Seminar on Korean history & culture, August 1-5

The Korea Academy for Educators announces the eighth annual seminar on Korean History and Culture and the Korean American Experience on August 1-5, 2011 at the Korean Cultural Center, LA. The program is free and includes breakfast, lunch, parking, books, DVDs, and 22 PowerPoint lectures for K-12 administrators, teachers, librarians, and counselors. Fellowships (transportation, six night hotel stay in Koreatown, and a small stipend) are available for educators who live more than 50 miles from LA.

You will experience being honored as a valuable member of the teaching profession, increase your ability to be sensitive to different cultures in your school, and learn how the experience of growing up Korean is different from other Asian students. You will also realize a unique opportunity to learn about Korean history and culture from prominent scholars: John Duncan, (Chair Korean Studies, UCLA), David Kang (Director, Korean Studies Institute, USC), Don Suk Kim (Chair, Dept. of Ethnomusicology, UCLA), Christopher P. Hanscom (Professor of Korean Literature, UCLA) and Edward Park (Director, Asian Pacific American Studies, Loyola Marymount). You will also learn about the Korean American experience from a prominent Korean American author, Helie Lee (Still Life with Rice and In the Absence of Son).

Participants will enjoy delicious Korean food, create rhythmic sounds on Korean drums, perform taekwondo techniques, witness a beautiful traditional tea ceremony, learn about the great achievements of Korean art and create art that reflects ancient tradition, become aware of Korean poetry (sijo), short stories, and outstanding Korean American literature, and receive door prizes. They will also experience Koreatown, visit a Buddhist temple, examine History/Social Science and Language Arts lessons, and view films that are readily available and inexpensive to bring into the classroom. As a result of attending, all participants will have a deeper understanding of Korean American students and their families.

For the schedule and application forms, contact Mary Connor (President and Program Director of the Korea Academy for Educators) at Mary@KoreaAcademy.org. View our updated website: www.KoreaAcademy.org. Do watch the four minute DVD on this site.