"When we started Chinese at Princeton 30 years ago, we had seven students, and they were mostly... interested in Thoist philosophy," Bartlett said.

But today students may be more on the lookout for a job in the many international companies doing business in China.

"China's open-door policy and economic boom have created huge business opportunities," said Jinyu Li, a preceptor in Chinese. "Knowing Chinese is a big plus for most professions."

And Bartlett said the growth is probably not just a passing trend.

"For about a year after the Soviet breakup, students rushed to Russian language classes, the name was true after the German reunification. Both economics ran into problems and interest waned," Bartlett said. "But the Chinese economy hasn't reversed its growth: that's the universal appeal."

Asian Students

Asian language teachers also said overall enrollment in Asian language classes may be boosted by a growing number of students interested in exploring their own heritage.

Asian students now make up about 60 percent of students in the elementary Chinese classes, Li estimated.

"In the 60's and 70's, many people from Taiwan attended graduate school in the U.S.," Li said. "Now, their American-born children have reached the university age and are curious about their background."

Bartlett said the increase in the number of Asian-American admitted to Harvard may also be a factor.

"Before 1969 the rate was around 14 percent, over the past four years it has risen to approximately 20 percent," he said.

The department even offers a special class geared toward those with verbal background in Chinese, Bartlett said. Students who can speak but lack reading and writing skills can take one of these "reduced track" Chinese classes.

Shouyee Yung '96, a student in the class, decided to take the reduced track Chinese class after she had difficulties communicating with her grandparents.

"I had taken classes in Chinese school but my language ability deteriorated after I stopped going," she says. "I knew subconsciously my ability was declining. I didn't want to acknowledge it but my grandparents visit made it much more obvious. It was revelation."

Jacobson estimated that about 40 percent of the enrollment in elementary Japanese classes, and about 60 percent in the higher-level classes, is Asian-American students.

For instance, Himyo Suzuki '96 said her strong interest in Japan motivated her to minor in East Asian Studies.

"My parents are from Japan and I'm almost fluent in Japanese, I thought it would be career wise," she said.

Suzuki said her joint English-East Asian Studies concentration has turned out well.

"I am well equipped to write my thesis on Asian-American Literature," she said