march 1 session -- dube

[Anonymous]

For my classes, this is a requirement. Since I teach history, teaching about the world in the context of world history and American history is essential to understanding our history and our current world. This is especially true since the world is shrinking and we are more interconnected than ever before. My students often ask why they need to learn about places they have never visited, and probably not travel to in the future. I often talk about how important it is to understand the other cultures in order to put our own culture in perspective. My students tend to have a narrow perspective on everything, and exposing them to other cultures really helps them to better understand the human existence. Asia is so integrated in our lives that we need to address what this means, and how they (my students) and Asia fit together and what kinds of influence Asia has on their lives.

[Anonymous]

Often times before I start a new unit, I will ask my students to complete the K and W of a KWL chart (what I know, what I want to know and what I have learned) and I quickly learn how limited my students' perspectives of a particular region are. I think it is very important for us as educators to continue learning so that we can bring past and current information into the classroom. In addition, we need to learn and then teach our students about the importance and significance of the natural resources in this region, potential for conflict due to alliances, an understanding of the positive and negative effects of a populations growth and density and how competition for work, resources and crops can directly effect them.

[Anonymous]

As a US history teacher, it is obviously important to teach about East Asia because of the number of wars the United States has fought there. Beginning with the Philippines, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, the US has fought a series of brutal wars--each in an effort to extend and preserve its presence and interests in the region. In teaching about the region in Government and Economics, it is important to remember the history behind the current events, as Professor Dube reminded us tonight. If our students have a clear understanding of the long history of the US in East Asia, they will be better prepared to understand their current world.

[Anonymous]

As we discussed in class today, there are many reasons why the study of East Asia should be integrated into our curriculum. Our students need to understand that we live in a global society and that events that happen in places that are seemingly a world away can certainly affect them. This understanding of these interdependent relationships (i.e. food prices, different industries such as automobile and tourism, defense alliances, etc.) will hopefully enable our students to put forth a more vested interest in the study of the different regions of the world (in this case, China and East Asia).

As a history teacher, I am constantly trying to get my kids to see all the relationships between the different countries and events of our world. Students need to master the skill of identifying and analyzing cause-and-effect. In both U.S. and World history, we study the topic of IMPERIALISM a great deal. By studying the causes and effects of European imperialism (and later, Japan's quest for an empire), we are able to see their contributions to the rise of modern industrial economies. We discuss the perspectives of both the colonizers and colonized and make the connections about how their (the colonized) status led to nationalists and independence struggles that would eventually reshape countries and governments. Moreover, we can explore the lasting influences on economies, government, and culture that many of these imperialist countries have left behind.

Whether I am taking a class or listening to some sort of presentation, anytime I am placed in the position of being a "student", I always evaluate how my own students would perceive and learn from the given situation. Given my limited knowledge of modern East Asia, Professor Dube's specific examples of the above-mentioned relationships really did give me a bit more insight and placed many things into perspective. I did not know that China and Japan had the 2nd and 3rd largest global economies. I know that discussing these facts with my students, along with the specifics about how our economy is directed tied to theirs with all the exchange of goods and services, will definitely drive home the point about why the study and understanding of the region is so significant.

If I may insert one thing into the end of this sleepy post - From this seminar, one of the things I really wanted to learn more about and have more evidence/ammunition for my imminent class discussion (as we reach the more modern world in World History later in the spring) is the answer(s) to the projections that China will be the next dominant world power.

I believe I'm done for the night. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Our classrooms are a microcosom of our multiculutrual society here in Los Angeles. It is so important that we understand each other and in order to achieve that we must understand the cultures of our fellows. Understanding frees us from limited thinking. But to be more specific as to why East Asia, in particular, is important; the ancients that began our investigations into the cosmos and into philosophies, types of governments, and medicine can be found in Asian history. Also, to find another perspective as to how the United States is perceived is very important for our future politicians and bussiness people. I really loved seeing the political cartoon of the bratty pre-adolescent on a skateboard with a cap that read "U.S.A." - it was funny to me that this is how the U.S. is seen. I have much to learn and am looking forward to discovering more about the currenct politics as well as the ancient history and more recent history of East Asia. I teach Ancient Civilizations to 6th graders and we will be going into China right after I finish up with India. I am enjoying reading the Chinese Philosphies Handout/Lesson Plan and am excited about our mock debate.

[Anonymous]

In a few years, China's economy will surpass the US. Just as Britain dominated the 19th century and US the 20th century, the 21rst century may become "Pax China" Century. One would have to be a fool to not be prepared for the time when that happens. Thus, studying and teaching about China and the Pacific Rim will be vital in preparing the US for the upcoming Chinese century. Our role as educators necessitates our participation in the East Asia Seminar, and it is our responsibilitiy as educators to do so. I agree with Condoleezza Rice's view of education as a National Security issue, and our responsibility as educators reinforces our need to study and educate others about different parts of the World like East Asia.

[Anonymous]

As was stated in our first meeting the populations of China and India are in the billions and our global society is ever shrinking. Furthermore, the Asian economies will surpass the U.S.economy within a few years. Our students will eventually be competing for jobs with these over populated societies. Our students need to learn about the history, societies and cultures of East Asia and other parts of the world, so they can have a global perspective. They need to be aware of how the U.S. and Pacific Rim are connected socially, economically and culturally. I find that our students do not understand the dynamics of how events around the world can have an effect on their lives here.

