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German Major Named ARHU Dean's Scholar

February 27, 2013 School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

German Major Named Arhu Dean'S Scholar

Jason Chun Yu Wong is recognized for his ambitious pursuit of languages.

 

Jason Chun Yu Wong (’13 Germanic Studies and Environmental Science and Policy) is recognized for his ambitious pursuit of languages.

Senior Jason Chun Yu Wong has recently received the College of Arts and Humanities Dean’s Scholar Award for his outstanding commitment to learning the German language. ARHU gives the annual award of $1,000 to outstanding ARHU seniors.

Although he studied German briefly at age 13, Wong delved seriously into the language in January 2011 while studying abroad on a UMD Winter Term trip to Berlin and Southern Germany.  “Trying to use what I had learned [as a teen-ager] inspired me to continue practicing,” he says.  Wong returned to Germany the following summer to continue studying before officially declaring a German major in the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures.

Throughout his collegiate career, Wong has taken advantage of the SLLC’s various linguistic offerings.  A language enthusiast, Wong has learned Mandarin, Cantonese, and most recently French in addition to German.  He participates and practices his language skills in campus programs such as the SLLC Language Partner Program, a program that matches UMD students with international students of different native languages and facilitates their interaction.

Having embarked on a total of three trips to Germany (including his current one to Lüneburg), Wong admits that he may be the “most valued customer” of UMD’s study abroad program.  His experiences abroad make Wong an advocate of visiting countries to improve one’s basic command of language through immersion.  He says, “Outside experience is taking advantage of every resource available – classes for a major are not enough.”

As for future plans, Wong hopes to attend graduate school in Germany and possibly live abroad for a period of his life.

After receiving the ARHU Dean’s Scholar Award while abroad in Lüneburg, Wong says he is “simply thrilled,” adding, “It’s a great way to close my chapter here at Maryland.”

 

Stacia Odenwald ('16 French Language and Literature)
SLLC Public Relations and Media Intern
staciaeodenwald@gmail.com