[Lin ZhaoDavison]

Thanks to all lecturers and professor for the interesting seminars on Rise of East Asia since 1800.  I’ve gained some knowledge of Japan and Korea and have deeper understanding of China.  I’d like to teach Chinese language to high school or community college students and would certainly incorporate the seminar topics and content in my future teaching.  

 

Teaching language through films is an effective method to engage students because they find films interesting.  The lecturers have played films throughout the semester, of which I may show some to my students, particularly the documentaries reflecting certain historical events.  I would use the documentaries to show historical events and teach Chinese history.  Students will have debates on their views on issues presented in the films.   Students would understand more of Chinese literature with background knowledge of Chinese history and historical events.  The lecturers also introduced Chinese writers and literary works through movies.  I’d love to use movies to teach Chinese literature and cultures.  I would ask students to compare movies with novels and articulate the similarities and differences between the two.  Students will be encouraged to give presentations by role playing the characters in a movie or telling a story with their comments.

 

 

For example, I would teach Lu Xun’s short story, THE NEW YEAR'S SACRIFICE, through the movie. I would first introduce the author and historical background of the story, and then ask students to read the story, and show them the movie highlighting some clips.  Students would learn Chinese languages and new words from the texts.  They’ll also understand more of the characters, settings, plot through the movie.  Students will be divided into groups to discuss questions and issues relevant to the story and movie.  They will choose to play a drama based on the story or give a presentation on the discussion questions.  The content of the story is rich and dense.  It would be much easier for students to grasp concepts and ideas from movies with vivid  images. 

[Lin ZhaoDavison]

In 1842, Hong Kong was leased to Britain as a result of the Treaty of Nanjing, and the island had been ruled by British since then until China took it back. "A century of humiliation", as described by Chinese people, includes the Treaty of Nanjing which was a typical example of foreigners ruling China.  However, Hong Kong was economically more prosperous than China under British rule and some Hong Kong residents preferred that the island was under custody of British as they were used to the Western style of life.  Hong Kong still has significant autonomy in the rein of China. If there was no Treaty of Nanjing, Hong Kong might not be a unique melting pot of East-West cultures.

[Lin ZhaoDavison]

I'm impressed by the early American entrepreuneurs venturing their pioneering businesses in China.  Kodak and Quaker Oats were two of them, entering the Chinese market in 1920's.  They not only made money but enriched Chinese people's lives and promoted cultural exchange.  They set good examples for the other Western entrepreurs to follow their footsteps.  Today businesses from the  Western countries are everywhere in China. Both Chinese people and Western people benefit from the globalized businesses.

[Lin ZhaoDavison]

Lu Xun is a literary giant in China.  His literary works depict stories of ordinary people suffering from the feudal Chinese society. He writes with a satire pen. Madman Diary (狂人日记），Blessing （祝福), and Ah Q (阿Q正传）are some of his novels in which the characters experience severe life struggles inflincted by the rulers and society. Lu Xun critizes the society and the ruling class through the voices of his characters.

I'm thinking of doing the lesson plan project using the film, Blessing （祝福).  The lessons are for high school students learning Chinese language.  Lesson One will teach listening and speaking.  I'll play episodes of the film and ask students to retell the story in their own words.  Lesson Two will focus on Chinese vocabulary development.  Students will read a chapter of the novel corresponding to the episodes of the film and explain the meanings of the words, and they'll also use the words to write sendtends and/or paragraphs.  Lesson Three will discuss the character, setting and Chinese cultures dispalyed in the film and novel.

[Lin ZhaoDavison]

I posted my comments on the visual card in the Session 9 forum

[Lin ZhaoDavison]

My card is labled "插队落户干革命“ (in Chinese) － ”Insert the manufacturing troop and register the permanent residence to perform revolution."  This slogan was a propaganda during the Chinese cultural revolution from 1968 to 1980.  During this period, Chinese youths were called out of classrooms and into the rural lands to to farm work.  Chaiman Mao said that youths need to be re-educated by the peasants in the farms, and he mobilized city parents to send their high school chidren to the farms.  It was indeed a traumatic experience for the Chinese teenagers.  Many of the farm lands were poor.  The local peasants were starving.  The teenagers had no food to eat and no farming knowledge and experience to grow food for themselves.  They suffered malnutrition.  But they were registered as permanent residents in the farm lands.  Additionally, they were deprived educational opportunities and could not go to colleges.  They were a lost generation!  Many of them had to obey the order or follow blindly to do "revolution" that they did not even care for and had no knowledge of.  It was a sad lesson to be learned.  I'm happy for the young people in China today because they have an abundance of educational opportunities not only in China but abroad.  

