Final Reflection Essay

[Anonymous]

I am attaching my final reflection essay.

[Anonymous]

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US-China Institute Final Essay

Participating in this institute has been a great learning experience. Besides the particular information I was exposed to, I really appreciate the presentations of all the professors, and the discussions held during our meetings. It was refreshing to be among such dedicated group of professionals.
During the institute I was able to learn a great deal about the culture, the politics, geography, etc, of Eastern Asia; but as valuable have been the opportunity to think of how all of this information would be delivered to our students. When I first decided to participate in the institute, I did it with the intension of learning about Asia. I was not expecting to take the information and be ready to teach my students. Now that the program is over, I walk away with many ideas on what to teach, and ideas on resources that I can include; if I had the opportunity. I also walk away with many ideas of lessons, and strategies that will help our students better understand the information.
The resources provided were also very informative. Though at times it seemed too much to be covered, having that background before the lecture helped a lot. For someone who had never been exposed to Asia in this way, the written resources became a very useful tool; they provided enough basic information on each topic. I even learned where to go if I needed assistance with pronunciations. It could not get better than that.
At the personal level, I just developed an interest in Japan. That is something totally new on me. I am intrigued and want to learn more. Hopefully I take the time to do something with that curiosity. I might even ask to teach an Asian culture class, though I don’t know the language, I think it will be a great learning experince.

[Anonymous]

When I started teaching World History, I knew studying China was important and I have added more and more to my China lessons over the years. However, most textbooks around were insufficient and even good readable histories were difficult to find which made it difficult for me to develop as compelling a narrative for my China units as I could for units on Western History. This negatively affected interest and retention for my students. This is the reason I took this class.

[Anonymous]

Continued: Accidently posted:

This class did not as I hoped introduce me to the Barbara Tuchman of the Tang Dynasty but it did help open my eyes to the China connections everywhere. It reminded me of the French teacher at my school who had the "French Connection" assignment wherein any student who heard a reference to France in any class would get some extra credit for bringing it up in her class. Suddenly students saw France everywhere. Now I see China everywhere in a way that even as someone who knew the study of China was important did not feel the importance passionately. Now China has become more central to my understanding of Eurasia to the point that my intrinsic understanding Eurasia has become bi-polar with Europe in the West and China in the East. This provides a far better basis on which to offer a real world history to my students rather than the conventional Western history with brief area studies tacked on. (So often China is seen in relation to what it gave Europe - silk, paper, gunpowder, the compass.)

This issue of teaching a world history developed upon a global perspective rather than teaching a chain of regional histories, I see as critical for helping us create a generation who is more prepared for the deeply interconnected world in which we live.

Seeing China in everything surprised me in how China is deeply part of American history as well. I had seen the evidence like the Chinese during the California Gold Rush and trans-continental railroad, but until seeing things from the other side of the Pacific these facts did not have the same significance that they do now after this class.

While this class did not provide what I expected it provided treasures which I did not expect and provided me with enough passion to explore the gaps, contradictions, and over simplifications of world history textbooks.

[Anonymous]

Like most of my fellow seminaristas I have enjoyed these Tuesday evenings learning and talking about East Asia. The presentations have been varied and informative, entertaining and provocative. I am especially impressed by the range of expertise covered by the various professors. The seminar organizers clearly made every effort to find people who not only knew about their fields but were engaging and original as well.
Unlike for most of my classmates, however, this seminar will have a major impact on my teaching because I am teaching AP World History for the first time. This course is rigorously global and non-Eurocentric. I have a good text, a bunch of support materials, and a supportive facebook group—but I also have a very Eurocentric education behind me. As a result I am struggling to teach about China, India, Africa, and other areas. I lack the background of anecdote and analysis that I can provide when talking about Greece or Rome or Europe.
That's where this seminar comes in. The various presentations not only extended my textbook understanding of history but also provided the kind of anecdotal and human interest details that I lack. I have already used things I learned in this seminar in my lectures at school. I expect to use more in the second semester, and even more next year when I teach APWH again.
Finally I want to comment on the requirement to comment. This has been somewhat burdensome, but on the whole I approve of this requirement. I find that when I am required to put my two yuan into the general discussion that my own understanding and retention is dramatically increased. I enjoy discussing in class of course, but I also find that the reflection required for written comment adds a distinct benefit to what I take away from this seminar. I look forward to the next seminar to bring my understanding up to the present.

[Anonymous]

As a lover of all cultures, and literature, and art, and history, I was pleased to have this opportunity to learn about Ancient East Asia. Prior to this class, my knowledge of East Asia, and particularly South Korea and Japan, was limited, but the history and philosophy I encountered this semester provided invaluable context for the literature I teach, evidenced in my lesson plan, Chinese Philosophy, Poetry and American Transcendentalism. I know many of my Asian students (a population that has exploded at my school the past two years) will appreciate this unit, and how it honors their culture. I look forward to teaching it to them later this semester.

Thanks to Dr. Dube and all our visiting professors who brought a wealth of knowledge to our class every week. I find that my ears perk up now when Asia is mentioned in the news, and I notice things Asian so much more. I also appreciate the contributions of my colleagues, particularly the volume of resources, lesson plans and perspectives everyone presented on the Web discussion Forums. A special thanks to YingJia Huang for keeping us organized and up to speed.
edited by mwatt on 1/16/2013

[Anonymous]

I am attaching my Final reflection.

