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Deborah Fallows

Linguist, Author, Expert on Chinese Culture

Deborah Fallows
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Washington, DC, USA
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Deborah Fallows Biography

Deborah Fallows, a linguist and author with a deep expertise in Chinese culture and language, has a rich academic background that spans both theoretical and applied linguistics. She holds an AB from Harvard and a PhD in Linguistics from Harvard University. She has previously served as the assistant dean in languages and linguistics at Georgetown University and has notable experience in research and polling for the Pew Internet Project. Additionally, she has held the position of director of data architecture for Oxygen Media.

Her extensive writing career includes contributions to The Atlantic, National Geographic, and Newsweek. Fallows has authored several influential books, including "A Mother’s Work," "Dreaming in Chinese," which explores Chinese life and culture through its language, and the national best-seller "Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey into the Heart of America," co-authored with her husband, James Fallows. In 2021, "Our Towns" was adapted into an HBO documentary film, further amplifying its impact. She also has firsthand knowledge of China, having lived and worked there, which enriches her writing and research.

In 2021, Fallows co-founded the Our Towns Civic Foundation, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to the civic and economic renewal of America’s towns. Her talks frequently address cultural nuances and the importance of effective communication, particularly between Western and Chinese counterparts, leveraging her linguistic skills to aid businesses and educational institutions in navigating international relations and multicultural integration.

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Deborah Fallows Speaking Topics

  • Think Like the Chinese Think: Understanding the Culture of Modern China Through the Lens of Language

    Using her experience as a trained linguist and a new student of Chinese, Deborah Fallows shows how simple words, phrases, or bits of the grammar of the Chinese language can become windows to understanding much of the Chinese culture—their sense of romance, humor, protocol, personal relationships, and interest in foreigners, to name a few. Why, for example, does abrupt language in Chinese actually signal a closeness between friends, rather than impolite behavior? Or why do the Chinese have such trouble saying “I love you” to the ones they love the most. With fluid grace and on-the-ground experience, Fallows provides a necessary human perspective on an emerging superpower that many in the West still struggle to comprehend.

  • Absorbing Diversity: American Universities and an Increasingly International Student Body

    American universities welcome international students for their diversity, perspective, and experience. Today, with growing numbers and nationalities of foreign students, campus dynamics are rapidly shifting. The new young melting pot brings advantages and also challenges. What does it mean, for example, that there are suddenly 100,000 Chinese students, who have grown up with a largely pop culture introduction to America and who are met by a western student body that is mostly unfamiliar with them and their country? How can the university community—faculty, staff and students of all sorts—get behind the change to understand the growing pains and pleasures. How can they help steer change in the best, positive directions toward a story of academic, social, and personal success?

    Fallows uses her first-hand experiences of living around the world to help scrutinize our own impressions of each other and to move toward a more inclusive, generous context for living and working with each other.

  • Understanding China for Businesses: Exploring the Critical (Human) Aspects and Social Dynamics

    As Western companies and their leaders think about how to do business with China, they know that part of their success depends on crucial but elusive “soft” cultural issues that are always in play. What aspects of the culture are critical to the work and social dynamic between Americans and their Chinese colleagues and competitors? How can Americans look for and interpret similarities or differences with the Chinese in human qualities like humor, respect, trust, friendship, and identity? Fallows recently lived and worked in China for three years and traveled through every part of the country.

    She uses her own experience of coping with the Mandarin language as one model of how to be a good observer and a sensitive interpreter inside a different culture. She describes how some of her own foibles and missteps finally led to some insights. This is a talk that can encourage your company’s people to thrive both professionally and personally, and may ultimately help your company in its mission with China.

Deborah Fallows Videos

  • The News Project: In Studio - James And Deborah Fallows And 'Our Towns'
    The News Project: In Studio - James And Deborah Fallows And 'Our Towns'
    We talk with James and Deborah Fallows, whose book, "Our Towns," describes small town and rural America from five years of flying in a small airplane...
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FAQs on booking Deborah Fallows

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  • What are the speaker fees for Deborah Fallows

    Speaking fees for Deborah Fallows, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Deborah Fallows are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Deborah Fallows, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Deborah Fallows speak about?

    Deborah Fallows is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Business.

  • Where does Deborah Fallows travel from?

    Deborah Fallows generally travels from Washington, DC, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

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    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Deborah Fallows for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Deborah Fallows for your next private or corporate function.

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Deborah Fallows is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Think Like the Chinese Think: Understanding the Culture of Modern China Through the Lens of Language, Absorbing Diversity: American Universities and an Increasingly International Student Body and Understanding China for Businesses: Exploring the Critical (Human) Aspects and Social Dynamics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Deborah Fallows for your event is available upon request. Deborah Fallows generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Luke Williams, Amy DuBois Barnett, Bob Woodward, Carmen Wong Ulrich and John Zogby. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Deborah Fallows for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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