[Lin ZhaoDavison]

        Qiu Jin was highly regarded as a national martyr. People around China mourned for her death and held 9 burials to memorize and honor her.  She was beheaded by the state because of her critical female voice calling for revolution and change.  As China went through "a century of humiliation", which was a testimoney of the failure of the state governing system, calling for rebellion and revolution was jusstified.  Self-strenghtening and reform were not enough to put the country on tract to the right direction. Democracy and people's participation in governing should be advocated and individuals like Qiu Jin should be respected.  For example, a trial system should have been established to determine if Qiu Jin should be prosecuted with a death penalty because of her political views.  The highly centralized state power and governing system jeopardized the country internally and externally.

 

 

 

[Lin ZhaoDavison]

In July 1907, Qiu Jin was convicted insurrection aganist the Qing Empire and was beheaded.  Her corps was unclaimed and disowned because of the long tradition of punishing relatives and neighbors of the convicted.  Her family hid from the public for months.  Monthly later, her brother recoverd her body and roughly buried her.  But at the end of the year the Qing soldiers razed her tomb.  The ruthless persecution and abandonment of her body after the execution showed the oppresive power of the Qing Empire. Qiu Jin was regarded as a nationalist hero and martyr and was mourned by Chinese people from generations to generations. Burials were set up in her memory. As a rebel, I would propose a trial system participated by ordinary people and abolishment of death penalty to the political opponents. 

[Lin ZhaoDavison]

I thought about the workers' unions and teachers' unions as I was watching the episode of The Collective Bargaining in the film "We The Workers".  As far as I know American workers or teachers' unions have much more collective bargaining powers than the Chinese counterparts.  Some of the reasons are American unions are better organized,  freedom of speech and respect for human rights are deeply rooted in American society.  In the film, It seems that the Chinese workers just started to organize a class dialogue with the employer and set up collective bargaining terms helped by a lawyer.  I hope the Chinese workers may have more bargaining power and live a more desirable life.

[Lin ZhaoDavison]

The anti-Asian racism in the U.S. history was sad and vicious as exemplified by the Chinese exclusion and Japanese Internment.  Asians hold great values such as education, hard-working and family.  And Asians have made great contributions to the American society and economy. When I'll teach Asia, I would bring students to visit Asian museums and ask students to do resesarch on outstanding Asian immigrants.  Students will write essays articulating why anti-Asian racism should be abolished why there should be more Asians holding highest positions in the government, corporate America and schools.

[Lin ZhaoDavison]

When the "Sunshine policy" was implemented in Korea from 1998 to 2008, family members of North Korea united with those in South Korea.  The "Sunshine Policy" won the Nobel Peace Prize.  Needless to say, this policy reduced tension between North and South Korea as well as well as promoted peace and harmony between the two nationals.  I would ask students to do a research project on the "Sunshine Policy" and articulate its contribution to the world peace through a writing assignment or a group presentation.

[Lin ZhaoDavison]

Key public service people were killed in late 1800 and early 1900.  The "Blood f Brotherhood" gang killed Takama Dan, CEO of Misubichi ,and the Imperial Navymen killed Inuki Tsuyosh, Prime Minister.  What was the motivation of such killings and what were the consequences to the society?  These questions remain in my mind.  I would encourage my students to research on the fact and find out how to draw lessons from the Japanese history.

[Lin ZhaoDavison]

Professor Yamashita discussed the Japanese economy during this session, such as the large national deficits, export, taxes and deflation policies during the 1890's.  Econoy showed signs of improving when the economic issues were addressed and became important problems to be solved.  We have experienced large national deficits and deflation in recent US history.  If I'll teach high-schoolers, I would encourage students to discuss the policies US government implemented to shrink deficits and address deflation problems and what US government could learn from Japanese economy with the same issues.

[Lin ZhaoDavison]

This is a touching Korean tale about a daugter's love for father.  She sacrifces herself to save her father's eyesight.  The story reminds me of the Chinese tale - Mulan who saves her father's life by taking her father's place to serve the army.  The Korean and Chinese daughters have demonstrated great virtues of women in history.  Love for parents and family is without borders, and their courage is so admirable. 

[Lin ZhaoDavison]

The major rivers in China - Songhua River, Yellow River, Yangzi River and Pearl River - are parts of the livelihood of Chinese people.  Not only they are sources of water and power supplies across China, but important tour sites.  One of the most beautfil tour sites in China is the section of Yangzi River called "Three Gorges". Unfortunately, the best scene on the river was blocked to build the "Three Gorges Dam" to supply powers for residents and industries along the river several years ago. I was so disappointed to hear the news when I visited China.  That was a highlight of China tours for tourists from around the world for generations.  Preserving nature and natural beauty should be a task force in China.  I wish more rules would be mandated in China on preserving nature like nationals parks, animals, rivers, etc.  Industrialization and commercialization can be realized without sacrificing nature. 

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