CEFIA News

The Division of Understanding Korea Project at the Center for International Affairs of the Academy of Korean Studies held the "Textbook Seminar for Educators of USA" on June 15-16, 2022.

This seminar was held to provide officials of the Teachers' Curriculum Institute (TCI), a major U.S. educational publishing company, with opportunities to increase their understanding of Korea, share information on social studies textbooks and teaching/learning programs, as well as discussing Korea-related contents and ways to expand them.

The program started with a welcome address by Yoonghe Jo, Director of Center for International Affairs, Academy of Korean Studies, and congratulatory remarks by Albert Bower, CEO of TCI. The online program held under the theme of "Teaching High School Students about Korea in the U.S." included seminars and lectures.

TCI CEO Bower and National Sales Director Natasha Martin introduced the U.S. publishing company and made a presentation on the K-12 Social Studies Textbook Adoption Process in the United States. CEO Bower spoke about the TCI's goal and strategy in the development of teaching and learning programs and provided information on the trend of U.S. textbook publishing market. Director Martin spoke about the textbook adoption system and procedures of each U.S. state. The director particularly stressed that it is important for Korea-related contents to be included in the U.S. state curriculum in order to have U.S. textbooks carry more information about Korea.

Dahee Kim, a researcher at the Division of Understanding Korea Project, speaking on the theme of "Introducing Korea in the U.S. Textbook: 6-12 Social Studies," discussed the errors frequently located in American social studies textbooks and ways to address the problem. Kim then outlined various topics of Korea-related contents that can be included in the curriculum of each U.S. state. She also shared information on general materials and websites about understating Korea and Korea-related class materials which can be used in U.S. classes.

CEO Bower, showing actual class videos, gave detailed explanations about the social studies teaching and learning programs TCI developed based on a digital platform. He also introduced the U.S. high school history textbook "History Alive! Pursuing American Ideals," which is the outcome of collaboration between the Understanding Korea Project and TCI. Then Brian Thomas, TCI's National Account Manager and Curriculum Developer, provided opportunities for participants in the seminar to use the online program of the "History Alive! Pursuing American Ideals" textbook. They got on the chapters with Korea-related topics, and were given opportunities to see and experience how to run class, solve problems and evaluate performance.

Meanwhile, there were lectures for two days on "Teaching High School Students about Korea through the Lens of the Cold War," a topic which was chosen by TCI. The lectures by Professor Henry Em of Yonsei University's Underwood International College and Professor Namhee Lee of University of California, Los Angeles, focused on the Cold War and the Korean War and the post-war Korean modern history. The lectures gave opportunities for TCI officials to understand and discuss Korean history and culture.

The seminar helped the Division of Understanding Korea Project understand the textbook system and curriculum of each U.S. state and TCI's development of teaching and learning materials and online programs. Participants also shared various opinions about how to expand Korea-related contents in classes. The seminar also helped the Division of Understanding Korea Project strengthen human network with educational experts of TCI, which laid the foundation for cooperation to improve and add Korea-related contents in U.S. textbooks and educational materials.

The Understanding Korea Project Division of the Center for International Affairs at the Academy of Korean Studies hosted the Textbook Seminar for Educators of France from June 25 (Saturday) to July 1 (Friday), 2022.

Three French education and textbook experts, including a school inspector, and Korean officials participated in the seminar on June 27. The president of the Academy of Korean Studies received a courtesy call from the participants and hosted a lunch for them. There were lectures on Korea on June 28. French education and textbook experts who participated in the seminar and lectures for two days expressed considerable interest in Korea.

The seminar gave Korean presenters, including researchers of the Understanding Korea Project Division, and French experts time to discuss the two countries' education and textbook system, foreign language curriculum, Korea-related contents in French social studies textbooks, and ways to develop friendly bilateral relations.

The lectures on Korea provided the French experts with an opportunity to broaden their knowledge and understanding of Korean history and Korean culture centered on the Korean Wave in France. French participants showed strong interest in the lectures, asking many questions.

After the seminar and lectures, the French experts visited Suwon Hwaseong, Paju, Songdo, and Seoul to experience Korean history and culture and enhance their understanding of Korea.

The Division of Understand Korea Project will use the Korean culture program to share textbooks and materials on understanding Korea with the French participants and continue to work together to improve mutual understanding of the two countries.

We are pleased to announce the Call for Essays of the Understanding Korea Contest 2022. Please note the following guidelines. The Center for International Affair at AKS is the home of the Understanding Korea Project, which seeks to correct inaccurate information on and improve contents about Korea in International textbooks.

Essay Themes	● International Images of Korea
	- Images of Korea in international instructional materials (Internation textbooks, Internet sites, etc.)     - Proposals on how to improve the image of Korea   ● Improvements using Understanding Korea Materials     - Improvements using Understanding Korea materials and suggestions for developing new materials
Eligibility	Foreigners, Koreans living abroad
Submission	Through the official website of the Academy of Korean Studies
	- Language: Korean or English   - Essay Length: About 3 pages in A4 format   ※ Download the application form from information bulletins on the Center's website and submit.      (Only the official form will be accepted.)   ※ Applications can be submitted using either Theme 1 or Theme 2 or both.
Prizes	● Grand Prize: 2 (Awarded by the Minister (MOFA & MOE) Prize worth 1,000,000 won)
	● Excellence Prize: 4 (Awarded by AKS President Prize worth 400,000 won)   ● Participation Prize: 6 (Awarded by the Center Director Prize worth 200,000 won)
Application Period	June 1 - July 31, 2022, 18:00
	※ Applications arrived after the deadline (Korea Standard Time) will not be received..
Announcement	September 20, 2022
	※ The result of the contest will be posted on the Center's website and all winners will be       notified individually.
Contact	The Center for International Affairs, Division of Understanding Korea Project
	- Email: highspirit@aks.ac.kr   ※ All inquiries about the contest must be made by email.