Three Oles published in foreign language research journal
The essays of Jodie Clay ’23, Emily Cerimele ’23, and Addie Rossinow ’25 have been published in the latest edition of the peer-reviewed Kennesaw Tower, a journal of undergraduate foreign language research.
All three Oles have taken part in St. Olaf’s Chinese language program, where they had the opportunity to explore relevant cultural phenomena and issues as a part of the language learning process. This approach is central to all world language programs at St. Olaf, where language acquisition is paired with learning about the culture relevant to the language being studied.
“Our curriculum not only focuses on language proficiency but also supports students in rich global and cultural understanding. The college’s dedication to produce culturally competent and global explorers encourages students to pursue interdisciplinary pathways and develop deep understanding of the world through diverse cultural lenses.”
Associate Professor of Asian Studies Ying Zhou
“St. Olaf College, with its commitment to liberal arts education, provides an ideal platform for our students to cultivate critical thinking skills and global awareness,” says Associate Professor of Asian Studies, Department Chair of Asian Studies, and Chinese Section Head Ying Zhou. “Our curriculum not only focuses on language proficiency but also supports students in rich global and cultural understanding. The college’s dedication to produce culturally competent and global explorers encourages students to pursue interdisciplinary pathways and develop deep understanding of the world through diverse cultural lenses.”
While attending St. Olaf, Clay took the class Chinese 351: Chinese Language and Society through the Media, where she wrote her now-published essay “日本广告和美国广告的天壤之别 (Distinguishing Features: Japanese Advertising versus American Advertising).” In her writing, she emphasizes how advertising is influenced by cultural context, noting that Japanese advertising relies heavily on the usage of familiar symbols that appeal to society as a whole, while American advertising tends to lean on rhetorics of logic to appeal to the individual.
This is not the first time that Clay’s writing has received recognition beyond the Hill. Her essay “数一数二的鼎泰丰 (Ding Tai Feng – The World Renowned Restaurant)” was published in the 2022 issue of the JUHE supplement 居荷副刊, a well-known magazine of undergraduate writing in Chinese as a foreign language to promote language learning. She credits the support she received from professors in the Asian Studies Department for her continued success.
“Their feedback, availability, and advice during office hours, and the opportunities they have given me not only helped me grow more into the field of Asian Studies and Chinese but also helped me find my passions within the field,” says Clay, who studied Chinese and computer science at St. Olaf. She is now a technology development program associate with Optum, a health services innovation company that is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group.
Cerimele, who studied Chinese and psychology at St. Olaf, was also able to explore her own interests through the Chinese language program. In the course Chinese 320: Chinese Education and Society, Cerimele was asked to write an essay focusing on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as it applies to education. She wrote the now-published essay titled
“中国有身心障碍的孩子的教育概观：权利与问题、研究现状以及改善现状的建议 (An Overview of Education for Children with Disabilities in China: Rights and Issues, Current Research, and Recommendations for Improvement)” that outlines the findings of existing research regarding education for the marginalized, disabled youth in China.
“Expanding resources and opportunities for people with disabilities is something that I am very passionate about,” Cerimele says. “I knew that people with disabilities in China face immense barriers in getting the support they need, so I took the opportunity to dive deeper into this issue in the context of education.”
As she prepared to finish St. Olaf, Cerimele didn’t expect to have her Chinese writing published. “Having my writing accepted was incredibly validating and made me see that my hard work was paying off,” says Cerimele, who currently works as a marketing associate with Balmoral Advisors, an investment banking firm.
Rossinow took Chinese 351 alongside Clay and wrote an essay titled “中国如何降低温室气体排放量？Strategies for Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions in China,” which connects to her deeper interests beyond Chinese language learning. As a current student at St. Olaf, Rossinow is majoring in Asian studies, biology, Chinese, and Norwegian — and she connects these topics via the global issue of climate change.
“We have the freedom to learn about subjects that align with our other academic interests, mine being natural sciences,” says Rossinow. “When I learned that my essay had been accepted, I was excited and very proud of myself because this was probably my best piece of writing in Chinese.”
Clay, Cerimele, and Rossinow each note that they were driven to apply for publication in the Kennesaw Journal because of the encouragement and support they received from their professors.
“St. Olaf’s emphasis on mentorship ensures students to forge close relationships with faculty, who actively support and mentor students in various ways,” says Zhou. “The Chinese faculty members closely collaborate with our students, offering writing guidance, constructive feedback, and ongoing assistance throughout the revision and publication process.”