Facilities — East Asian Languages and Literatures

The department conducts studies of East Asian languages and literatures in the well-equipped study spaces of Lawrence Hall. These spaces enhance the study of this fascinating discipline and its cultural assets.

East Asian Lounge

Interior of the Japanese alcove in the Asian Studies Lounge.

Opened in October 2018 to celebrate the Robert Ho Center for Chinese Studies’ 25th anniversary, the lounge features rooms decorated in both Japanese and Chinese styles for use as a quiet space to study, chat, or meet with professors. Master carpenter Chris Hill built the wood structures using traditional Japanese carpentry techniques.

Japanese Studies Center

The center, located in Lawrence Hall, provides a seminar room dedicated to the discipline, as well as a multipurpose room with a Japanese-style tatami section and tokonoma (a recessed alcove for decorative display).

The center includes audiovisual resources that are complemented by a library of Japanese reference works, films, periodicals, and current newspapers to consult during studies of Japanese language and culture.

Japan Club activities also are frequently held at the Japanese Studies Center.

Robert Ho Center for Chinese Studies

Mainly used for class meetings and one-on-one tutoring with the Chinese language intern, the Ho Center, located in Lawrence Hall, includes modern classrooms and a reading room with Asian architectural features. It also includes a kitchen, audiovisual equipment, and reference materials for student use.

The center also is frequently home to extracurricular activities such as brushwriting, Tea Club, and celebrations of Chinese festivals