[Anonymous]

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USC US-China Institute
January 02, 2013

Final Reflection Essay

When I received an email about a class that was going to be taught by the USC-China Institute, I was excited to be part of class and what I was going to learn so I could bring that information to my classroom.. I have been teacher for 16 years – 1 year teaching middle school History and another year in the Professional Development and Leadership branch at LAUSD headquarters. In between I have taught all subject of high school History. In teaching World History, it is difficult to cover all the California State Standards. This year is my first year teaching world history in the past 7 years. I have found it difficult to believe how Euro-centric the world history books are. One of my goals in enrolling in this seminar was to supplement my content knowledge and learn ways to incorporate Asia into my curriculum for my world history and government classes. I am glad to say that I have received a great array of resources and information that I will be able to use in my classes.
Professor Dube, along with the guest speakers were informative and entertaining. Professor Ye gave great lecture on Tang poetry, I was inspired to include poetry as a primary/secondary source in my teaching. Within the same idea to use literature after being in Professor Miyake’s lessons on Japan. Her lecture gave me the itch in learning more about The Tale of Genji. I enjoyed the different teaching styles of mixing past and present; making comparisons to the current era through out the lectures.
It was a great pleasure to have been part of the class and learning so much about a part of the world and history that I was unable to find out why it is somehow deleted or skimmed in the history that is asked of us to teach our students. I will make a conscience decision to incorporate Asia in my lesson plans. I enjoy teaching students to be inquisitive and always ask why. With this class I have answered some of those questions that I had about Asia and the influence that Asian culture and history has had on the United States.

[Anonymous]

It has been quite a journey, quite hectic at times getting to class, but well worth it in the end. I came into this institute trying to find connections for the ESL students and realized I had so much to learn for myself. I am an American born Chinese and this opened my eyes into the histories, cultures, and practices of quite a few South East Asian countries that I was completely clueless about. These were things I would never find in the textbooks my students read. It was things I needed to enlighten them as I was enlightened myself.

This institute reminded me of the importance of looking into and researching more beyond the text. It also taught me to expand my lesson because I realized that throughout many Asian countries, there was a big Chinese influence in their development. I was able to make some connections with my Korean students. This class also taught me to be more culturally sensitive about certain topics because I have a lot of Korean students. I would have never known about the Nose Tomb or Ear Mound of Koreans as trophies by the Japanese. I would have never sat there on Netflix and sifted through Asian films. As I did I learned about the Nanjing Massacre of women and children.

Overall I would say it has truly been a blessed opportunity to be able to come to class and experience what we did. The different professors presented and enlightened us with histories of various countries such as China, Korea, and Japan. As a product of LAUSD schools, it is my duty to take what I learned and teach my students what the books wont. I was given a chance to fill in the blanks and teach them what I didn’t learn in school. It is also a great opportunity to enlighten and encourage them to look beyond what lies before them. It is a chance to teach them to sift through the real facts behind a story. Professor Dube and Yingjia did an awesome job with this institute.
edited by dchhuo on 1/17/2013

[Anonymous]

Final reflection essay

[Anonymous]

I will like to preface my final reflection with a word of gratitude and profound appreciation for the foundation generous funding for our China institute this fall. Essential to the institute’s success was the variety of presentations by experts in their fields, the wide range of relevant topics on China, to bring forth into the public consciousness information, to dispel myths about China and other Asian countries and related subjects.
Other notable highlights of the institute were the different professors who generously offered their extensive in-depth information in their rigorous lectures. Thereby, emphasizing China’s past and present and ongoing metamorphosis, only to emerge proud despite disruption patterns in China’s social, political and economic order.
As a result themes presented during the institute were made interesting and engaging, providing the institute’s participants-Educators- with infinite and innovative ways to intersperse teachings about China in our urban classrooms. Another high point of the institute was the illumination I gained as an individual and invested educator. Education by far is an effective method to provide information about China and other Asian cultures to misinformed consumers of popular culture and subscribers of imperialism doctrine. (Edward Said.)
Urban schools stand to make exponential gains in cultural literacy, by presenting China and other Asian countries as positive contributors to the global economy and emerging models of influential nations. Furthermore, transforming China’s archaic cultural views for our students will safeguard more conciliatory and collaborative relations among Asian students and their peers in the urban school settings. Starting with, listing the lasting contributions that China has made to the world from antiquity to present day. Today many of these useful items permeate our daily domestic and global existence. Far beyond their practical value is worth noting, the articles’ unparalleled and exquisite craftsmanship, inherent to Chinese arts and crafts.
The institute alone is insufficient to counter the negative and stereotypical beliefs about China and all things Asian. Since, these beliefs are grounded on Cultural Anthropology and misguided Western unilateral and myopic preconceived views. My pledge as an urban educator is to disseminate cultural literacy and empower my students and colleagues with intellectual tools to differentiate fact from fiction about China and other Asian countries.
I like to close with an acknowledgment of gratitude and abundance, to the China institute’s coordinators and support staff for providing me with positive information about China and the diverse Asian regions. Prior to the institute my concept about China was devoid of the lasting gift of cultural knowledge I gained about China. From this day forward I will strive to promote cultural awareness about China, and Asian countries, while engaging in cultural stewardship to spark dialogue about the following belief, “Throughout the 19th century negative images of the Chinese increased and were disseminated to a wide audience. After the humiliating defeat of the Opium Wars (1839-1842) and the long series of concessions wrung out by the West, China became the incompetent victim. http://asiasociety.org/arts/literature/asia-through-glass-darkly

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

Dear Colleagues,

Please post your reflection essay below in the text box or attach it as a word document. Your reflection essay is due on Friday, January 18, 2013.

Best,
Yingjia

[Author]

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