THEY CALL IT INTERDISCIPLINARITY
I'm calling it wearing-many-hats.
One for my every interest, passion and area of expertise.
This is how I came in the possesion of each.
PHASE 1
TIM ORIENTALISM IN BEIJING
I completed my first master’s degree in Beijing, at BEIJING LANGUAGE AND CULTURE UNIVERSITY, where I majored in English-Chinese Translation.
I was the only foreigner among 60 or so Chinese students and the teaching language was Mandarin Chinese. As one might expect, there was a lot of learning on my own I had to, both regarding the Chinese language, and coping with culture shock.
It was here I first discovered translation as a first stepping stone towards cross-cultural facilitation, which I later embraced as a way of life.
phase 2
TIM ORIENTALISM IN TOKYO
I needed to better understand various situations I encountered while studying in Beijing. Such as the anti-Japanese protests that started when I moved to Beiing; or the Umbrella protests that started in Hong Kong when I travelled there in 2014.
So in 2015, I joined my second master’s program, an Area Studies program in East Asian Studies with a double focus on Chinese and Japanese at STOCKHOLM UNIVERSITY.
Area Studies, or regional studies, typically involve the study of one area – in my case East Asia – from the perspective of different disciplines: cultural studies, international relations, etc.
They also graciously sent me to CHUO UNIVERSITY, Tokyo, where I spent a semester as an exchange student, learning more about Japanese society and improving my language skills.
PHASE 1
TIM ORIENTALISM IN BEIJING
I completed my first master’s degree in Beijing, at BEIJING LANGUAGE AND CULTURE UNIVERSITY, where I majored in English-Chinese Translation.
I was the only foreigner among 60 or so Chinese students and the teaching language was Mandarin Chinese. As one might expect, there was a lot of learning on my own I had to, both regarding the Chinese language, and coping with culture shock.
It was here I first discovered translation as a first stepping stone towards cross-cultural facilitation.
phase 2
TIM ORIENTALISM IN TOKYO
I needed to better understand various situations I encountered while studying in Beijing. Such as the anti-Japanese protests that started when I moved to Beiing; or the Umbrella protests that started in Hong Kong when I travelled there in 2014.
So in 2015, I joined my second master’s program, an Area Studies program in East Asian Studies with a double focus on Chinese and Japanese at STOCKHOLM UNIVERSITY. Area Studies, or regional studies, typically involve the study of one area – in my case East Asia – from the perspective of different disciplines: cultural studies, international relations, etc.
They also graciously sent me to CHUO UNIVERSITY, Tokyo, where I spent a semester as an exchange student, learning more about Japanese society and improving my language skills.
Let’s recap.
A hat for Chinese, one for Japanese, one for translation, another one for cultural studies, a hat for international relations, and one for my undying love for films.
It is now time for yet another one.
phase 3
an informal school of Chinese and Japanese
THAT PUTS CULTURE FIRST.
The culture behind language, media and politics.
By which I want to deliver meaningful, up-to-date content, that facilitates a better understanding of contemporary China and Japan based on my own experiences.
It’s more than business. It’s a personal project.
This is what I wish I knew before starting to learn Chinese and Japanese.
The Informal School begins with workshops
That have to meet at least 3 criteria:
- stay within 2 hours;
- be up-to-date, relevant and entertaining;
- be built on research, enriched with perspective.
…and continues with classrooms.
That essentially have to meet just one single criterion:
Make it easier for you to learn Chinese and Japanese and shorten the learning period by providing solid, sustainable methods.
phase 3
Let’s recap.
A hat for Chinese, one for Japanese, one for translation, another one for cultural studies, a hat for international relations, and one for my undying love for films.
It is now time for yet another one.
an informal school of Chinese and Japanese
THAT PUTS CULTURE FIRST.
The culture behind language, media and politics.
By which I want to deliver meaningful, up-to-date content, that facilitates a better understanding of contemporary China and Japan based on my own experiences.
It’s more than business. It’s a personal project.
This is what I wish I knew before starting to learn Chinese and Japanese.
The Informal School Begins with workshops.
That have to meet at least 3 criteria:
- stay within 2 hours;
- be up-to-date, relevant and entertaining;
- be built on research, enriched with perspective.
…and continues with classrooms.
That essentially have to meet just one single criterion:
Make it easier for you to learn Chinese and Japanese, and shorten the learning period by providing solid, sustainable study methods.
Learn about Chinese and Japanese with me!
These are standard issue classes. They are especially designed as a survival kit in an entirely different culture.
Just like a swiss-army knife, they are multipurpose.
Not sure if these workshops & classrooms are right for you? Do you need a personalized or a group offer?
Contact me at timeea@timorientalism.com, on social media, or using the contact form.