Trip slide show: www.asia.ucla.edu/slideshows/
Post-trip note: The
trip to South Korea and Japan was an enormous success
and participants have
already found many ways to incorporate aspects of the
experience into their lessons. A follow-up session is
to be held at UCLA in October.
April 26,
2003 update:
Because of the uncertainties generated
by the SARS outbreak in China, we have refocused the 2003
study trip on Korea and Japan. We
will update the itinerary and other pages as soon as possible
to reflect this change.
The National Consortium
for Teaching about Asia is devoted to strengthening
the ability of teachers to bring Asia to their students.
Towards this end, NCTA offers seminars and other programs
throughout the nation. For twenty years, UCLA's Asia programs
have had similar aims, most notably our decade old intensive
summer program for teachers. We were delighted to
join NCTA in 2001 and have since offered seminars
in several school districts. Dozens of energetic and
insightful teachers have participated and have worked
with outstanding Asia specialists. These seminars benefited
from the support of district leaders and logistical help
from district staff. We are grateful for the Freeman Foundation's
generous support of this effort.
To further encourage these teachers and
to provide them with an even stronger base upon which
to teach, NCTA invites graduates of our seminars to apply
to join study tours of East Asia. Graduates of California
National Consortium for Teaching about Asia seminars are
eligible to apply for our 2003 Summer Study Tour to China
and Japan. Most of the cost of the trip (airfare, in-country
transportation, lodging, and nearly all meals) and the
orientation weekend (April) and the follow-up weekend
(October) will be met by a grant from the Freeman Foundation.
Each participant will pay $750 (which helps with several
costs, including gratuities for local guides and drivers).
The selection committee for the trip
consists of NCTA Seminar Leaders Jonathan Weil (Loyola
Marymount University), Gary Mukai and Stephanie Lamb (SPICE),
Stephanie Weintraub (Oakland Unified School District)
two NCTA representatives (Karla Loveall from the University
of Colorado and Susan Greenwell from Columbia University),
and Clayton Dube (UCLA).
Only teachers who have met all the seminar
requirements are eligible to apply for the program (isn't
that incentive to get that last bit of work done?). Graduates
should receive an application packet in December 2002.
If you have not received a packet, please contact your
seminar leader.
The application deadline is February
12, 2003.
Program Components
Educators applying for an NCTA study
tour should be prepared to participate in a full year
of activities, beginning in April 2003 and running through
the 2003-2004 school year. Participants should complete
pre-study tour readings. Teachers who cannot fully commit
to all program components should not apply for the program.
These include:
- A weekend orientation program (April
26-27, 2003), travel and lodging costs will be covered
by the project
- An three week study tour in China
and Japan
- A weekend debriefing workshop (probably
in October), travel and lodging costs for the debriefing
program will be provided by the project
- 2003-2004 academic year follow-through,
including implementation of new Asia content and resources
in participating teachers' classrooms and ongoing correspondence
with NCTA colleagues
- Participation in follow-up evaluations
Selection Criteria
Preference will be given to educators
who have not traveled in China or Japan in the past five
years.
The following criteria will guide selection:
- Evidence of commitment to the goals
of NCTA through seminar participation, on the study
tour, and follow-up activities described on the application
- Potential for classroom use and dissemination
of study tour experience and materials
- Commitment to the parameters of a
group study experience
- Personal qualities and interpersonal
skills
