CEFIA News
● Textbook Seminar for Educators of Uganda
● The 159th Colloquium on Korean Studies Abroad
● Textbook Seminar for Educators of USA
● Textbook Author Visits AKS from the Center for Teacher Professional Development of Georgia’s
Ministry of Education and Science
● The 159th Colloquium on Korean Studies Abroad
● Textbook Seminar for Educators of USA
● Textbook Author Visits AKS from the Center for Teacher Professional Development of Georgia’s
Ministry of Education and Science
Textbook Seminar for Educators of Uganda
AKS’s Center for International Affairs hosted the “Textbook Seminar for Educators of Uganda” over seven days from April 4 (Saturday) through April 20 (Sunday), 2019. The following invited guests participated in this event: Deputy Director Bernadette Nambi Karuhanga of the Uganda Education Curriculum Development Center, Secondary Education Curriculum Officer Said Twin Kiyingyi, Associate Editor Hamilah Hannah Barinda Nambusi, and Publishing Director Thomas Tibaijuka of Fountain Publishing.
At this seminar, the participants met with Korean presenters including those from AKS. They had time to discuss the education systems and textbook policies of each country, the process of writing textbooks, and Korea’s image in Ugandan textbooks. They also broadened their understanding and interest in Korea by listening to lectures focused on Korean history, the Korean economy, and the relationship between North and South Korea.
At this seminar, the participants met with Korean presenters including those from AKS. They had time to discuss the education systems and textbook policies of each country, the process of writing textbooks, and Korea’s image in Ugandan textbooks. They also broadened their understanding and interest in Korea by listening to lectures focused on Korean history, the Korean economy, and the relationship between North and South Korea.
The Ugandan delegation explained Korea-related units recently introduced in their secondary school third grade curriculum. They expressed satisfaction and appreciation for the materials we provided to them to help improve their textbooks and also pledged to revise parts of their textbooks which need improving. The delegation deeply sympathized with Korea’s heartbreaking history after a visit to the National Museum of Contemporary Korean History where they learned about the Japanese colonial period, independence movement, the tragedy of the Korean War, and Korea’s democratization process.
In addition, the delegation gained valuable insight about Korea’s history and culture and the development of today’s Korea by visiting the Busan Provisional Capital Memorial Hall and Provisional Government Complex, Ulsan Hyundai Motors, Gyeongbok Palace, Cheonggyecheon, Insa-dong, and Namdaemun. These activities provided them with valuable information about Korea in general. The Ugandan delegation revealed that they would cooperate to include more relevant and accurate information about Korea in their textbooks.
In addition, the delegation gained valuable insight about Korea’s history and culture and the development of today’s Korea by visiting the Busan Provisional Capital Memorial Hall and Provisional Government Complex, Ulsan Hyundai Motors, Gyeongbok Palace, Cheonggyecheon, Insa-dong, and Namdaemun. These activities provided them with valuable information about Korea in general. The Ugandan delegation revealed that they would cooperate to include more relevant and accurate information about Korea in their textbooks.
Jeongeun Kim, Division of Understanding Korea Project
The 159th Colloquium on Korean Studies Abroad
The 159th Colloquium on Korean Studies Abroad was held in the second floor meeting room of AKS’s Culture Center at 4:00 pm on Saturday, April 17, 2019. The colloquium started with a presentation from 2019 AKS Fellowship recipient Sun Young Ahn (Visiting Scholar at Boston University in the US) entitled “Effects of Language Environment on the Development of Korean Emotion Vocabulary in Children: A Psycholinguistic Approach.” This was followed by “Empirical Research on Societal Trust and Cooperation amongst North Korean Defectors” by Seo-Young Cho of Phillipps-University of Marburg in Germany and “A Comparative Analysis on Korean Folktales” by Jawa Jha of Begaluru Central University in India.
The first speaker, Sun Young Ahn, researched factors like age and language environment that can affect the development of emotion vocabulary. She explained her findings by analyzing three research groups: families who are native speakers of Korean, multicultural families in Korea, and overseas Korean families.
The second presenter, Seo-Young Cho, used the priming effect to conduct empirical research about societal trust and cooperation amongst North Korean defectors. She presented a table showing characteristics of Korean identity and the identity of North Korean people and discussed the meanings of her research.
The last presenter, Jawa Jha, focused on Korean animal husband and animal wife tales and explained the unique characteristics of Korea’s folk tales by comparing them with similar stories from other cultures. The event was attended by other researchers and students.
The first speaker, Sun Young Ahn, researched factors like age and language environment that can affect the development of emotion vocabulary. She explained her findings by analyzing three research groups: families who are native speakers of Korean, multicultural families in Korea, and overseas Korean families.
The second presenter, Seo-Young Cho, used the priming effect to conduct empirical research about societal trust and cooperation amongst North Korean defectors. She presented a table showing characteristics of Korean identity and the identity of North Korean people and discussed the meanings of her research.
The last presenter, Jawa Jha, focused on Korean animal husband and animal wife tales and explained the unique characteristics of Korea’s folk tales by comparing them with similar stories from other cultures. The event was attended by other researchers and students.
Youngmi Kang, Division for the Promotion of Korean Studies Abroad
Textbook Seminar for Educators of USA
AKS’s Center for International Affairs hosted the “Textbook Seminar for Educators of USA” over seven days from April 21 (Sunday) through April 27 (Saturday), 2019. The following invited guests participated in this event: Ross E. Dunn (professor emeritus, San Diego State University), Laura J. Mitchell (associate professor, University of California, Irvine), Roger B. Beck (professor emeritus, Eastern Illinois University), and Bram Hubbell (teacher, Friends Seminary).
