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PERSPECTIVES ON EAST ASIA FOR TEACHERS: CONTEMPORARY JAPAN

A Summer Course for K–12 Educators

Course Dates: Mon-Thurs, June 22 - July 22, 2009  
University of Washington
Seattle, WA

DESCRIPTION: For the second summer in a row, the EARC and UW Japan Studies, in partnership with the UW College of Education, have teamed up to provide an intensive course on contemporary Japan. For pre- and in-service K-12 educators, Perspectives on East Asia for Teachers: Contemporary Japan is a month-long course that will give educators an outstanding grounding in Japan studies and in curricular strategies for bringing Japan into the classroom.

UW Japan scholar Marie Anchordoguy and master teacher Pat Burleson will teach the course. Professor Anchordoguy will lead daily lecture-discussion sessions, and Ms. Burleson will teach classroom application sessions that build on the material covered in the lectures and guide educators in creating a culminating project such as a CBA or unit. The lecture-discussion component covers topics in Meiji Japan up to the present, tracing the development of Japan’s modern institutions. Lecture topics on contemporary Japan—including education, women, work, religion, the bursting of the bubble, politics, and Japan in the world—explain why things are the way they are in Japan today.

The lecture-discussion component connects with an equally compelling set of sessions on bringing Japan into the K-12 classroom. Master teacher and director of Japan Connections, Pat Burleson, will guide teachers in a series of sessions designed to put educators in the best position to teach about Japan. Practical, activity-based sessions will examine perspectives in K-12 teaching materials, survey primary source materials, connect to standards and assessments, and guide participants in creating curricular materials based on their classroom needs. As a final project, teachers will create a Japan portfolio to use in their teaching.

HOW IT WORKS: Educators will enroll through the EARC in SISEA 490 or EDC&I 495 for a reduced rate of approximately $187, thanks to the generous support of the Freeman Foundation. Teachers attend the lecture-discussion sessions with undergraduate Japan studies majors enrolled in SISEA 242. Teachers attend a special weekly discussion session with the Japan scholar and meet regularly with the master teacher. The meeting times are tentatively scheduled as follows: Mon.–Thurs. 9:10–11:50 and 12:30–2:00. Six credits or 60 clock hours are available.

APPLY: Click here to download an application or contact the EARC at (206) 543-1921, <earc@u.washington.edu>.

What past participants are saying:

“Enriching, engaging, provocative.”

“Well worth the time and effort. I wish I could take it again.”

“I appreciate that we were allowed to do lessons that we will be able to use.”

“Great class—One of my best summers yet!”

“I took the course on Contemporary Japan last summer. I wanted to understand the culture of Japan more deeply, wanted to go below the surface level of my image of Japan in order to truly comprehend the influences that shaped modern Japan. This course did more than that! It not only changed my beliefs but also my attitude of what makes contemporary Japan like manga and anime because I know have a historical framework of it all. I became thoroughly fascinated, read constantly every article and book and could hardly put it down. The month long class went rather quickly due to how absorbed I was in the articles, discussions and books! I highly recommend this course this summer on Contemporary Japan.”

**Your payment will be processed by Student Fiscal Services (SFS) at the University of Washington. SFS processes checks electronically using the information on the check to create an electronic funds transfer. Each time you send a check, you authorize a one-time transfer where funds will be electronically withdrawn from your bank account. You will not receive your cancelled check as SFS is required to destroy the check after it has been processed. For more information or to stop the conversion of your check, please contact SFS at (206) 543-4694 or email at sfshelp@u.washington.edu.