Francisco State University Chinese Flagship Program is one of 27 Flagship Programs at 21 institutions of higher education across the U.S. funded by The Language Flagship. The Language Flagship is a national effort to change the way Americans learn languages. Flagship offers language programs at schools across the United States for undergraduate students in critical languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, Turkish and Urdu. Designed as a network of programs, The Language Flagship seeks to graduate students who will take their place among the next generation of global professionals, commanding a superior level of proficiency in many languages critical to U.S. competitiveness and security.

Highlights of the Chinese Flagship program include:

  • Guided intensive language study, peer tutoring and faculty mentoring at the home campus
  • Summer overseas intensive language immersion in China or Taiwan
  • Language Flagship overseas capstone year in Nanjing or Tianjin, China
  • Language Flagship professional internship in China
  • Scholarship support for overseas study (U.S. citizens only)

The Language Flagship is a public/private partnership sponsored by the National Security Education Program (NSEP) of the Department of Defense and administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE). The contents of the website do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the government or IIE and no official government or IIE endorsement should be inferred.

For more information please visit the SF State Chinese Flagship website.

From the Director

Students, are you considering an international career? Then Flagship could be for you! 

The San Francisco State University (SF State) Chinese Flagship Program provides guided intensive language training, overseas study and professional internship opportunities in the Chinese-speaking world, scholarship support and international career advising for undergraduate students. Funded by The Language Flagship, a federal initiative to promote education in critical languages, the SF State Flagship seeks to provide students in all disciplines with the linguistic and cultural proficiency to work in Greater China in their fields of interest — creating a class of true global professionals. 

No previous knowledge of Chinese is required to begin the program. We are looking for students who are eager to pursue immersive cultural experiences and committed to reach superior language proficiency. Here at SF State, Flagship students benefit from special classes, one-on-one tutoring opportunities and a range of cultural activities. The curriculum is articulated with summer study programs to build proficiency. The culminating Flagship experience is the Capstone Year at either Nanjing University or Beijing Union University: Students combine language studies with direct enrollment in regular Chinese university courses and complete a professional internship in a Chinese company or organization.

Think globally, act locally! Please come and see us today. We welcome your interest in the SF State Chinese Flagship Program.

Sincerely,

Charles Egan
Professor of Chinese
Director of the SF State Chinese Flagship Program

History

Launched in 2009, the SF State Chinese Flagship Program is an exciting initiative for undergraduate students seeking careers related to China and the Chinese-speaking world. Through intensive language instruction and cultural training at SF State and overseas, we work closely with our students to facilitate mastery and application of the language for long-term success.

The Language Flagship is a national effort to change the way Americans learn languages. Flagship offers language programs at schools across the United States for undergraduate students in critical languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu. Designed as a network of programs, The Language Flagship seeks to graduate students who will take their place among the next generation of global professionals, commanding a superior level of proficiency in one of many languages critical to U.S. competitiveness and security.”

University Resources

Literature and Linguistics Associations

Language Teaching and Pedagogy Associations

Translation and Interpretation Associations

Standardized Testing

Campus Organizations

San Francisco Bay Area Resources

Language and Literature Research

Language Study and Maintanence 

Gain a better understanding of the Chinese Program at San Francisco State University through a documentary video by the local San Francisco Chinese language television station KTSF, and through a documentary film produced by masters program student Carol Xinxin Xie.

The Chinese Program at San Francisco State University is the publisher of Sinitic: Journal of Chinese Linguistic and Literary Studies.