Yuan Ze University Transformed Classical Literature Courses: Christine Welch Guided Students to Travel the World through Reading

The Department of Chinese Language and Literature at Yuan Ze University recently welcomed Christine Welch as a new assistant professor. Departing from traditional text-centered teaching approaches, Welch emphasized “making literature a journey that students can personally experience,” and was committed to reshaping students’ perceptions of classical Chinese literature.

Welch noted that many students had previously felt a sense of distance from classical Chinese literature, often due to language barriers and unfamiliar historical contexts. To address this challenge, she adopted diverse teaching strategies in her courses, integrating original texts, modern Chinese translations, and English translations to help students with different language backgrounds access the core of the texts. She also designed English-Medium Instruction (EMI) courses, enabling international students to participate in discussions and fostering a cross-cultural learning environment.

In terms of course design, Welch not only emphasized reading but also highlighted “interaction and interpretation.” She encouraged students to connect classical texts with contemporary experiences and to rethink concepts of space, culture, and imagination through discussion, presentations, and creative projects. For example, she guided students to explore travel writings and imperial tour narratives to examine how people in the past wrote about the world and how such writings continued to shape modern understandings of place.

“Reading was not merely about understanding words, but a form of movement,” Welch explained. She hoped that students would regard reading as a way of exploring the world and discovering perspectives from different historical periods and cultures. She also encouraged students to respond to their reading experiences through creative expression, allowing literature to move beyond passive absorption and become a means of articulating personal viewpoints.

Welch also incorporated her interdisciplinary background into teaching. By integrating elements of music and literature, she used songs and cultural examples to enhance student engagement and make abstract classical ideas more tangible. She believed that when students approached texts through multiple media, learning became deeper and more expansive.

The university stated that Welch’s teaching philosophy emphasized cross-linguistic, cross-cultural, and cross-media approaches, aligning closely with current trends in the internationalization of higher education. In the future, she would continue to offer diverse courses to cultivate students’ global perspectives while deepening their understanding of Chinese literature.

In addition to her strong academic performance, Welch had also gained recognition in music and cultural creation. She had published poetry collections and released several Mandarin songs. Her representative work, A Million Possibilities, blended classical Chinese imagery and reinterpreted philosophical stories such as Zhuangzi’s “Butterfly Dream.” The work accumulated over 20 million views across video platforms, demonstrating her significant cross-disciplinary influence.