This article in the Munhwa Ilbo Newspaper argues that the Korean Wave of today must evolve into the “Korean Dream” of tomorrow. Like the American dream of the 1950s and 1960s, Korea is in the position to influence how people around the world conceive of themselves and their societies by promoting a “Korean Dream,” an model for thinking and behavior. I suggest that Koreans have to take the full responsibility that comes with great influence and put forth a new vision of the world and the role of individuals that will have a positive impact. Such a dream must go beyond consumption to engage with spiritual issues and issues of sustainability. The concept of “Korean Dream’ was first introduced to me by the GPFF (Global Peace Festival Foundation” and I have been much impressed by their efforts to create a new model for activity by youth.
Education
The importance of the humanities
There has been quite a lively debate in Korea, and throughout the world, concerning the importance of the humanities. I most certainly think the debate is most welcome and most healthy. I fear that often, however, the argument for the humanities is not made in a manner that will be convincing to undergraduates.
The argument tends to be that the humanities are essential for assuring a more complete human experience, for making you spiritually and ethically more satisfied. Although I certainly would not deny that logic, The fact is that most youth do not think in such terms. For most youth the main issue appears to be survival and there is not much space for living a more perfect spiritual life.
Cartoons and Education in Korea
The question on our minds is: what is unique about Korean education? Well Barack Obama spoke of Korean education several times in his 2011 State of the Union Address, but I did not have the impression that he had any concrete sense of what is unique about Korean education.
If you ask many Koreans, they will tell you that Korean education is a mess and many wish they could send their kids to the United States to escape from the land of forced memorization. But this story also doesn’t seem quite right. I meet many extremely well educated and thoughtful
Suggestions for Korean Language Instruction in US (article in Korean)
In this article in Kukmin Ilbo Newspaper (January 2, 2012) I describe the shortcomings of Korean language education in the United States and make a few concrete suggestions. An English language version of this article is forthcoming.
국민일보
2012년 01월 02일
“적색경보, 미국 내 한국어교육”
“좋은 한국어 교재 만드는 건 작은 투자지만 미래의 한국 전문가 만드는 첩경이다”
하버드대학에서 한국어 수업을 들을 때 이야기다. 첫날 30명이 왔다. 이 중 22명이 한국계 미국인이고 한국계가 아닌 학생은 8명이었다. 그런데 2주일도 지나지 않아 한국계 아닌 수강생은 나 혼자만 남게 됐다. 강사들은 대부분 한국계 대학원생들이었다.
Professor Jonathan Spence (essay)
Jonathan Spence
Jonathan Spence is the towering intellectual in Chinese studies at Yale, a man who has produced generations of important scholars in Chinese history and inspired many undergraduates at Yale to study Chinese. His most important role, I believe, has been introducing Chinese culture to American intellectuals who would otherwise not take much interest. Because he writes such elegant English, and is so well versed in the Western classics, his writing makes China accessible. I took only one course with Professor Spence, his famous survey of Modern China. We established a close relationship that has lasted to this day.
Professor Kang-i Sun Chang (essay)
Professor Kang-i Sun Chang
There was one other Chinese at Yale who had immense impact on me and led me to strive for excellence in the field of Chinese, Professor Kang-i Sun Chang (孙康宜教授). An extremely enthusiastic teacher and scholar trained in Taiwan, she had an all encompassing view of the potential of Chinese literature to be meaningful to everyone. She was also the one who encouraged me to learn Japanese and to study in Japan for my graduate work. Her father had studied in Japan in a previous era and she felt that I should take an equally broad perspective. An extremely well-read scholar, who wished to talk with anyone willing to engage her in a serious conversation, Professor Zhang constantly shared with me poems and stories when we sat at the desk in her office.
Kyung Hee University’s “Kyung Hee University Future Compact”
Kyung Hee University held a year-end party for faculty and students at the Peace Auditorium on December 21. The event, titled “Magnolia 2011” featured a very impressive music performance and the presentation of awards to outstanding faculty. The height of the event was the signing of a remarkable document entitled “Kyung Hee University Future Compact”
There is no English version of this remarkable document
The preface reads:
“This is a road that did not exist before. The road before us is one that has never been traveled. Only after we have crossed over it will it be a road. Today our Kyung Hee University community members join hands to build a better common community and a university of dignity based on a spirit of communication, harmony, consideration and respectfulness. For the first time since the founding of our Kyung Hee University faculty & students sign here together this “Kyung Hee University Future Compact” on a basis of mutual trust within the university.
Make the Next President of KAIST a Woman! (article in Korean)
Article arguing in Korean that the next president of KAIST should be a woman.
|
|
|
KAIST(한국과학기술원·총장 서남표)는 대한민국 과학의 방향 및 방법의 선도자로서 중요한 역할을 맡고 있다. 지난 7년 동안 KAIST의 혁신은 대한민국의 혁신으로 재빠르게 이어졌다. 로버트 러플린 미국 스탠퍼드대 교수가 총장으로 임명됐을 때 KAIST는 새로 국제적인 전망을 제시하고 한국 연구기관의 국제적인 역할을 강조하면서 한국 교육제도에 적지않은 영향을 미쳤다. 또한 서남표 총장 부임 이후 KAIST 대학운영 및 교육개혁에 대한 국민적 공감대를 형성하는 계기도 마련했다.
Portraits: Marston Anderson (essay)
Marston Anderson
When I returned from my year in Taiwan, there was a new professor of Chinese literature at Yale whom I had never met. He was a tall man with very short blond hair and a shy personality. The new professor did not talk much unless you engaged in a subject, but then he spoke with an enthusiasm and alertness that was inspiring. His name was Marston Anderson and he had just received a Ph.D. from Berkeley in Chinese literature. I heard later that he had been considered one of the most promising young scholars of Chinese studies. Professor
Portraits: Jonathan Spence (Essay)
Jonathan Spence
Jonathan Spence is the towering intellectual in Chinese studies at Yale, a man who has produced generations of important scholars in Chinese history and inspired many undergraduates at Yale to study Chinese. His most important role, I believe, has been introducing Chinese culture to American intellectuals who would otherwise not take much interest. Because he writes such elegant English, and is so well versed in the Western classics, his writing makes China accessible. I took only one course with Professor Spence, his famous survey of Modern China. We established a close relationship that has lasted to this day.