When students register for classes this spring, they will be able to sign up for a new language course.Next fall, TCU is offering the beginning Chinese language course in addition to the Chinese civilization and culture class that is currently offered.

Ziwo Lama, the instructor for the civilization and culture class, has been hired to teach the beginning language course as well. This is Lama’s first semester teaching at TCU. He previously taught at Brookhaven College in Dallas and is working on his doctorate in linguistics at the University of Texas at Arlington.

He said learning Chinese is the foundation for understanding Chinese culture and civilization.

“Chinese people have had a very rich cultural civilization and heritage,” Lama said. “If someone tries to pursue Chinese civilization, it’s going to start with learning the language.”

Lama said one in four people in the world speak Chinese. That fact alone, he said, illustrates the importance of learning Chinese. Lama also said many students want to learn the language to have the ability to do business with China.

Junior history major Joey Kramer said he thinks offering Chinese is a smart decision.

“With China as a rising superpower, it is almost necessary to know a language other than English to be competitive in today’s world market,” Kramer said.

Lama said the course will focus on the listening, speaking, reading and writing aspects of the language, though the emphasis will be on speaking.

He said Chinese is very different from Western languages because of the language structure and because it uses characters instead of the alphabet.

“At the beginning, it’s very difficult,” Lama said. “After you get in the door, it should be easier.”

Kramer said he thinks Chinese will help broaden students’ perspectives.

“I think it will help open up the student body to a section of the world that many people know nothing about,” Kramer said.

Senior biology major Julia Limes said she thinks the opportunity to take Chinese will benefit students.

“I think the interest is there among the students,” Limes said. “It is such a valuable and increasingly practical language to learn.