Fostering Second-Culture Understanding and Personal Growth through Chinese Calligraphy: Challenges and Takeaways

This paper explores the transformative impact of developing a Chinese calligraphy course within a language program. The course design integrates cultural elements like festivals, philosophies, and poetry to provide a holistic and interdisciplinary learning experience. Rather than a lecture-based approach, the curriculum guides learners to connect their personal experiences with Chinese writing through self-reflective practices, fostering deeper cultural understanding. Challenges include maintaining enrollment in non-Chinese-dominant contexts, balancing course complexity and simplicity, and ensuring effective calligraphy demonstrations both in and out of class. Addressing these challenges requires thoughtful course design and guidance. By offering possible solutions, this paper highlights how the course fosters learners' mindfulness, creativity, and technical skills while connecting them to Chinese traditions. Such curriculum development underscores the value of innovative pedagogy in engaging students with this exquisite art form.