programs

Asia

As rising powers on the global stage, the regions of East, Southeast, and South Asia include some of the fastest growing economies in the world. In order to better understand these countries' current growth and success and what it means for their peoples, it is necessary to first study their histories and values. Their influence on other regions is not new; over the centuries, Asia has influenced philosophical thought, religion, art, and commerce in much of the world, and these diverse nations continue to have a marked impact on evolving civilizations today. With a growing immigrant population from Asia here in the United States, it is also becoming increasingly important for students not only to understand the culture and experiences of their peers, but to realize how Asian immigrants have contributed to life in the U.S.

Due to the cultural variation in this broad region, Primary Source offers programs that look at China, Japan, Korea, India, Vietnam, and Cambodia. Teachers gain unique perspectives through the use of primary sources and participation in study tours abroad.

Seminars 2010-2011

Understanding Korea: Prominence, Politics, and Personal Experience
Three-day seminar series
Course Dates
: Oct. 25, Nov. 18, Dec. 9, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Primary Source
PDPs/Credits: 27 PDPs; 1 graduate credit for the course
Fee: Partnership educators—no cost other than fee for 1 graduate credit; Non-partnership educators—$300 plus fee for 1 graduate credit

Despite North and South Korea's prominence in international news, the complex issues facing both countries are often poorly understood. This course will provide a broader context for understanding historical and current events and introduce Korean culture through live demonstrations of music and art, author presentations, and authentic Korean cuisine.

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Storied Subcontinent: An Introduction to South Asia
Five-day seminar series
Course Dates
: Jan. 21, Feb. 10, Mar. 5 (half-day only), Mar. 24, and Apr. 14, 2011; 3 hours of online work
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Primary Source
PDPs/Credits: 45 PDPs; 2 graduate credits for the course
Fee: Partnership educators—no cost other than fee for 2 graduate credits; Non-partnership educators—$500 plus fee for 2 graduate credits

What is most important to know about the distinctive cultures and historical experiences of South Asia, particularly Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan? Through scholar presentations, interactive workshops, Web 2.0 technologies, and a museum visit, this course will offer a deeper look at the historical, political, and cultural trends that have shaped this complex region.

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Taking Students to China: Why, How, What, Where, and When?
One-day workshop
Course Date
: Oct. 13, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Primary Source
PDPs/Credits: 6 PDPs
Fee: Partnership educators—no cost; Non-partnership educators—$125

As China increases in world importance and China studies are added to school curricula, educators are evaluating the opportunities for group travel to China to expose their students to authentic experiences. This one-day program will discuss the value of various travel options and share experiences with study tours, exchange programs and service learning.

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Cambodia and Vietnam: Cultural Diversity and Historical Context
One-day workshop
Course Date
: Oct. 30, 2010
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Boston Children's Museum
PDPs/Credits: 10 PDPs
Fee: Partnership educators—no cost except $10 lunch fee; Non-partnership educators—$85

This program is designed for teachers who are interested in integrating Southeast Asia into their curriculum and teachers looking to learn more about the cultures of their Cambodian and Vietnamese students.

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Dig In: The Many Faces of Japan through Japanese Foods
One-day workshop
Course Date
: Mar. 19, 2011
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Boston Children's Museum
PDPs/Credits: 10 PDPs
Fee: Partnership educators—no cost except $10 lunch fee; Non-partnership educators—$85

This seminar goes beyond sushi, teriyaki, and tempura! We will dig into Japanese history and customs by exploring the world of Japanese food.

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Making Sense of Chinese: Language Workshop for Non-Speakers
One-day workshop
Course Date
: Apr. 2, 2011
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Boston Children's Museum
PDPs/Credits: 10 PDPs
Fee: Partnership educators—no cost except $10 lunch fee; Non-partnership educators—$85

Nearly one-fifth of the world's population—over one billion people—speak some dialect of Chinese. But for non-Chinese speakers, Mandarin, Cantonese, and the many Chinese dialects can be confusing, intimidating, and overwhelming.

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Tea and Talk: Developments in Today's China
Late afternoon series
Course Dates
: Oct. 14, Nov. 9, and Dec. 2
Time: 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Location: Primary Source
Free and open to the public

In this series, three preeminent China scholars will challenge longstanding ideas and share new insights on recent archaeological discoveries, Taiwan-mainland relations, and the implications of the One-Child Policy.

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Registration for 2010-2011 programs will begin in early September 2010.

Partnership educators: Registration must be approved through your school district.
Please get in touch with your school district's Primary Source contact person and let them know which program(s) you are interested in. Upon approval from your district, Primary Source will contact you with instructions for online registration.

Non-partnership educators:
Space is limited. Please send your registration request to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Space permitting, retired educators are welcome to register for Primary Source seminars at a discount of 50% off the non-partner rate.

Registration deadline is Friday, September 24, 2010.