Why Learn Chinese With Pen-Pen Chen
Why should ABCs (American Born Chinese) learn Chinese?
Dr. Pen-Pen Chen is a Chinese American educator and practitioner whose work spans multiple fields—she is a bilingual speech-language pathologist, entrepreneur, licensed practitioner of Chinese medicine, and bilingual voice actor. Her voice may be familiar from TED-Ed videos! Her expertise reflects the ways language and culture shape both personal identity and professional life.
Dr. Chen also serves as the Associate Director of our Chinese School. She is a TED-Ed innovative educator, an internationally recognized speaker, author, cross-cultural advisor and teacher trainer.
In this talk, Dr. Pen-Pen Chen explores the question: Why should American Born Chinese (ABCs) learn Chinese? Drawing on her experiences as a bilingual speech-language pathologist, educator, and global trainer and advisor, she shares insights into how language connects identity, community, and opportunity. Dr. Chen highlights the cultural and professional advantages of learning Chinese in today’s world while reflecting on her own journey as a Chinese American. This engaging discussion offers both inspiration and practical reasons for embracing heritage language learning.
Video originally published by the Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Arizona, June 26, 2025.