Arkansas NCTA

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Conway, AR
Arkansas NCTA

A Division of the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia, Based in UCA's Asian Studies Program

Based at UALR, the Arkansas NCTA aims to equip elementary and secondary school teachers to teach East Asian history and culture in their classrooms.

03/09/2026

🎬Upcoming Film Screening🎬
Arkansas NCTA and the UCA Center for Asian Languages and Cultures present a free public screening of "Meeting with Pol Pot", featuring a post-film panel with Alan Elrod (Pulaski Institution), Dr. Hyo-Won Shin (Political Scientist), and Samnang Lep (Cambodian American Association of Arkansas).

"Meeting with Pol Pot" provides crucial insights into the Khmer Rouge regime and its devastating impact on Cambodia. Following the film, educators will engage in a panel discussion that brings together academic expertise, regional perspectives, and community knowledge to discuss how students can better understand complex topics like authoritarianism and genocide, as well as their ongoing impacts in the region. Lunch will be provided following the post-film panel.

Film Screening: "Meeting with Pol Pot"
📆Saturday, March 14, 2026
🕖9am-12pm
📍UCA - Stanley Russ Hall, room 103
👩‍🏫 For Grade 5-12 Teachers
👉Register here: https://www.escweb.net/ar_esc/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=573576

02/24/2026

🌟Upcoming Workshop🌟
Join us for an informative exploration of the rich new digital resource “Rising Above in Arkansas”, which documents the history of Japanese American incarceration in Arkansas during World War II.

This event not only offers vital context for understanding an important and difficult chapter in Arkansas history, but also provides teachers with opportunities to engage digital archives, spatial technologies, and other STEM-based resources in their classroom. Arkansas teachers will learn concrete strategies for engaging these resources across multiple grade levels and aligned to Arkansas State Standards.

Exploring Digital Humanities: Japanese American Incarceration during World War II
📅 Wednesday, March 4, 2026
🕟 6-8pm
📍 UCA – Burdick Hall room 205
👩‍🏫 For Grades 5–12 Teachers
👉 Register here: https://www.escweb.net/ar_esc/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=575517

01/29/2026

🎬Upcoming Film Screening🎬
Arkansas NCTA and the UCA Center for Asian Languages and Cultures present a free public screening of "Bluff City Chinese", featuring Director Thandi Cai and independent historian Emerald Dunn.

This documentary follows two storytellers of different generations on a mission to share the untold history of Chinese American immigrants in Memphis, Tennessee. This short (42 min) documentary is ideal for classroom viewing, and Arkansas teachers will receive a complimentary Learning Guide with suggested discussion questions and classroom activities.

Documentary Film Screening: "Bluff City Chinese"
📆Thursday, February 19, 2026
🕖7:00 - 9:00 PM
📍UCA - Integrated Health Sciences Building, Room 280
👩‍🏫 For Grade 5-12 Teachers

👉Register here: https://www.escweb.net/ar_esc/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=573572

01/21/2026

👋Join us for a Talk Story with Crystal Kwok as she discusses her documentary, Blurring the Color Line on February 19th!

🏪The film follows Crystal’s journey, as she learns more about her family’s history as owners of a local grocery store in Augusta, Georgia. At the heart of the film is an investigation into Black, Chinese, and White relations in the American South. The documentary has won several film festival awards and has aired on PBS.

Learn more about Chinese American history, racial relations, and American history by registering for our event!

👉Register with the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/blurring-the-color-line-talk-story-with-crystal-kwok-tickets-1980406385811?aff=oddtdtcreator

10/29/2025

🎶 Upcoming Workshop 🎬
Are your students obsessed with K-Pop Demon Hunters? Join us for a fun and informative workshop with Dr. Katherine In-Young Lee, PhD, exploring how this Netflix hit can be used to teach about traditional and contemporary Korean culture!

Understanding the Rise of K-Culture: K-Pop Demon Hunters in the Classroom
📅 Tuesday, November 18, 2025
🕟 4:30 – 5:30 PM
📍 UCA – Irby Hall, Room 215
👩‍🏫 For Grades 5–12 Social Studies, Fine Arts, GT, and World Languages teachers

👉 Register here: https://www.escweb.net/ar_esc/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=570265

09/04/2025

🌸 Wrapping Up a Successful Summer at ARNCTA! 🌸

As summer comes to a close, we’re excited to celebrate the success of our professional development workshops.

This June, we hosted two engaging sessions for Arkansas educators:
- Foundations of East Asian Civilization: Confucianism, Shinto, and Buddhism – where participants explored the core philosophies and religious traditions that shaped East Asia.
- Asian American History in Arkansas and Beyond – which highlighted the often-overlooked stories of Asian American communities in our state.

