Program for Teaching East Asia


Upcoming Events and Announcements

"Journey to the Interior"

A Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Seminar for Teachers of Japanese Language, Literature, and History

June 28 - July 28, 2009

The Center for Asian Studies at the University of Colorado announces a Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Seminar in Japan designed for secondary teachers of world literature or history; teachers of AP Japanese Language and Culture; as well as university instructors of Japanese.

  • Participants will spend four weeks studying Japan through the lens of the famous travel diary Journey to the Interior (Oku no hosomichi), composed by the haiku poet Matsuo Basho after his journey through northern Japan in 1689.

  • They will follow Basho's route, visiting the historic, religious, and literary sites he visited, studying his writings, and meeting with contemporary poets and scholars of his work.

  • As they travel they will build their Japanese language and culture skills, expand their knowledge of Japanese history and literature, and collect materials for use in preparing curricular units.

  • Through the Seminar and the school-year follow-through program, participating educators will be prepared and supported to strengthen Japanese language and culture and/or history and literature instruction at their institutions.


Applications can be downloaded here. For more information, please contact

Laurel Rasplica Rodd, Project Director, 303-492-1138, email laurel.rodd@colorado.edu or
Catherine Higbee Ishida, TEA Japan Project Coordinator, 303-735-5115, email Catherine.Ishida@colorado.edu


2007-2008 Programs

April 2008

TEA Workshop: Arts of the Silk Road

April 8, 2008: In this workshop, scholars Judith Frey and Stephen Whiteman will trace a medieval journey along the Silk Road trade routes of Asia through art pieces at the Denver Museum of Art. For more information and a registration form, please download the flyer. Registration deadline is April 1. Contact Jenny Spolnik with any questions about the workshop.

TEA Workshop: Taiko Drumming

April 19, 2008: Featuring Julia Misawa, art director and instructor of Boulder Taiko HIBIKI, Japanese drum group, this workshop will include a lecture, demonstration, hands-on workshop to learn the art of taiko, performance, and curriculum session. For more information and a registration form, please download the flyer. Registration deadline is April 11. Contact Jenny Spolnik with any questions about the workshop.

Summer 2008

China Summer Institute: China on the Eve of the Olympics

The 2008 institute, "China's Transformations on the Eve of the Olympics," will take place July 21-July 30, 2008 at the University of Colorado in Boulder. The institute will consider questions such as:

  • What historical factors have helped foster China's recent economic, political, and social changes?
  • What do these unprecedented changes mean for the various interest groups involved: the Chinese government, the Chinese people, the countries of Asia and of the world?
  • How do the Olympics symbolize China's rise to global prominence? Will the Games ultimately benefit the Chinese government or its critics?

The application deadline for this program has passed. Questions about the institute? Contact Jon Zeljo.

Colorado Consortium for Teaching about Asia Study Tour to Japan 2008

TEA is pleased to sponsor a four-week study tour to Japan for Colorado elementary educators. This study tour is an opportunity for elementary educators to engage in experiential and in-depth study of Japan and its culture. This year's tour will emphasize integrating Japan across the elementary curriculum through children's books. This approach will enable participating educators to meet the growing challenge of incorporating cultural study into standardized curriculum cenetered on literacy. The study tour program includes the trip to Japan, a spring orientation, fall follow up meeting, and a yearlong follow-through program.

The application deadline for this program has passed. For more information, please download the information packet. Questions about the tour can be directed to Catherine Ishida.

National Consortium for Teaching about Asia Study Tour to Japan 2008

Teachers who have successfully completed an NCTA seminar sponsored through the University of Colorado NCTA National Coordinating Site or its California and Iowa Partner Sites are invited to apply for the NCTA 2008 Study Tour to China. This year's study tour will travel to Japan. Through the 21-day study tour and the school-year follow-up program, participating educators will be prepared and supported to strengthen Japanese studies content in appropriate school curricula.

The application deadline for this program has passed. For more information, please download the information packet. Please also check out the Tips for a Successful Application document. Questions? Contact Lynn Parisi regarding the application or the program.

General Announcements

Host Families for International Students

From time to time, the Center for Asian Studies receives requests from local student exchange organizations to help them find host families for international high school students in Boulder. If you are interested in learning about the opportunity to host an international student, please send an email to Danielle Rocheleau Salaz and we will pass on the information we receive.

New Outreach Program from CU

A new outreach program joins TEA in offering resources on Asia. In addition to resources and programs on East Asia through TEA, CU's Center for Asian Studies has a new outreach program covering other regions of Asia. Check out resources and professional development offerings on South Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia.

Please check back soon to find out more
about the programs and events Teaching East Asia will be offering for this year.