Alumni Spotlight Q&A: Meet Isabelle Zinghini ’19

The Department of Asian Languages and Cultures celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. To commemorate this celebration, the department spotlights some of its alumni.

Isabelle Zinghini graduated from Weinberg College in 2019. She recently answered some questions about her experiences in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures and how they impacted her.

What inspired you to pursue a major or minor in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures (ALC)? 

I decided to pursue a minor at first because I had studied Chinese language in high school, and wanted to continue with the language. I switched to an ALC major after taking some of the more culture-related classes and finding them really interesting. I think initially a lot of students (myself included) have the thought, “I just want to learn Chinese language, why do I have to take all these classes on Beijing opera and Chinese literature” but in the end the culture classes ended up being the crux of my ALC education in a lot of ways. They’ve allowed me to meet people from China and actually relate to them beyond just speaking the same language. It’s helped me form great friendships and working relationships, and it has opened up an entire world of film, literature, and art that I’d never have found otherwise.

How did your studies in the ALC department impact you personally or professionally? 

When learning a second language, especially one that is so different from English, it almost feels like building a second brain in your head that thinks and speaks in Chinese. This process of “building a second brain” has been incredibly rewarding to me, especially when I studied abroad in Beijing. I found that people in China really welcomed me when I attempted to speak the language, so I think my “Chinese brain” is a lot more patient with myself, and more willing to put myself out there and try things even though I may fail. The more time I’ve spent speaking Chinese, the more those attributes have just become part of my personality; learning Chinese has really changed me for the better. I also think the culture aspect of the major has introduced me to art and literature that I love and never would have found otherwise.

Professionally, writing a thesis was one of the highlights of my academic career, and was part of my inspiration to pursue a doctorate in engineering. Becoming an expert in a topic with the ability to make an original contribution to the field was really exciting to me.

Is there a specific course, event, or memory associated with the ALC department that sticks out to you from your time at Northwestern?

There are a lot of highlights, so it’s hard to pick one. Professor Byrnes’ classes in Taiwanese New Wave Cinema and Landscapes of Desolation were two of my favorite classes I took at Northwestern; they introduced me to films and books that are now some of my favorites. I also think the type of mentorship and community I found through ALC was really important to me; I remember going to the department graduation ceremony and realizing how many people in the department were really invested in my success as a student, researcher, and person.

What are you working on right now that excites you the most OR are there any accomplishments you would like to share?

Right now I’m working on a PhD in Biomedical Engineering, with a focus on Magnetic Resonance hardware. I guess the accomplishment there is that I found a research topic that I like enough to commit to 5+ years of it.

How do you enjoy spending your free time?

I like to read science fiction and spend time outdoors.