Past K-12 Outreach Events
This page highlights recent outreach events sponsored by the Center for East Asian Studies.
November 6-9, 2009: Performance and workshops with Nori Sawa
Japanese contemporary puppeteer Nori Sawa returned to Chicago with a performance and two workshops in November, 2009. View the full page of events here.
October 24, 2009: Film in the classroom workshop for teachers of Japanese language
The Center for East Asian Studies brought its expertise on Japanese film to Japanese language teachers in a professional development workshop at Murray Language Academy. Brian Bergstrom, PhD candidate from the University of Chicago, suggested innovative classrom uses for using Japanese films to illustrate aspects of Japanese grammar and culture. Sarah Arehart introduced teachers to a TV series aimed at younger viewers which focuses on basic everyday Japanese expressions as well as the typical Japanese home.
October 21, 2009: Film in the Classroom workshop for teachers of Chinese language
The Center for East Asian Studies brought its expertise on Chinese film to Chinese language teachers in a professional development workshop co-sponsored by the Chicago Confucius Institute. Lydia Li, PhD candidate from East China Normal University, offered teachers new perspectives on how to use Chinese film to enhance learning in the language classroom. Enthusiastic teachers were introduced to a wide range of examples including the recent Beijing Olympics games, nature documentaries, and classic cartoons.
September-October 2009: "Frank Lloyd Wright: Focus on Japan" at Courtenay Language Academy
The Center for East Asian Studies partnered with the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust to present "Frank Lloyd Wright: Focus on Japan" to 5th graders at Courtenay Language Academy on Chicago's near north side. "Focus on Japan" offers students a unique and in-depth exploration of Wright, Japanese prints and architecture. Classrooms are loaned a collection of Japanese prints and artifacts for the duration of the multi-week program and students explore Japanese art and design, culminating in actual printmaking. Students studied classic Japanese prints by masters such as Hiroshige, learning about elements of design. They created original linoleum block prints inspired by their neighborhood. Student prints will be on display at the Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N. Lincoln Ave, through December 18, 2009. "Frank Lloyd Wright: Focus on Japan" was developed by the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust and funded by the Center for East Asian Studies. Learn more here.
April 21, 2009: Japan Day at Burr Elementary School
The Center for East Asian Studies participated in the annual Japan Day celebration at Burr Elementary, a Chicago Public School in the Bucktown neighborhood. As a world language school, Burr offers instruction in Japanese language as well as after-school Japanese culture programs for all of its students in K-8th grades. Japan Day is a school-wide annual celebration of Japanese art and culture. Students performed Okinawan dances and Taiko drumming, and staff from the Japan Information Center demonstrated mochi-tsuki. During the afternoon arts and crafts sessions, University of Chicago PhD candidate Noriko Yamaguchi led a series of chigiri-e workshops with students.
February 3, 2009: World Poetry Workshop with Ravi Shankar
Poet and editor Ravi Shankar of Central Connecticut State University conducted a world poetry workshop for 60 seniors from Whitney Young Magnet High School. Using selections from the recent collection "Language for a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from the Middle East, Asia, and Beyond," Shankar addressed issues of politics and culture in Asia and the Middle East through the medium of poetry. He included a discussion of works by Korean poet Ko Un, Chinese poet Bei Dao, and Japanese poet Tada Chimako. The Center for East Asian Studies donated four copies of the book to the Whitney Young school library.
November 6-7, 2008: Workshop and performance with Nori Sawa
The University of Chicago Center for East Asian Studies hosted contemporary puppet master Noriyuki Sawa for a workshop at the University of Chicago Laboratory School and a free performance in Hyde Park. Mr. Sawa is originally from Japan but now resides in the Czech Republic, where he has created a large repertoire of performances, including solo silent dramas and colorful shadow plays. His fusion of Japanese and Czech approaches to puppetry creates unique puppets & techniques. His workshop for middle school children focused on the theme of "Metamorphosis." His performance "Fairy Tales" is a 60-minute silent solo performance that has won numerous awards.
October 4, 2008: "Meishi Street" screening with director Ou Ning
"Meishi Street" is a documentary by Ou Ning, Beijing-based artist, filmmaker, curator, graphic designer, and writer. Meishi Street, located in the historical Qianmen area in Beijing, was widened from 8 to 25 meters as part of the city renovations for the 2008 Olympics. Based on footage shot by one of the residents, the film documents life in the neighborhood before its destruction and the protests of those who were forced to relocate. This free screening and discussion with the director was co-sponsored by the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations. A copy of the documentary is available for rental from the CEAS Film Library.
