Past K-12 Seminars

Join us for an online lecture with Dr. Yichien Cooper, hosted by the Southern California Council of Chinese Schools. Discover how English picture books featuring Chinese stories can enhance Mandarin teaching by sparking emotion, deepening cultural understanding, and fostering cultural identity. Learn practical strategies to make language learning more engaging and meaningful through East-West cultural exchange.

This five-week intensive online course is designed for K–12 educators across all subject areas to explore the complex histories and contemporary realities of North Korea and South Korea since 1945. With a focus on the enduring legacy of the Cold War long after the fall of the Soviet bloc, participants will engage with political, cultural, and social narratives that continue to shape the Korean Peninsula. Created with classroom integration in mind, the course will offer educators tools to connect these themes to subjects such as history, political science, literature, geography, and current events. The experience includes contact hours and a curated resource package to support the teaching of Korea’s divided past and present in meaningful and accessible ways.

Curious about the Korean Peninsula’s past, present, and future? Join us for Two Koreas, a free, five-week virtual seminar that dives into the fascinating history, politics, and culture of North and South Korea. From the rise of the Kim dynasty to modern-day South Korea’s global influence—and how both nations are portrayed in media—this seminar offers essential context and classroom-ready content for educators and lifelong learners alike. Whether you teach history, social studies, or global affairs, this series will deepen your understanding of one of the world’s most complex and compelling regions.

Join us for an engaging exploration of Hokusai’s Daughter by Sunny Seki, a captivating picture book inspired by the life of Katsushika Ōi, the talented daughter of the famed Japanese artist Hokusai. Through vibrant illustrations, the story highlights her artistic journey and the challenges she faced in a male-dominated society.

Join the USC U.S.-China Institute for an engaging virtual workshop exploring LACMA’s exhibit Line, Form, Qi: Calligraphic Art from the Fondation INK Collection. This session will highlight key pieces from the collection, showcasing the rich artistic traditions of Chinese calligraphy. Attendees will gain insights into incorporating calligraphy into their classrooms through guided activities and discussions

This seminar is designed to introduce K-12 educators across all subject areas to Taiwan’s rich history and cultural diversity. Created with educators in mind, participants will explore ways to integrate Taiwan’s unique cultural, political, and ecological narratives into their curriculum, enriching student engagement and promoting global awareness in subjects like history, literature, art, social studies, and science. This experience will include contact hours and provide a comprehensive resource package to help educators bring Taiwan’s stories and innovations to life in the classroom.

The second part of this seminar covers the topics include Japanese Literature, Buddhism, Patterns of the Korean Past, Mongols - Ming, Qing - East Asia at 1800.

This seminar will introduce K-12 educators to the untold story of Anna May Wong, Hollywood’s first Asian American movie star. Author Katie Gee Salisbury will discuss her debut book, Not Your China Doll, which reclaims Wong's powerful legacy. Participants will explore how to integrate Wong’s groundbreaking career and cultural impact into various subjects, enriching student engagement and promoting global awareness. This experience will include contact hours and provide a comprehensive resource package to help educators bring Anna May Wong’s story to life in the classroom.

The U.S. and China represent the two largest economies in the world, with deeply interconnected yet often competing interests. Their economic relationship involves trade, investment, and technology exchanges, shaped by regulatory, cultural, and geopolitical factors. This March 2025 workshop will explore the economic interdependencies between these two powers and provide a discussion into the impact of these unique yet interwoven economic landscapes.

This seminar equips K-12 educators with insights into China’s Cultural Revolution, a pivotal chapter in modern history. Designed for teachers, the program examines the period’s causes, events, and enduring effects through primary sources, firsthand accounts, and cultural artifacts. Participants will learn how to enrich lessons in history, government, economics, and the arts by incorporating the Cultural Revolution into their curriculum. This experience includes curated resources to help educators encourage critical thinking and global awareness while presenting this complex era in a meaningful way.