East Asian Studies Center encourages students to share time, culture

Folding origami. Telling ethnic stories. Demonstrating karate.

Shying away from the typical leaf-raking and food-boxing projects, the East Asian Studies Center presents volunteer opportunities in a slightly different way.
 
As interest in global issues increases, the studies center is seeking to make people more aware of the diversity of East Asia through projects that help teach the languages and, as Assistant Director Margaret Key said, “the incredibly rich culture traditions.”

One of the main goals of the center is to educate people outside of the University and to increase the amount of East Asian content taught in public schools, Key said.
“We serve students as well as the public,” said Outreach Assistant and Ph.D. candidate Jeeyoung Shin, who works with aspiring K-12 teachers in developing better field methodologies.

The center is providing opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students who are from East Asia to share their cultures, although participants without prior knowledge can contribute as well, Assistant Outreach Coordinator Katie Venit said.

“The bigger the volunteer list, the better,” she said.

Key said one of the biggest volunteer programs is “Teaching East Asia Through Storytelling,” where participants work with children in preschool through sixth grade and share stories involving countries like Japan, Korea and China.

There are about five to seven opportunities a year for students to go to schools such as Rogers Elementary School in Bloomington and work with children – reading stories and making culturally prepared crafts. For example, students might engage in crafts such as Japanese origami or Korean mask-making.

Participants also have the chance to present “Kamishibai,” a Japanese form of story telling involving colorful 15- by 11-inch cards with Japanese illustrations placed in a mini wooden theater, with English and Japanese scripts on the back.

This is a good way to improve Japanese learning skills and introduce a piece of the culture because kids learn something new, Venit said.

“I’ve never done a presentation where the kids haven’t been totally enthralled in what you’re doing,” Venit said.

She said if participants have a good attitude and love kids, “they’re going to eat it up.”
Volunteers can also go to retirement homes and give presentations sharing their cultures with the elderly Bloomington residents. 

East Asia’s current issues, political science and holidays are taught to seniors and mentally challenged adults at living communities like Bell Trace and Stone Belt.

Students can present their hobbies like Tai Chi and karate, while other students have shared projects such as “Chinese Fashion in the Movies,” and information on the Chinese New Year. 

“We love to encourage them to come up with an idea, because it will be more authentic and fun for them,” Venit said.

Hopeful participants can start their own projects and presentations with the center’s help by e-mailing easc@indiana.edu.

Students can easily get caught up in schoolwork, but it is so important to get involved with organizations and help the community, Venit said. 

“It’s so rewarding when I go on these volunteer projects,” Venit said. “It’s rejuvenating.”