For the second time in less than a year, Carla Bryant traveled to Asia to participate in a workshop to learn about a different culture and education system.
“I wanted to participate in this program because there is an urgent need to prepare our students to compete in a global market,” said Bryant, a graduate of Southern Arkansas University. “There is really a shift away from a Euro-Atlantic market to an Asian-Pacific market.”
Bryant, who teaches in the Hope Public School system, was among 50 educators to visit South Korea during the July and August Korean Studies Workshop for American Educators. As guests of the Korean Foundation, teachers from the United States were hosted with the utmost respect and care. Bryant was selected from a national pool of approximately 500 applicants by a panel of educators to earn this honor.
The program allows distinguished primary and secondary school educators in the U.S. to travel to South Korea for two weeks in an effort to promote greater intercultural understanding between the two nations.
Teachers began their visit in Seoul with in-depth university seminars covering topics concerning Korean life, culture, politics, and history hosted by Yonsei University. Participants were then provided with cultural and educational experiences throughout the city and historical districts of South Korea.
Bryant had the opportunity to participate in a Taekwondo lesson with a fourth degree black belt headmaster, test many traditional Korean foods, visit historic temples, museums, palaces, the Demilitarized Zone, and tour the prestigious Minjok Academy for Gifted Students.
“The lectures were extremely informative and thorough,” said Bryant. “We gained great insight into the history of Korea, the various wars that have been fought on its soil, and the great developments that the country of South Korea has made within the past 30 years both economically and technologically.”
Bryant encourages all educators to participate in these types of programs if given an opportunity.
“Participation stretches your mind beyond imagination,” said Bryant. “It allows you to actually ‘feel’ the culture and not just read about it in a book. My desire is to impart both knowledge and dreams to my students by helping them to realize that they can go anywhere in the world from south Arkansas.
“Educators who participate in these types of workshops have a hands-on opportunity to learn first hand about different people, culture, languages, and a new way of thinking. Since all educators in the state of Arkansas are required to participate in professional development opportunities each year, this is an excellent way to fulfill that commitment.”
Bryant is a graduate of DeKalb High School, Texarkana College, SAU, and Sam Houston State University. She currently attends the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where she is pursuing a doctoral degree in educational administration and supervision. She is married to Carroll Bryant, and they have two daughters, Afton and Allie, who attend Hope Public Schools.
School educators throughout the United States can apply to take part in one of the two trips to Korea scheduled for 2007. For more information about the 2007 competition, contact Bryant at Carla.Bryant@Hope.k12.ar.us.
