The Columbus School Of Chinese (CSC)

CSC was founded in 2010 to help non-native learners excel in Mandarin Chinese. CSC provides students with first-rate instruction in Chinese language and culture in a fun and supportive immersion environment.

Through our task-based learning method, students have unlimited opportunities to use Chinese with native and near-native language professionals, and with each other. The curriculum and texts used in and out of class require students to perform tasks in Chinese.

Through their own performance, with guidance from experts in Chinese language acquisition, students will acquire the tools necessary to become successful in their Chinese-related endeavors, whether they be academic, business related, or purely personal enjoyment.

Our mission can only be achieved by recognizing the needs of our learners. We succeed when our students succeed.

CSC was founded in 2010 to help non-native learners excel in Mandarin Chinese. CSC provides students with first-rate instruction in Chinese language and culture in a fun and supportive immersion environment.

Through our task-based learning method, students have unlimited opportunities to use Chinese with native and near-native language professionals, and with each other. The curriculum and texts used in and out of class require students to perform tasks in Chinese.

Through their own performance, with guidance from experts in Chinese language acquisition, students will acquire the tools necessary to become successful in their Chinese-related endeavors, whether they be academic, business related, or purely personal enjoyment.

Our mission can only be achieved by recognizing the needs of our learners. We succeed when our students succeed.

Who We Are

Chris Stellato

President

Chris Stellato is the founder and president of The Columbus School of Chinese and Sino-American Business Consulting. Under his direction, CSC/SABC has grown into one of the leading Chinese language and culture training centers in the Midwest. He regularly consults for the Confucius Institute, Cardinal Health, Sutphen, MCR Medical, White Castle, Columbus 2020, VanHorn Metz, Miller Valentine Construction Group Greif, and others. Chris has taught Chinese at OSU, CSCC and CSC.

Chris has studied and worked extensively in China. He frequently speaks about doing business in China and Chinese language teaching and learning. He regularly performs traditional Chinese storytelling to large, international audiences.

Chris holds a B.A. in Comparative East Asian Religion and Philosophy and an M.A. in East Asian Languages and Literatures with a concentration in Advanced Chinese Language and Culture from The Ohio State University’s Chinese Flagship Program. He has also completed coursework towards a Ph.D. in Chinese Language Pedagogy at OSU, a program he left to found CSC in 2010. Chris also serves on the board of Central Ohio Families with Children from China, where he works closely with families and children adopted from China.

Donald Newman

Vice President

Over the past decade, Donald has gained extensive first-hand experience living and working throughout China. Before joining CSC, Donald worked with numerous Chinese and U.S. international media outlets, producing television and radio content focused on promoting cross-cultural understanding and enhancing mutually-beneficial U.S.-China relationships. At CSC, Donald guides curriculum development projects, develops course books and multimedia instructional materials, and teaches numerous Chinese language and culture courses.

Donald holds a B.A. in Chinese and an M.A. in East Asian Languages and Literatures from The Ohio State University. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University Chinese Flagship Program, where he was awarded a Flagship Fellowship by the U.S. federal government’s National Security Education Program. His studies have also been supported by fellowships from the China Ministry of Education and China Language Council International (Hanban).

Terry Chai

Consultant

With more than 14 years of business experience in China and in the U.S., Terry has successfully managed both joint ventures and wholly owned foreign enterprises. From 2001 to 2007, Terry served as Chief Representative and China Regional Sales & Marketing Manager in Shanghai. During that time he helped a leading British analytical instruments company grow throughout China. From 2009 to 2011 Terry has acted as a strategic sourcing partner in the U.S. where he has established sourcing networks and supply chains. Terry is a well-rounded, committed professional with experience in sales, marketing, engineering, service and logistics in domestic and international business. He holds a B.S. in chemical engineering and an MBA from The Ohio State University in marketing and logistics.