We’re so grateful to the educators who joined us and to our presenters for sharing their expertise. Thank you for making this summer such a meaningful one! Stay tuned for our upcoming fall programs—we can’t wait to see you there.

05/12/2025

🌏 Teachers! Want to bring more global depth to your classroom?
Join us for a free, in-person ARNCTA workshop on:
Foundations of Asian Civilization: Confucianism, Shinto, and Buddhism
📅 Date: Friday, June 13, 2025
⏰ Time: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM CST
📍 ArchFord ESC in Plumerville, AR
👩‍🏫 Who: Grades 5-12 Teachers
🔗 Register here: https://www.escweb.net/ar_esc/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=554373
This introductory full-day seminar explores the origins and impact of three of the most important religious and philosophical traditions in Asia: Confucianism, Shinto, and Buddhism. Although these schools of thought emerged thousands of years ago, their influence can still be felt in many aspects of East Asian culture, politics, and society today. This workshop features accessible resources and interactive classroom strategies for teaching classical Confucian teachings, shifting Buddhist practices, and the many Shinto beliefs and spirits that continue to influence Japan’s popular culture. Participating teachers will receive a $50 honorarium and two free books on Asian philosophy and religion.
Featured Speakers:
🔹 Dr. James Dietrick, Department of Philosophy & Religion
🔹 Dr. Kae Hashimoto Reed, School of Language and Literature
🔹 Dr. Zach Smith, Department of History
Scan the QR code on the flyer or contact us at [email protected] for more information.

02/03/2025

🌿✨ New Workshop Alert! ✨🌿
Ecology and Energy: Teaching Asia and the Environment

📅 Date: Monday, February 17, 2025
⏰ Time: 12:30 - 3:30 PM CST
💻 Format: Virtual via Zoom
👩‍🏫 Who: Grades 6-12 Teachers

This interactive virtual workshop brings together scholars of philosophy, literature, geography, and anthropology to explore how artists and activists in China and Japan have understood their environment, lived within it, and sought to address human impacts on the physical landscape. The workshop provides world geography, world literature, world history, and science teachers with concrete strategies and resources for engaging environmental issues in Asia through anime, carbon data, martial arts, and Asian futurism. Registered Grade 9 - 12 teachers will receive a copy of celebrated director Hayao Miyazaki’s ecological masterpiece Princess Mononoke as well as a 2024 Freeman Award-winning book.

Featured Speakers:
🔹 Prof. Ling Zhang – Department of Geography
🔹 Prof. Zach Smith – Department of History
🔹 Prof. Tim Strikwerda – School of Language and Literature
🔹 Prof. Taine Duncan – Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies

🖊 Spots are limited—register now! https://www.escweb.net/ar_esc/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=547454

Scan the QR code on the flyer or contact us at [email protected] for more information.

07/03/2024

🌟 Exciting Opportunity for Arkansas Educators! 🌟

Join us for our upcoming virtual professional development workshop: "Teaching Korea in a Global World"

📅 Date: July 16th
⏰ Time: 8:30 am - 11:30 am, plus asynchronous modules on Google Classroom
💻 Format: Virtual via Zoom

From Buddhism to K-Pop, the Korean peninsula has played a crucial role in global popular culture. Despite this, Korea often remains underrepresented in world history and civics curricula. This workshop provides digital resources and practical strategies to bring Korea to the forefront of your classroom discussions, covering the rich political, social, and historical contexts behind the "Korean wave" of music, TV dramas, and popular brands.

Workshop Benefits:
✅ 6 hours of PD credit
✅ 2 FREE books for teaching modern Chinese history
✅ Access to a suite of classroom-ready digital teaching materials
✅ Priority registration for future NCTA programs

Don't miss this chance to enhance your teaching toolkit and bring the dynamic history and culture of Korea to life in your classroom.

🔗 Read more and register here --> https://www.arncta.com/news-events/teaching-korea-in-a-global-world-july-2024-workshop

🖊 Only 20 spots available. Register now and secure your spot!

05/29/2024

As AAPI Heritage Month comes to a close, we are excited to announce the launch of our new Asian America resource guide! 🌸

These resources explore the rich history, culture, and contributions of Asian Americans. From educational materials to lesson plans, our new page is designed to help educators, students, and lifelong learners gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Asian American experience.

🖱️ Check it out here↠ https://www.arncta.com/asia-resources/resource-center?view=article&id=152:asian-americans&catid=9:uncategorised

Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month with us by integrating these valuable resources into your teaching and learning.

Address

201 Donaghey Avenue, Irby Hall Rm. 420
Conway, AR
72035

Website

https://www.arncta.com/

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