YunTech Integrates Legal Expertise into Applied Chinese Curriculum: Teaching Students Contracts, Promissory Notes, and Legal Notices
In today’s rapidly changing society, humanities education in higher education is facing significant transformation. Traditional Chinese studies have long focused on the appreciation of classical literature, the development of literary schools, and the refinement of expressive rhetoric. However, when students enter the workforce, they are often required not only to appreciate literary beauty, but also to navigate complex legal documents and contractual clauses. To strengthen the connection between academic learning and real-world application, the Graduate Institute of Sinology Application at National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (YunTech) has actively pursued innovative approaches to enhance the practical value of humanities education.
To implement the core objectives of the Higher Education Sprout Project’s “Enhancement Program for Chinese Writing Competency,” the Institute recently organized an “Industry Expert-in-Class Lecture” to strengthen the practical application of its Applied Chinese curriculum. The event, titled “Law in Daily Life and Workplace Thinking: Concepts and Applied Writing I,” breaks traditional disciplinary boundaries by extending Applied Chinese training from literary writing to real-world practice.
As part of this initiative, practicing attorneys from the frontlines of legal practice were invited into the classroom to develop a series of practical writing-oriented sessions. Since the 110th academic year, Associate Professor Wang Shih-Hao’s Applied Chinese course has continuously incorporated industry professionals—including lawyers and insurance managers—into classroom instruction. This approach not only builds students’ foundational legal knowledge but also provides hands-on experience in drafting legal documents, offering students a practical “guidebook” for navigating real-world challenges.
Practical Legal Literacy: Attorneys Teaching Real-World “Survival Skills”
For this session, Attorney Wang Chun-Chih from Kaohsiung’s Wang Chun-Chih Law Firm was invited to deliver the lecture. Moving beyond theoretical legal instruction, he focused on practical, real-life legal issues.
Attorney Wang emphasized that many people facing legal disputes or financial losses often suffer not only from a lack of legal knowledge, but also from insufficient understanding of written documentation. In the core module on contracts and legal notices, he guided students through the detailed drafting of loan agreements. He highlighted that civil contracts often present evidentiary challenges in practice, and only clear, structured, and precise legal writing can protect the rights and obligations of both parties.
The session also analyzed promissory notes in detail, including their essential legal requirements, common fraud risks, and proper drafting procedures. Students were reminded that once a signature and amount are placed on such a document, it creates a legally binding obligation with significant consequences.
The Power of Legal Writing: Evidence Preservation Through Legal Notices
In legal disputes, how can writing become a tool for protecting rights? Attorney Wang further demonstrated the practical application of legal demand letters (certified notices).
He explained that such notices are not only critical for preserving evidence and interrupting limitation periods, but also serve as an important preparatory step for potential litigation. Students were guided on how to express facts clearly and respectfully, avoiding emotional or subjective language while maintaining legal effectiveness.
This training aimed to equip students with the ability to use written communication as a protective legal instrument in real-world situations.
Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Practice: A Cross-Disciplinary Innovation
Director Wang Shih-Hao of the Graduate Institute of Sinology Application noted that the Institute’s vision is not only to deepen the foundations of classical Chinese studies, but also to expand its practical relevance in contemporary society. He emphasized that participants included students from continuing education programs in industry-academia collaboration as well as the College of Design—many of whom are expected to enter industry or work as freelancers in the future, where contract signing and intellectual property protection are essential skills.
Through collaboration with legal professionals, the program significantly broadens the scope of the Higher Education Sprout Project’s writing competency initiative. The goal is not exam preparation, but real-world readiness. Director Wang further stressed that integrating up-to-date legal practice cases helps bridge the gap between academic theory and social reality, transforming expressive writing skills into practical professional competencies.
Future Outlook: Cultivating Well-Rounded Talent with Humanistic Depth and Practical Competence
The lecture concluded with active discussion and student engagement. Participants shared that the course felt like a moment of “sudden maturity,” realizing that the power of language extends beyond literature into everyday legal and contractual contexts.
Looking ahead, the Graduate Institute of Sinology Application and the General Education Center will continue expanding the “Industry Expert-in-Class” initiative, inviting professionals from diverse fields to strengthen the impact of the Higher Education Sprout Project. The program also aims to establish an “Applied Document Writing Competency Assessment” to ensure students are equipped with legal writing and documentation skills before entering the workforce.
Through these efforts, YunTech continues to develop a pragmatic and forward-looking educational approach, cultivating interdisciplinary talent with humanistic literacy, logical reasoning skills, and strong real-world application capabilities for society.
