Final Essay

Hello everybody,

It was a pleasure to stay at USC and attending the seminar.  I enjoyed staying on this beautiful campus, so close to home surrounded by LA’s busy up and downs but so far away at the same time -  an island of prestigious education.

I felt very well informed in all lectures about the cultural background in the different east Asian countries and the variety of informational sources from literature, essays, books, and movies. A wide range of information that was presented by very knowledgeable people.

 

For my professional background as an Adapted Physical Education teacher I would have enjoyed, more hands on activities with the subject matter that could be easily transferred into a classroom not necessarily the gym. Afterall as a teacher you have to find engaging ways for students, learning through movement should be one essential way. I would have liked to see morning and afternoon lectures of just listening mixed with movement breaks with simple Qi Gong breathing or a couple of Thai Chi moves with a change in locations possibly as well. Also I think that breakfast and lunch should have been served in a different location then the lecturer room.  I definitely thought that the classroom activity guides in the third session by Professor  Lynne Miyake where very helpful. Some of those ideas could have been performed by us teachers, demonstrating how the content could have been translated into classroom work. Maybe a better and lasting connection could have been made for the adults and students a like.

I have studied Thai Chi, Qi Gong and Chinese philosophy and  medicine a long time ago, but would have liked to be reintroduced to some of these topics. None of the less the seminar encouraged me to study on my own and motivated me to include different Asian movement theories into my Physical Education curriculum.

Personally I was engaged and inspired by the seminar. The focus on gender and generation and discussing gender roles needs to be ongoing in all societies.  I enjoyed book and movie reviews as well as watching the documentaries on the topic. And of coursed I am inspired to travel to all of the east Asian countries.

Thank you, Catherine and Dube for inviting me to your seminar this summer!