Past K-12 Seminars

Join us for a morning of tranquility and cultural discovery. Learn the art of chanoyu and explore the rich material culture behind it—from teabowls and utensils to subtle aesthetics. This immersive experience is designed for educators to inspire new ideas and deepen cultural understanding in your classrooms.

Join us for an exciting webinar that brings the future to the forefront of classroom discussion through the lens of Chinese and Sinophone science fiction. This 90-minute professional development session will explore how speculative fiction reflects the global challenges of today while inspiring students to think critically and creatively about tomorrow.

Join us on October 8, 2025 for an engaging book talk on A Bánh Mì For Two by Trinity Nguyen, winner of the 2024 Freeman Book Award for Children’s Literature. Set in the bustling streets of Sài Gòn, this heartfelt young adult novel follows Lan, a devoted daughter hiding her passion for food blogging, and Vivi, a Vietnamese American student searching for her family’s roots. As the two girls navigate the city’s vibrant flavors and layered histories, they uncover identity, healing, and an unexpected romance.

This seminar invites K-12 educators across disciplines to explore Japan's modern literary legacy and cultural transformation. Tailored to educators, the program delves into Japan’s history, societal evolution, and literary milestones, offering strategies to integrate these themes into the classroom. By weaving Japan’s stories and creative voices into subjects like history, literature, art, and social studies, educators can inspire deeper engagement and global understanding among students. A comprehensive resource package and contact hours will equip participants to bring these narratives vividly to life.

Japan Society – Meiji Era: How Japanese Were Doing During 1868–1912 Join us for a 2-hour online seminar with Professor Mark Jones as he explores how Japanese society experienced daily life, cultural change, and historical upheaval during 1868-1912. While rooted in the legacy of the Meiji Era, this period saw Japan navigating modernization, war, and shifting global dynamics. Designed especially for educators in history, social studies, and cultural studies, this session offers valuable insights and context to enrich classroom teaching on modern Japan.

Join us for a special 2-hour online seminar with Professor Morgan Pitelka as he examines how Japan’s cultural traditions developed and transformed during the Edo period. Through the lenses of tea culture, the samurai, and garden design, Professor Pitelka will explore how these practices preserved heritage while also adapting to the rise of popular culture—driven by merchants, townspeople, and new art forms—in early modern Japan. This program offers rich historical and cultural insights for K–12 educators in history, art, literature, and cultural studies, providing globally relevant content and classroom-ready ideas.

Join us for a free one-day workshop for educators at The Huntington Library on September 20, 2024, hosted by the USC U.S.-China Institute and the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia. This engaging event, led by Philip Bloom, June and Simon K.C. Li Curator of the Chinese Garden and Director of the Center for East Asian Garden Studies, offers a comprehensive introduction to Chinese gardens, including a lecture on Liu Fang Yuan and an inquiry-based docent tour. Participants will also receive educational resources, a free pass for a future visit, and a complimentary lunch.

Join us for a dynamic 10-week online seminar series exploring the major historical, cultural, and political developments in East Asia from 1800 to the present. Led by expert scholars from USC and UCLA, this program offers a rich, in-depth journey through key topics including early modern transformations, imperial encounters, revolutions, and the reshaping of East Asia in the modern world.

Join us for a fascinating five-week course that explores the key cultural moments, movements, and individuals who have shaped the urban and artistic landscapes of East Asia. Designed especially for middle school educators in history, art, geography, and cultural studies, this course invites participants to expand their global curriculum with compelling stories and case studies from China, Japan, and Korea.

Step into the world of one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of our time. World of the Terracotta Warriors: New Archaeological Discoveries in Shaanxi in the 21st Century brings the awe-inspiring legacy of China’s First Emperor to life with new findings that are reshaping what we know about the famed Terracotta Army. Hosted at the Bowers Museum, this special exhibition features newly unearthed artifacts and groundbreaking research from ongoing excavations in Xi’an, offering a rare opportunity to explore the historical, artistic, and cultural dimensions of this ancient wonder.