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Many students need additional time outside of the classroom to develop their reading proficiency, particularly in languages that have few, if any, English cognates or don't use the Roman alphabet.

"The problem with reading is regularity and frequency," says Co-Director of the Chinese Flagship Program Professor Zhuo Jing-Schmidt.

To give students independent reading practice and increase their exposure to a variety of Chinese characters, the Chinese Flagship Program at the University of Oregon turned to mobile technology. The program introduced a mobile reading component for students who need additional practice. Students download a Chinese new app called Tencent News, read ten news reports per week, and then write a weekly summary with critical comments.

"With the mobile reading component, students can do it on the go and develop a good habit," Professor Jing-Schmidt says of the project.

To download the Tencent News app free of charge, search the iTunes or Google Play store. The Oregon Chinese Flagship Program is funded by The Language Flagship  through the National Security Education Program.