I will be a senior this year in high school. I would like to find a good college in Missouri that offer a Chinese language program. I want to continue learning Chinese after high school because I want to become a Chinese language interpreter and later on a Chinese teacher. I want to find a nice College that will offer an exchange program so I can go over to China/ Taiwan to study. So can anyone recommend any colleges?

I regularly attend retreats and group meditation at a Chan Buddhism retreat center and some of the discussions and literature is written/spoken in mandarin chinese. I would like to learn the language in order to better understand the true meanings of the works we discuss. I have no prior experience other than listening to others speak the language.

Mao had the Chinese learn English saying,"it is important to learn the language of the people you plan to conquer"

Obama could use the same theory and say, it is important to learn the language of the people that are conquering you.