The Impact of Eastern China in my personal and professional life.

A while ago, I found an interesting quote written by the Argentinian writer Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, who basically said that, the problems of a country [world] are problems of education. So, this idea has motivated me to pursue different opportunities to gain some knowledge that can help me to become a better informed human being. Sadly, I knew nothing about China or East Asia. However, and thanks to the sponsorship of the USC-China Institute, now that has completely changed. Fortunately, I have had the privilege to be part of this year’s workshop which has greatly enriched my life giving me the needed information to learn and grow as an individual and as a professional

As an individual, this workshop sparked my desire to continue learning, after so many years of schooling, I see that there is still so much to learn and share with younger generations. I am grateful to the USC East Asian Studies program that has given me the opportunity to continue my educational journey, and learn about the history and culture of the Asian people. Every session was fascinating. Every professor delivered a tremendous amount of information in many different interactive and interesting ways about the history, and culture of the countries that make up East Asia.

This workshop has confirmed the knowledge that all human kind shares a tumultuous history. As I learned about China, I noticed that there are many similarities between the history of Asians and other people in different parts of the globe; such as Latin-Americans, It is interesting to see how both continents were invaded and governed by foreigners; both had political turmoil as well and both societies abused and discriminate against women. In addition, I also found out that there are some similar cultural practices between these two continents. Among the similar cultural practices are the concubines and the use of midwifery. Moreover, I realized that although there are similarities there are great differences as well. Some obvious differences are the philosophical beliefs, laws and types of governments.

Professionally, these similarities and differences has made a little easier to make connections with the subject that I teach. After each session, I dug into my mind to see how I could make a good use of the information learned. Fortunately, I have a diverse group of students, thus, I came up with the “Global cultural magazine” During the last 10 minutes a pre-selected group of students shared orally a summary of an article about a given subject of East Asia. They have to make a connection with something similar preferable in a Latin American culture. One topic that was very successful in the class was the concept of beauty. Students talked about foot binding. One student told us that because of the foot binding, women had to be carried around because they couldn’t walk. Despite of it, foot binding was considered beautiful, and as a way to identified women of a high social rank. Students made connections with body piercing. In the past these practices were related to an individual’s rank in society. One student mentioned that many Buddhist statues have stretched earlobes, such as the stone head of Bodhisttava. They looked at today's society and all agree on how body piercing is more like a fad and not necessarily a way to show a particular social level. Another successful topic was the robotic industry of Japan. Now, students are aware about how Japan has the most advanced humanoid robot industry. They have learned about asimo the humanoid robot by Honda, and the multiple chores in which it is helping to those who can afford it. Actually, as a final project, senior students are working on a research paper based in education and technology in schools. The purpose is to foresee their future as college graduates and the impact that the robotic technologies will have in the world/personal lives.
These are just some examples of how the information gathered in this workshop is being used in the classroom. I am very grateful for all I have learned and more importantly for all needed material to enhance my teaching practices.

Learning about Eastern Asia has been an amazing experience. This workshop made me appreciate and admire much more the history and culture behind the Asian people. It has sparked the curiosity and desire to continue learning about different things about Asia; and has provided additional information to share with students. After all we are living in a global society, and what affects one group, in time will affect the rest of the world.
edited by edelafuente on 5/31/2016
edited by edelafuente on 5/31/2016

The Origins to 1800 course offered so much vital information on the life, culture, people and history of Asia that I found myself as intrigued as I was overwhelmed at times with absorbing and regurgitating, the knowledge attained during this course. It was a mazing to hear of the development of the people and places that are often misrepresented but are so vital to our own growth development and day-to-day here in the United States.

I appreciated the dynamic speakers who came prepared with such vast and diverse knowledge, the time spent acquiring, studying, living and furthering their own knowledge was recognizable not only their curriculum but their passion for their culture, people and desire to learn as much as they could and be able to share with others.

I appreciated those professors who furthered their own instructional lessons by helping us to better see ways to incorporate the information within our curriculums and which ways may best suit our learners across varying disciplines. Coming in as a science teacher, most of the rhetoric didn’t fit my needs or my current curriculum but the fact that I was in a learning environment that continually showed me so many angles, views and perspective of this flourishing and dynamic culture, it allowed me to do exactly what the purpose of this course is, which was to think out the box, or inclusively and find a way to bring to my learners a lesson that not only meet the need of the current course chapter but fluidly connected them to the continent and the people in China, in a way they had never thought or connected.

The usage of Asia in the classroom turned my learners into global citizens, it created an awareness in them that connected, who they are, their daily habits, to the idea, that we are all interconnected and that China, Korea and Japan are not that distant from where they are in Inglewood, Ca., and China for a week or so, became a part of their rhetoric. They discussed places and things they were unfamiliar with in a familiar way because it related to who they were the content of their course and they became familiar with the culture the environment and a place many of them may never see for themselves.

I am grateful that this program exists, because it taught me so much more than I could have dreamed, it made me aware of so much, especially when you view these cultures as grand, elaborate and full of history as they are through the feminist prospective it can be infuriating and disheartening when you see how little growth their seems to be, but by far my favorite discussion of the course was on the standards of beauty and the ‘forgotten women’ and the struggles intertwined with the governments decisions to implore the one child rule. This dialogue was by far the most intriguing, engaging and impassioned of the series. Though I also appreciated the Saturday, religious discussion where we became our religion of choice and had to best account for how we would act in faux world situations, but I most enjoyed the interactive aspects which were incorporated in the class lesson, during that Saturday discussion, it was enlightening and a great model for usage in our own individual classrooms.

Overall, the course exceeded my expectations and look forward to participating in the course again and I will continue to encourage my coworkers and other teachers to participate.

Cecilia Seman June 8, 2016
Reflection on East Asia Origins to 1800 Seminar Experience
Wow! This entire seminar was such an educational experience not only professionally, but personally as well. I have so many plans for the upcoming school year. This seminar has taught me to implement East Asia into my teaching in many ways that I could have never imagined. Although, at first I didn’t see a vision in implementing the curriculum I was learning to my second grade students, as I felt at the beginning of the seminar, that the history of East Asia would be very difficult for my students to comprehend. However, after the second session, I was fully engaged and immersed in the history and learned the many ways that I can teach it at a primary level.
I have learned that my students are at an age where they try so hard to please you; therefore, when you engage them in something they are not familiar with, you immediately see and feel their eagerness to learn. This seminar has taught me not to be afraid and take risks. Professor Dube and the amazing speakers provided insightful ways on how I can implement the history of East Asia into my lessons so my students can learn its history.
The most relevant material that I take from this course is the literature presented throughout the seminar. There’s a plethora of children resources, and I am very grateful for all the professors for providing me with resources and ideas that I can use for my lessons. This course has deepened my knowledge, but more importantly, it has allowed me to recognize how vital it is for us educators to teach Asian history in our classrooms at a very young age. Not only do students learn and become aware of Asian history, they learn tolerance and respect for other cultures as well. It also allows students to make connections on how they can relate the similarities to their own culture and become better informed in their learning,
In the end, this seminar was an amazing experience! I have learned to appreciate history overall. Thank you!
edited by cseman on 6/8/2016