Culture and Innovation in China
Yutian Tan
Chinese, UC Davis East Asian Languages & Cultures
Yutian Tan is a continuing lecturer in Chinese in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. She holds a Ph.D. in Chinese Linguistics from The Ohio State University, an M.Phil. in Linguistics from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and a B.A. in Chinese from Peking University.
Dr. Tan teaches a wide range of courses in Chinese language (beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels), linguistics, and culture. A native speaker of both Cantonese and Mandarin, she also studied Japanese for two years during college. Her research interests include second language acquisition (SLA), Chinese dialectology, particularly Cantonese and regional cultural studies.
Dr. Tan participated in the Teaching for Global Learning Program in Spring 2025 and is now eager to bring its innovative principles into this study abroad program, creating immersive, meaningful global learning experiences for her students.
A Message to Students and Parents
I was born and raised in Guangdong Province in southern China, and I grew up speaking both Cantonese and Mandarin. As a child, I enjoyed Cantonese opera, popular music, and, of course, the rich culinary traditions of Cantonese dim sum. When designing CHN 009, an introductory course on Chinese language and culture, I realized that there is no better way for students to experience China’s linguistic diversity and cultural richness than through an immersive, on-site global learning experience.
I am excited to guide students as they begin this journey in two major cities that represent southern China, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. In addition to exploring cultural heritage and tradition, I want students to engage with the dynamic and evolving aspects of contemporary China. This includes experiencing how technology is seamlessly integrated into everyday life, from high-speed rail travel to mobile payment systems and innovations in green energy vehicles.
As two of China’s largest and most vibrant cities (alongside Beijing and Shanghai), Guangzhou and Shenzhen offer ideal settings for this kind of experiential learning. I am enthusiastic about developing this program and creating meaningful opportunities for students to connect with China through a truly immersive global learning experience."