Teachers from throughout the United States and at American international schools abroad will become truly knowledgeable instructors on East Asia in summer institutes being sponsored by the Yale Center for International and Area Studies (YCIAS), beginning in 1998.
Titled "Strengthening and Expanding the Study of East Asia in the Schools," the YCIA initiative is funded by a four-year grant of $440,000 from the Freeman Foundation. The project will be directed by the East Asia component of the Programs in International Educational Resources (PIER), the YCIAS unit that links Yale's international and area studies resources to the broader educational community. PIER-East Asia has provided teacher training for the past 20 years.
The Freeman Foundation grant will support summer institutes at Yale alternating with study in China, Japan, Korea or Taiwan from 1998 to 2001. The institutes at Yale will provide comprehensive background knowledge and preparation so that participants can get the greatest value from their subsequent on-site experiences in East Asia.
The first summer institute -- "Teaching about the New China: Global Menace or Good Neighbor?" -- is scheduled for July of 1998. The first field trip will take place in China during the summer of 1999. Twelve teachers will be selected to participate through a competitive process.
YCIAS already sponsors sumer institutes in international, African, and Russian and East European studies.
For more information about the new program, contact PIER-East Asia and PIER-International Studies coordinator Caryn Stedman, 432-3429.