Exciting opportunities
EALC News
- The next Korean Proficiency and Placement Test (KPT) will be scheduled for an in-person administration at 9:30 AM [CT] on Friday, August 21, 2026. Please note that this test will NOT be administered online. Time: 9:30 am to 12 pm (CST)... Read full story
- Course DescriptionThis course explores the intricate relationship between language and identity in both Greater China (Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan) and Chinese diasporic communities around the world. Through the lens of sociolinguistics, students will examine how... Read full story
Faculty Spotlight: Jeeyoung Ha receives LAS Academic Professional Award
EALC faculty member and Director of Undegraduate Studies is one of the recipients of the the LAS Academic Professional Award. The recognition comes with a $1,000 award and a $1,000 salary increment supported by funds from LAS alumni. All six awardees will be honored at a ceremony in March. Read more here.
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Belinda Qian HE joins EALC faculty in Fall 2025
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Belinda Qian He has joined the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures as Assistant Professor of East Asian Cinema and Media Studies.Dr. Hé's work lies at the intersection of film/media studies, art history, and legal humanities, exploring the role of film, photography, video, and emerging media in policing, punishing, and justice making. She pays specific attention to the history of East Asian and global cinema, exhibitions, and participatory media, associated with atrocity, witnessing, sexual violence and ...
Event Spotlight: Spring 2025 End-of-Semester Reception Recap
To wrap up the Spring 2025 semester, the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures hosted an end-of-semester reception to celebrate our students, faculty, and staff. It was a warm and lively gathering, filled with conversation, shared memories, and a variety of East Asian snacks and Kimbap provided by the department. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the event a success. Special thanks to our student volunteers who assisted with setup and cleanup! As we look ahead to EALC’s 25th anniversary celebration in AY 2025-2026, we’re excited to continue highlighting the...
Student Spotlight: Student Spotlight: 2026 MATK Korean Speech Contest
Jana Karunakaran and Frances Ivy-Barrett, winners of the Beginning and Advanced Levels at the 10th UIUC Korean Speech Contest, represented the Korean Language Program at the 7th Midwest Korean Speech Contest on April 4, 2026. We are proud to share that Jana received the Excellence Award in the Beginning Level category, which includes a $500 cash prize. We warmly congratulate both Jana and Frances for their outstanding efforts and achievements, and for representing our program with such distinction.
Student Spotlight: UIUC Cameron Roberts wins highest standing award in the 5th Midwest Korean Speech Contest
Cameron (Cam) Roberts, the winner of the Beginning Level at the 8th UIUC Korean Speech Contest, won the Highest Standing Award of the Beginning Level at the 5th Midwest Korean Speech Contest held on April 6, 2024. Cam will receive a scholarship to study at Sungkyunkwan University in Korea, in addition to an $800 cash airfare support award. Congratulations, Cam! Cam is receiving his award from Mr. Moon, Director of the Korean Education Center in Chicago, at the 5th Midwest Korean Speech Contest held on April 6, 2024.
Publication Spotlight: New book by EALC Professor Emeritus Ronald Toby: Engaging the Other: 'Japan' and Its Alter-Egos, 1550-1850
In Engaging the Other: “Japan and Its Alter-Egos”, 1550-1850, Ronald P. Toby examines new discourses of identity and difference in early modern Japan, a discourse catalyzed by the “Iberian irruption,” the appearance of Portuguese and other new, radical others in the sixteenth century. The encounter with peoples and countries unimagined in earlier discourse provoked an identity crisis, a paradigm shift from a view of the world as comprising only “three countries” (sangoku), i.e., Japan, China and India, to a world of “myriad countries” ( bankoku) and...
Why Study EALC?
A degree from the Department of East Asian Languages & Cultures equips you with the knowledge and skills for a successful career in a variety of fields while nourishing your interest in different languages and cultures.