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Dr. Theodore Hsi-en Chen (1902-1991): Chinese American Education Pioneer and Founder of East Asian Studies at USC

Elementary Chinese Reader and Grammar 國語讀本

Dr. Chen and his wife Wen-Hui Chung Chen wrote Elementary Chinese Reader and Grammar 國語讀本 in dedication to their two American-born daughters, Ching (Helen) and Ying. It was used as a textbook in the Chinese class at USC in the 1940s. According to the preface, “The first three editions of this text were produced by the Mimeograph Office of the University of Southern California in two separate volumes for the use of [Dr. Chen’s] class on campus. … it is now made available for public use” (iii). This book, though used for “elementary” level, includes extensive comparisons between Chinese and American history, culture, and society--comparable to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) advanced-mid to advanced-high level of Chinese language competence.

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1. Elementary Chinese Reader and Grammar 國語讀本 Dr. Chen and his wife Wen-Hui Chung Chen wrote Elementary Chinese Reader and Grammar 國語讀本 in dedication to their two American-born daughters, Ching (Helen) and Ying. It was used as a textbook in the Chinese class at USC in the 1940s. According to the preface, “The first three editions of this text were produced by the Mimeograph Office of the University of Southern California in two separate volumes for the use of [Dr. Chen’s] class on campus. … it is now made available for public use” (iii). This book, though used for “elementary” level, includes extensive comparisons between Chinese and American history, culture, and society--comparable to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) advanced-mid to advanced-high level of Chinese language competence.
3. East Asian Studies at USC Under Dr. Chen’s influential leadership, Asian studies at USC experienced rapid growth during the 1960s and 1970s, with increased budgets and enrollment, as well as enhanced curriculum, programs, and events. In addition, he received several grants (including $180,000 from the Carnegie Corporation of New York in 1963) to promote Chinese and Japanese language courses in high schools in the greater Los Angeles Area.
4. Tunghai University

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Dr. Chen and his wife wrote this textbook in dedication to their two American-born daughters. It was used as a textbook in the Chinese class at USC in the 1940s. This book, though used for “elementary” level, includes extensive comparisons between Chinese and American history, culture, and society--comparable to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) advanced-mid to advanced-high level of Chinese language competence.