Community | NewsJanuary 30, 2026

Learning Mandarin Made Easy

Written By: Ian Silvester

A professor from the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith is leaning into her heritage to bring a new class to the community. 

Dr. Ann-Gee Lee, professor and assistant chair of the English, rhetoric and writing, and media communication department, recently reestablished a Mandarin course for UAFS students, faculty, staff, and anyone else who can attend. 

“There’s a misconception that learning Mandarin is difficult. It definitely can be intimidating, but hopefully, with the way I teach it, [attendees] will feel more comfortable,” Lee said. “Teaching Chinese is my happy place. It’s just a fun space with no pressure, no grades, little to no homework, and focuses on learning.” 

Lee has spoken Mandarin her entire life, but didn’t learn to read or write it until middle and high school, respectively. While teaching this class at UAFS is new for Lee, she comes from a family line of teachers who taught the language for more than a decade. 

Her aunts established the Modesto Chinese School in California from 1992 to 2007. Lee’s mom reestablished it in 2015 and started an adult division with the integration of the Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning (TCML). Lee started TCML’s first branch in Arkansas in Fort Smith at her mom’s encouragement. 

Lee is using her experience to make Mandarin accessible for all. Classes are held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-7:30 p.m. in person and online, simultaneously. Lee said she has local students,plus one who is in California and one at Auburn University. 

Classes are drop-in by nature, but Lee said she will follow the order of chapters in the textbook she teaches from.  

“The book contains lessons on basic greetings, self-introductions, family, professions, months, days of the week, daily routines, and more,” Lee said. “We also have activities, such as hotpot, Taiwanese noodle soup, Mahjong, arts and crafts, and for Lunar New Year on Feb. 18, we’ll make dumplings.” 

All classes are free. With the new year just underway, Lee said it’s a great time to try a new, fun challenge. 

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• Foreign Language
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