[Anonymous]

I agree with mfraser that the ultimate goal is a broadening of perspectives and cultural horizons, and with those who see the next century as belonging, if not to China, then to a world that is far more inclusive than the one we grew up in. Many of the students at my school have limited experiences with Los Angeles, let alone points farther abroad; I see that broadening as part of the educators job in general. East Asia is of increasing importance because of its sheer size, in population as well as geographically, and its reach will influence our society sooner rather than later. The course of our interactions, political and cultural, can be ameliorated by an understanding of our respective pasts and of cultural points. On the positive side, many of our students are already swept up in the pop cultures streaming from Asia and can probably identify more in that sense than many of us. And, with two of the three largest economies of the world in East Asia, it behooves us to understand what drives them and how we can engage them to our benefit, and how to prepare our students to take their place in a global arena.

[Anonymous]

As a classroom teacher in the 21th century, it is very important to have a background knowledge and understanding of students and where they are coming from. Especially in Los Angeles and its metropolitan area are one of the greatest melting pots in America, with various language groups and rich cultures from all over the world.

Moreover, recently more people are coming from East Asia, predominantly from China (at least where I am teaching). So getting information, learning, and experiencing about East Asian countries are the one of the essential tools for promoting students to become global citizens and to recognize and respect diversity in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

I certainly agree with the others' posts about the need for global understanding and a global perspective, with a focus on East Asia as an increasingly influential part of the world. In the practical context of my own teaching, almost every topic I cover in Human Geography -- population, migration, religion, language, development, agriculture, globalization, culture -- cries out to include more discussion of East Asia. While I have a pretty good grasp of current trends in, for instance, development in China, as a historian I want to know more, to go deeper, to have a better understanding of the past in the hopes of having a more nuanced understanding of the present.

I find that my students, who are pretty well-informed and well-travelled, don't actually know much about East Asia (in fact, I have to keep reminding which countries this includes!) and are a little wary and anxious about China in particular. If more knowledge can help assuage their fears and lead to greater understanding and less knee-jerk anxiety, I will be doing them a service.

[Anonymous]

According to a study, it is said that our students need to manage 13-15 jobs by the age of 35. How can we best prepare our students who need to live in the 21st Century? As a K12 Foreign Language teacher, I am always concerned about our students' knowledge about the rest of the world. For example, I often witness our students can't locate major developing countries in a map, such as France, Italy, Japan and Korea. In order for our students to be more competitive in the global workforce, I strongly believe that they need to know more than location re Asian countries so as to succeed in working together with them in this 21st Century.

This year, I have started using an application called, "Content based Thematic Units', which many of the '21st Century skills' are carefully embedded when I teach Japanese language and culture. By learning food culture last semester, for example, my students acquired simultaneously ICT Literacy (Web 2.0), Collaboration skills, Real Life Learning, Cultural Awareness and even Critical Thinking in Obesity, etc. I would like to challenge this time to intertwined Chinese and Korean studies which our students would soon be required to deal with in the very near future.

[Anonymous]

East Asia is rapidly becoming the dominant economic and political power in the world and therefore is worthy of serious study. The changes that are taking place in East Asia will have a strong impact on the United States. From a more personal viewpoint, the population in my school consists of many students from Asia. Since I grew up on the East Coast, I have had little or no experience with the Asian culture. The purpose of studying this topic would help provide a deeper insight and understanding to my students (and even the communities in LA).
Getting back to the first point, the opportunities for both good and ill are everpresent in Asia, especially with the two largest (in population) countries present. If handled appropriately, the US and the rest of world can reap huge benefits. Understanding this region will make it more likely that we can chart a positive and beneficial course. Increasing my understanding will help prepare my students for the future (in Asia) that awaits.

[Anonymous]

All teachers have their strengths and weaknesses. No matter what subject we teach or how many years we teach, there are certain classes and/or topics we know more about. As a result, we often gloss over those subjects in which our knowlege is lacking. East Asia has been my weakness. Even though I have taught geography for 10 years, East Asia is the region of the world that I know least about. In recent years it has become more and more influential in the world economy and contains some of the U.S.'s most important trading partners. Therefore, it has become increasingly important for a teacher to be knowledgeable about this region.

It is especially important in my school because a large percentage of our students are of Asian descent. Some of them know much more than their teachers even though many have had family in the U.S. for generations. Therefore, I look forward to learning as much as I can so I can become a more effective teacher.

[Anonymous]

I agree with Robin about teaching strengths and weaknesses. Asia has always been mine. Since I teach US History and economics, I need to be able to understand the role Asia has played in the formation of our foreign policy and the expanding role it plays in the world's economy.

[Anonymous]

Having many Asian students who know about their culture as Robin stated is a benefit to the classroom and show my weaknesses. However, I have many students of Asian descent who know very little of their culture (in some cases I know more than they do). It would be nice to give them some knowledge about their culture so they can share what they learned with their parents and hopefully spark some interesting and informative conversations at home.

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