Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures

Join Prof. Bender this Fall for this exciting exploration of "literature of the environment" in an era of global and local environmental change!

“Congratulations to Professor Mark Bender (Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures & OSU Center for Folklore Studies) on delivering the 2026 Richard M. Dorson Memorial Lecture at Indiana University on March 27!

His lecture, “Offspring of Snow: Poetry as a Vehicle for Cultural Heritage,” drew on decades of research in ethnopoetics, exploring oral traditions and literary expression in Southwest China and Northeast India.

During his visit, Professor Bender also met with graduate students and participated in academic exchange. This recognition follows recent honors including the Kenneth S. Goldstein Award and the Amaini & Gamo Aniu Poetry Award.

Congratulations, Professor Bender! 👏🎉”

The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures celebrated the retirement of Professor Nakayama, honoring his years of dedication to teaching at The Ohio State University.

Students, faculty, and staff shared reflections on his lasting impact, highlighting the supportive environment he created and the growth he inspired in his students.

Thank you, Professor Nakayama.

🌸 Ready to start your Japanese language journey? 🇯🇵

Enroll in JAPANESE 5315: Japanese Language: Structure, Culture, and Communication I this upcoming Autumn ‘26 semester!
Build a strong foundation in grammar, conversation, pronunciation, and cultural understanding while gaining the confidence to communicate in Japanese. From sentence structure to everyday conversation, this course is the perfect step toward mastering the language.

📍 Mendenhall Lab 174
🕒 T/R 3:55–5:15
👩‍🏫 Instructor: Etsuyo Yuasa

Whether you’re exploring a new passion, fulfilling major requirements, or preparing for future opportunities, this class is your chance to grow 🌸📚

Big wins for OSU at the 7th Midwest Korean Speech Contest! 🇰🇷🌟

DEALL undergraduate students made an incredible impact at the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago, competing alongside 14 universities from across the Midwest!

Our talented representatives, Briana Quran, Rithwik Lengade, and Hala Sanhaji, brought their A-game across all competition levels, showcasing skill, confidence, and cultural fluency.

Highlights include:
🏆 Briana Quran earning the Highest Standing Award (Beginning Level)
🏆 Hala Sanhaji receiving an Excellence Award (Advanced Level)
And dominating the “Quiz on Korea” competition:
🥇 Hala Sanhaji – 1st Place
🥈 Rithwik Lengade – 2nd Place

So proud of this team for representing with excellence, dedication, and heart! 💛🎉💬✨

🍵✨ Ready to sip your way across East Asia? Tea Culture in East Asia (EALL 2284) is an interdisciplinary course exploring tea through multiple lenses, including history, geography, agriculture, commerce, health and nutrition, arts and crafts, folklore, ceremony, and the transmission of everyday cultural practices. Throughout the semester, students have engaged in hands-on laboratory sessions featuring the preparation and tasting of a variety of teas.

Now, we invite YOU to be our guests and join the experience!

🌿Join us for an interactive tasting experience featuring student-designed stations exploring:
- The impact of brewing temperature on Green Longjing tea
- How spice roasting time shapes the flavor of chai
- The influence of additives such as honey, sugar, and syrup
- Creative ways of incorporating tea into desserts
Come taste, learn, and explore the many dimensions of tea culture (bring your taste buds with you)! ☕

Siyuan D**g just DID that 🎓✨

Siyuan D**g successfully defended her doctoral dissertation, marking the final milestone in her PhD journey in East Asian Languages and Literatures 👏📚

From student leader to inspiring teacher to incredible researcher, Siyuan has truly made her mark every step of the way. She shares her heartfelt thanks to her advisor and committee for their support and we couldn’t be prouder of all she’s accomplished 💫

Here’s to the next chapter and everything ahead 🚀🌏
Congrats, Siyuan!! 🎉🎉

The Ohio State University Graduate School has named Ai-Ling as a 2025–26 Graduate Associate Leadership Award recipient—one of the most prestigious honors awarded to Ohio State graduate students! 🏆

This award recognizes outstanding leadership through collaboration, ethical decision-making, adaptability, and a commitment to serving others.

After successfully defending her PhD dissertation last month, Ai-Ling continues to inspire as an exceptional student, teacher, researcher, and community member. Her dedication and impact on DEALL have been incredible, and we are so proud to celebrate this well-deserved recognition.

Congratulations, Ai-Ling! 🎓💛

Join us for the 2026 DEALL Undergraduate Research Forum! 📚

Mark your calendars for Thursday, April 23 from 2:10–3:40 PM in Ramseyer Hall 100!

This annual event is a chance for DEALL majors and minors to shine by showcasing the incredible research they’ve developed through coursework and independent study. From innovative ideas to in-depth cultural and language exploration, our students are ready to share their hard work with peers and faculty alike! ✨

Come support undergraduate scholarship, celebrate academic achievement, and see the amazing work happening in DEALL! We can’t wait to see you there! 💛🎓

Get ready to celebrate language and culture! ✨🗣️

Join us for DEALL’s 44th Annual Language Festival on Friday, April 24 from 3:00–6:30 PM in Hagerty Hall 180—a tradition over 40 years in the making!

Watch students of Chinese, Japanese, and Korean culture bring their skills to life through skits, songs, speeches, and dance in an evening full of energy, creativity, and global connection. Students will also demonstrate their language ability in the Big DEALL Interpretation Shootout, where interpreters from each language compete in mediating conversations between two monolingual speakers of different East Asian languages. At the end of the event, the winners of the Shootout and the annual student awards will be honored. Don’t miss it, see you all there! 🎭🎶