At a textbook seminar which was part of the program, the participants met with presenters including those from AKS. They had time to discuss the current state of history and world history education in each country and the ways in which Korea is reflected in American world history classes. This seminar was conducted by Understanding Korea Project Head Wonsuk Chang. Professor Beck shared examples from popular middle and high school textbooks to show different narratives that are shown regarding Korea. Professors Dunn and Mitchell explained the trends of world history education since the 1990s in their presentation entitled “Textbooks and the New World History.” Mr. Hubbell, a history teacher, proposed that the March 1st Independence Movement might be a good example of how Korea related materials can be used. He led a discussion about teaching methods that promote students’ creative thinking and active participation.
There were also several presentations from the Korean side. Professor Henry Em (Underwood International College, Yonsei University) gave a presentation about world order and the Korea-USA relationship after World War II. Professor Sunjoo Kang (Gyeongin National University of Education) discussed current issues and features of history and world history curricula in Korea. Finally, Understanding Korea Project researcher Dahee Kim gave a presentation regarding ideal ways in which Korea should be reflected in USA world history classes. All of the participants were able to improve their understanding of history and world history education in both countries, as well as world history curriculum and courses in world history.
At a textbook seminar which was part of the program, the participants met with presenters including those from AKS. They had time to discuss the current state of history and world history education in each country and the ways in which Korea is reflected in American world history classes. This seminar was conducted by Understanding Korea Project Head Wonsuk Chang. Professor Beck shared examples from popular middle and high school textbooks to show different narratives that are shown regarding Korea. Professors Dunn and Mitchell explained the trends of world history education since the 1990s in their presentation entitled “Textbooks and the New World History.” Mr. Hubbell, a history teacher, proposed that the March 1st Independence Movement might be a good example of how Korea related materials can be used. He led a discussion about teaching methods that promote students’ creative thinking and active participation.
There were also several presentations from the Korean side. Professor Henry Em (Underwood International College, Yonsei University) gave a presentation about world order and the Korea-USA relationship after World War II. Professor Sunjoo Kang (Gyeongin National University of Education) discussed current issues and features of history and world history curricula in Korea. Finally, Understanding Korea Project researcher Dahee Kim gave a presentation regarding ideal ways in which Korea should be reflected in USA world history classes. All of the participants were able to improve their understanding of history and world history education in both countries, as well as world history curriculum and courses in world history.
There were also two presentations about Korea. Professor John Delury (Graduate School of International Studies, Yonsei University) presented about prospects for peace and denuclearization, and Professor Youngha Joo(The Academy of Korean Studies) lectured on the history of Korean cuisines. Afterwards, there was a question and answer period to follow up on any topics the participants were interested in.
The participants were also able to broaden their understanding and knowledge of Korean history and culture through visiting Gyeongju cultural sites, exploring Yangdong village, and visiting museums.
This program provided the American textbook experts valuable information regarding Korea’s history, culture, economy, and education system. They agreed to actively use this information in the education field and make efforts to increase the amount of Korea related contents when textbooks are revised.
The participants were also able to broaden their understanding and knowledge of Korean history and culture through visiting Gyeongju cultural sites, exploring Yangdong village, and visiting museums.
This program provided the American textbook experts valuable information regarding Korea’s history, culture, economy, and education system. They agreed to actively use this information in the education field and make efforts to increase the amount of Korea related contents when textbooks are revised.
Dahee Kim, Division of Understanding Korea Project
Textbook Author Visits AKS from the Center for Teacher Professional Development of Georgia’s Ministry of Education and Science
Bliadze Maia, geography textbook author at the Center for Teacher Professional Development of Georgia’s Ministry of Education and Science, visited Korea from April 21-27, 2019, as part of the Korea Foundation’s Influencer Group Invitation Project (Education). As part of her itinerary, Bliadze Maia visited AKS on April 24, learned about the work of AKS’s Center for International Affairs, and discussed various opportunities for educational cooperation between Georgia and Korea.
First, they watched a promotional video about AKS before being introduced to the Understanding Korea Project. Following, we introduced an online site which contains information about Korea compiled by the Division of the Understanding of Korea Project to correct errors in Georgian geography textbooks and other information about Korea developed by various government entities.
Although it was a short time, Bliadze Maia showed great interest in the Understanding Korea Project. In fact, she revealed that she had already found information created by the Division of the Understanding Korea Project in the Korean embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia, and that based on this information had added Korea related contents to textbooks which will be published in September 2019. She also informed us this could be confirmed after the publishing is completed in September. In addition, she stated that this visit to Korea gave her the opportunity to find ways to collaborate to include a wider range of Korea related contents in Georgian textbooks.
On top of this, she told us that the information from the Division of the Understanding Korea Project would be of great help to the revision of Georgian textbooks and committed to work towards including more Korea related materials in Georgian textbooks.
First, they watched a promotional video about AKS before being introduced to the Understanding Korea Project. Following, we introduced an online site which contains information about Korea compiled by the Division of the Understanding of Korea Project to correct errors in Georgian geography textbooks and other information about Korea developed by various government entities.
Although it was a short time, Bliadze Maia showed great interest in the Understanding Korea Project. In fact, she revealed that she had already found information created by the Division of the Understanding Korea Project in the Korean embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia, and that based on this information had added Korea related contents to textbooks which will be published in September 2019. She also informed us this could be confirmed after the publishing is completed in September. In addition, she stated that this visit to Korea gave her the opportunity to find ways to collaborate to include a wider range of Korea related contents in Georgian textbooks.
On top of this, she told us that the information from the Division of the Understanding Korea Project would be of great help to the revision of Georgian textbooks and committed to work towards including more Korea related materials in Georgian textbooks.
Kihong Chang, Division of Understanding Korea Project
