Peking University held a 3-hour assertiveness workshop on a Saturday afternoon with students from the law and business schools as well as employees from international companies. The workshop was led by Jessica Dong, a certified soft-skills trainer, and focused on helping participants understand assertiveness as standing up for oneself without offending others and finding their own definition of assertiveness. Feedback from one participant noted they learned a lot and had a great time at the training discussion on assertiveness.

1. Assertiveness Workshop at PKU
As one of the top universities in China and all over the world,
Peking University is full of opportunities for its students in
attending various kinds of seminar, lecture and training etc.
The participants in last Saturday’s workshop have experienced a
different experience in their experimental learning.
Beijing, April 18, 2009 - The 3-hour assertiveness workshop is
holding at the Moot Court of Law School at Peking University this
afternoon. Participants are partly students from law school and
business School, and majority from big international companies.
From the first moment, they start right away from theory into
practice.
Bruce Quan, who taught at U. C. Hastings and is currently
Professor of Law at Peking University, is developing an internship
program for law students. The goal is to provide the students with “Standing up for yourself without needlessly offending other people.”
an opportunity to practice their English, acquire soft-skills and an By martial art, you use your body and might hurt yourself.
understanding of international business. By assertiveness, you use your mind and win without fighting.
With help of the trainer, participants are steering their own way in
The first of a series of workshops “Assertiveness, Art of Winning” finding their own definition on what assertiveness means for
is conducted in English by Ms. Dong Yan (Jessica), who works for themselves.
Schouten China, an international training company, as Chief
Financial Officer and also a certified soft-skills trainer. “Thanks for spending your time to share and lead the great training
discussion on Assertiveness in PKU this afternoon. We all had a great
Assertiveness is linked to self-esteem and considered an time and learned a lot from it.” That is one feedback from a
important communication skill. It is a trait taught by many participant from IBM. The workshop is well acknowledged by both
personal development experts and psychotherapists worldwide. students and working professionals.
However it is hardly possible to find a Chinese equivalent word.

2. Dong Yan (Jessica)
• Bachelor in economics
• Master English literature
• Senior International Finance Manager certified by International Financial
Management Association, IFMA
• Soft-skills Trainer certified by Schouten International
• Interpreter and translator
• Writer
Ms. Dong Yan works as Chief Financial Officer in Schouten China, an multi-national
training company. She studied in rural area and went to university in a small city of
Shandong. After graduation in 1997, she continues her study in different areas such
as English, finance, education etc. and is gradually moving her life from Shandong to
Beijing.
From a farm girl to an international professional, Dong Yan enjoys much connection
with different people in her everyday life. She likes travelling, reading and writing.
She is a person with a heart of gold, forever searching for Shangri-La, a world full of
happiness and harmony.
Jessica Dong ( )
Blog: http://blog.sina.com.cn/jessicady