The USC US China Institute and NCTA (National Consortium for Teaching about Asia) were pleased to connect with educators at this year’s NCTE Annual Convention in Denver. Across two separate events, we shared practical strategies, model lessons, and resources that help teachers introduce East Asian literature in ways that spark curiosity and build global awareness. Our participation reflected a steady commitment to supporting teachers who want to bring meaningful stories from Asia into their classrooms.
From Page to Practice — Engaging Students with East Asian Literature
The panel, guided by Nancy Hope of the Freeman Book Awards, invited teachers to consider why Asia should play a larger role in English language arts. Hope opened the session by noting the region’s powerful influence on the world economy, the scale and diversity of its population, and its ongoing contributions to global culture. She also emphasized the importance of helping students move beyond simplified impressions of Asia by giving them tools to explore deeper themes.
Two classroom teachers brought this idea to life by sharing their own approaches. Je Yu (Joyce) Chu, who works in a Mandarin immersion program, demonstrated how Chinese Menu helps students understand food as a form of storytelling. Chu showed how familiar dishes can lead to meaningful conversations about identity, migration, family traditions, and the ways communities adapt over time. Teachers responded strongly to her focus on food as a universal point of connection that allows students to enter cultural study without feeling intimidated.
Amanda Aldridge, a social studies teacher from Colorado, offered a very different but complementary lens with Warrior Princess: The Story of Khutulun. Her presentation used the story of Khutulun to examine questions of gender, influence, and leadership in the Mongol world. Aldridge introduced a strategy she calls “reading like a warrior,” which encourages students to look closely at emotion, imagery, and context. Her activities helped teachers think about how to guide students toward deeper interpretation while also challenging assumptions about women and culture.
Together, the presenters showed how themes such as food and gender roles can help students move between personal experience and broad cultural questions. Teachers appreciated the range of strategies and the emphasis on building thoughtful and informed engagement with Asia.
Book Signing with Andrea Wang
On another day, educators met author Andrea Wang for a signing of Magic Ramen. Many teachers were excited to talk with Wang about how the book supports lessons on creativity, perseverance, and the origins of well known foods. The session created a warm and informal space for teachers to explore new classroom materials, ask questions, and discover ways to connect younger readers with stories that tie personal experience to cultural history.
Continuing Our Support for Teachers
USCI and NCTA remain committed to providing language arts and ESL teachers with resources that make it easier to introduce Asia related content. We continue to expand our professional learning programs and are exploring new tools that could benefit teachers nationwide.
One idea now under consideration is offering free access to Epic!, a reading platform designed for children twelve and under. While no formal partnership has been put in place, we are listening to teacher feedback to understand whether this resource aligns with NCTA’s long term mission and the needs of the classrooms we serve.
