Professor George Da Roza is currently teaching a four-week, intensive course in Mandarin at Whittier High School—part of Whittier's efforts to expands its East Asian studies program. The class is being funded by a Department of Defense grant, obtained with the help of Congresswoman Linda Sanchez.
"Studies indicate that by 2010, China will replace Japan and Germany in the economic market," Da Roza told the Whittier Daily News. "Students who are interested in business, politics or international relations will need to have some understanding of the Chinese culture and language."
Whittier College has recently developed a major in Chinese with an enthusiastic response from students. Since 2003, enrollment in Chinese language courses at the College has grown exponentially.
