Home

Chris Livaccari

Chris Livaccari is Director of Education and Chinese Language Initiatives at Asia Society. He is a Chinese and Japanese language educator and a former U.S. Foreign Service officer in Tokyo and Shanghai.

Recent publications and appearances on AsiaSociety.org

Global Competence for Chinese Language Teachers
Using pandas and dumplings in your classroom? Think again.
more
Hyperpolyglots: Paragon or Folly?
Michael Erard's new book, <i>Babel No More</i>, demonstrates that there's much more to being fluent in another language than mastering grammar and vocabulary.
more
2012: The Year Mandarin Chinese Becomes a 'Commonly Taught Language'?
U.S. schools are beginning to see the value in teaching the world's most commonly spoken language. And hopefully the reasons are not just economic, writes Chris Livaccari.
more
Does it Matter if Jon Huntsman is 'Fluent' in Mandarin Chinese?
The debate over the presidential hopeful's proficiency in Mandarin Chinese may ultimately miss the point.
more
The New Confucianism
A tradition that emphasizes learning, un-learning, and re-learning. Try the new Confucianism in your teaching.
more
Why the Explosive Interest in Chinese Language Study?
Asia Society's Chris Livaccari and Jeff Wang, as well as United Nations' Ho Yong sound off on SINO TV.
more
Is Global Competence a New Idea?
An ancient text tells us the idea is as old as Confucius.
more
Learning Chinese Pays Dividends: Of Characters and Cognition
The many benefits of studying Chinese language.
more
First Lady, Students Call for US-China Exchange
No better ambassadors than our young people, indeed!
more
Teaching the Basics
Videos on learning--and teaching--beginning Chinese.
more