February 3 - March 17, 2007

This course offered a general introduction to Korea for primary grade (K-6) teachers in the greater New York area. Twenty-one participants met on five Saturdays during February and March 2007 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Sessions included a varied program of lectures, workshops and classroom activities. Mornings were devoted to lecture and discussion sessions on Korean history, society, language, geography and literature. Afternoons were reserved for hands-on workshops involving folktales, calligraphy and brush painting, arts and handicrafts and film screenings.

With 5,000 years of history to cover in three hours, the first day's schedule was necessarily packed. Participants had top talent at their disposal however: Gari Ledyard, Sejong professor of Korean history emeritus at Columbia University, presented them with a rich overview of Korean history. In the afternoon, Cathy Spagnoli, professional storyteller, taught the participants how to use the techniques of storytelling to bring Korean folktales into their classrooms.

In subsequent sessions, Linda Lewis, director of Asia and Pacific studies at the School for International Training in Battleboro, Vermont, discussed Korean culture and society. Shin-hark Suk, lecturer (retired), The Korea Society, introduced the teachers to the Korean language and hangul. Gail Ludwig, professor of geography at the University of Missouri, presented a lively lecture on Korean geography. Wolhee Choe, professor emeritus of English literature at Brooklyn Polytechnic University, discussed the thematic role of nature in Korean Literature. Grace Park, painter and calligrapher, led the class in a hands-on exploration of Korean brush painting and calligraphy, using an inkstone and rice paper. Another hands-on Korean art workshop was led by Anne Drillick, a teacher at Anna C. Scott Elementary School in New Jersey. Between lectures, participants were taught how to integrate Korea into their school's curriculum.

The educators watched classic Korean films such as Families of South Korea, Way Home and Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring. They also tasted genuine Korean cuisine at a specially catered Korean buffet lunch.

Getting to Know Korea earned plaudits from the participants. One teacher wrote: "[Before] I knew nothing about Korea-now I would love to go and visit!" Another continued, "This is by far the best course I have ever taken through the ASPDP. I will have to recommend it to all my colleagues."