Elinore Fresh—University of Florida

Elinore L. Fresh is a Senior Lecturer in Chinese in the Department of African and Asian Studies at the University of Florida and also serves as the Chinese language coordinator.  Elinore has taught all levels of Mandarin Chinese, Chinese culture and Chinese literature courses. In addition to her teaching, Elinore is also the Assistant Editor of the Early Medieval China Journal and the Study Abroad Advisor for China programs for her department.  Elinore holds membership in several professional organizations at both state and national levels.

In addition to developing and teaching an advanced-level Business Chinese language course, which utilizes online digital, audio and video resources, she is currently developing a one-credit Chinese Business Culture course for the Center of International Business and Education Research (CIBER) to be taught Spring 2008. Elinore is very active in community-outreach activities, working with local schools in developing and integrating Chinese language and culture into the curriculum. As an active member of the Jacksonville Sister Cities Association, she has been a part of both in-bound Chinese delegations and in September 2004 was a member of the official outbound delegation representing Jacksonville to three cities in China, to sign three friendship cooperative agreements (Ningbo, Shaoxing and Suzhou).

Prior to her teaching career, Elinore lived in Taiwan for ten years, Egypt for four years and most recently lived in Yingkou, Liaoning Province, China for one year. While living in Taiwan, Elinore had the opportunity to travel to Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Growing up abroad, immersed in very different cultures, made Elinore keenly aware at an early age that effective communication rested in both linguistic and cultural competence, with knowledge of culture being paramount.