A New Way of Seeing: Fresh Approaches to Teaching About Asian Literatures

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A New Way of Seeing Fresh Approaches to Teaching
About Asian Literatures
Presented by Trevor CarolanUniversity of
Fraser Valley, Vancouver
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Why Asia?
As educators, we need to know what is happening
in this rapidly transforming region of the planet.

• Asia in the news
• Globalization
• Shared experience

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Why Literature?

• A system of enquiry (Education About Asia,
  Spring 1997 Vol. 21 p. 48).
• Images of self and other.
• Outer form of a creative work reflects
  underlying social values and philosophical
  framework.
• What literature means to its people.

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Why Asias New Literature?

• Continuities and transitions.
• Change in status quo.
• Outward and inner influences.
• Innovation vs. Tradition.

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Difficulties in Teaching About Asian Cultures

• Obstacle of foreign language.
• Travel takes time and money.
• Matter of engagement.

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About Another Kind of Paradise

• Intentions in compiling this volume
• What is it?
• Collection of 21 contemporary stories from 15
  East and Southeast Asian nations (in English)
• Includes notes on each authors work and life
• Foreword by editors of Manoa Journal

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Themes Critical Approaches

• Themes
• Urban poverty and social sustainability
• New social demands of pluralism and diversity
• Official and unofficial cultures in modern
  Japan
• Catch-up economic politics and social
  destabilization
• Job nomadism, migration, and sustainable economic
  practices
• Continuing relevance of tradition in changing
  times

Approaches

• Feminism
• Queer studies
• Post-colonialism
• Post-modernism

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Breadth of Topics and Applicability
Beyond unique reading entertainment, topics
covered make this a standard text for

• World Literature
• Comparative Literature
• Womens Studies
• Asian Studies
• Asian Literature
• Pacific Rim Studies

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Solutions and how Another Kind of Paradise helps

• Obstacle of foreign language read about Asian
  cultures with good translations or through
  stories by native-born writers fluent in English.
• Travel is takes time and money (as stated
  before) literature is a window into the many
  facets and perspectives of culture.
• Matter of engagement compare and contrast to get
  students involved in thinking critically.

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How to Structure Class

• Basic principle for effective teaching about
  Asia Its based on history and brings in some
  adventure to the study of peoples and cultures
  that are becoming integral to the economic
  futures of students.
• Four-Part Class Structure
• Mini lectures
• Student-led seminars
• Small study group analysis
• Class presentations

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Mini Lectures

• Purpose to understand a storys context
• PracticeKey topics to discuss
• Intertwined histories
• Physical geography
• Religious development
• Political overview

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Student-Led Seminars

• Purpose to establish a critical reading and
  thinking process in relation to the text at hand
• Practice
• Student pre-reading is obligatory
• In-class analysis and interpretation
• Text-based and beyond
• Question answer (Socratic method)

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Small Study Group Analysis

• Purpose further discussion and understanding
  amongst students
• Practice
• Students divide into small study groups (in
  class)
• Reading respondents to initiate peer discussion
  (example)
• Student tasks and role of instructor during
  exercise
• Class presentation
• Class participation grade
• Results
• from course evaluations

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Class Presentations

• Purpose further discussion and understanding
  amongst students
• Practice (following several weeks of small group
  tutorials)
• Schedule class presentations and form groups for
  each story
• Divide into task reporters
• Written outline
• Class presentation
• Results
• - High standard of student presentation and
  quality of insight
• - Confidence-building situation

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Results of this Class Structure

• Students work toward an understanding of how
  contemporary East Asian writers reflect
  historical social changes.
• Students acquire keener sense of place.
• Help to avoid cross-cultural misunderstandings.
• Preparation for being a world traveler, worker,
  and global citizen.

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• Questions?

Contact Trevor Carolan at trevor.carolan_at_ufv.ca
www.trevorcarolan.com Continue the conversation
with your peers at peerSource my.cheng-tsui.com/fo
rum/643
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• Thank you for attendingYou will be redirected to
  a brief survey after this presentation. We
  appreciate your feedback.
• Visit www.cheng-tsui.com for more information on
  Another Kind of Paradise, and other literature,
  culture, and language offerings.