PROJECT

Integrating Case Study Pedagogy in Business Chinese: Advancing Multiliteracy, Assessment, and Cross-Cultural Competence 

DESCRIPTION

My proposal aims to integrate research-supported best practices in second language acquisition into the Business Chinese course through a case study approach—a highly effective teaching method widely adopted and successfully implemented at UVA’s business school. By combining the internal SWOT model with external factors from the PESTEL framework, the course adopts a holistic strategy that enables comprehensive analysis and strategic evaluation. It emphasizes interdisciplinary integration, the development of multiliteracy skills in digital humanities, and an evidence-based, outcome-driven assessment model that fosters student growth and confidence within the Business Chinese curriculum. A custom-designed Likert-scale assessment form will be used as both a pre- and post-test to evaluate students’ cross-cultural competence and knowledge of Chinese enterprise, in comparison with American and global business practices. Quantitative data from t-test analysis will be complemented by qualitative insights drawn from interviews, self-assessments, and reflections. Findings from this study will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of case-based instruction in Business Chinese and contribute to broader pedagogical innovations in language for specific purposes. The proposed framework has the potential to inform curriculum design and advance best practices in interdisciplinary, content-integrated language teaching and learning. 

BIO

Dr. Tseng has long been dedicated to second language acquisition and teacher training, advocating for effective pedagogy and curriculum across in-person, hybrid, and online instruction. She champions technology-mediated, task-based language teaching, global partnerships in online immersive learning, community-based experiential learning, and the integration of generative AI in world language education. She has served as the Inaugural Director of the Institute of World Languages, NEH Daniels Family Distinguished Teaching Professor, Director of UVA in Shanghai Study Abroad Program, and Director of UVA STARTALK Teacher/Student Academy at the University of Virginia. Nationally and internationally, she founded the Chinese Language Teachers Association of Virginia (CLTA-VA), served on the CLTA Board of Directors, and worked as a College Board consultant in AP Chinese, among other roles. She has published nearly 30 peer-reviewed articles, 9 books, Authentic Chinese textbook series (12 books), and has delivered over 250 talks and workshops on Chinese language pedagogy in the US and globally. She has received $1.5 million in STARTALK grants and numerous accolades, including the Albert Nelson Marquis Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award (2019), the STARTALK Award (2008-2024 except for 2020), the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Taipei (2018, 2023), the Jefferson Trust Award (2018), the Helen Warriner-Burke FLAVA Distinguished Service Award (2016), and the Jiede Empirical Research Grant (2015) & Ron Walton Presentation Award (1998) by CLTA.