Student Report on Forum and Exhibition on Multimodality in Multilingual and Intercultural Education
Report by Delfin Kaplan, class of 2027
On November 1st, 2024, Dr. Xin Zhang, assistant professor of Chinese and Intercultural Communication from the Langauge and Culture Center at Duke Kunshan University(DKU), and Dr. Peiru Tong, associate professor of International Education at Wuhan University (WHU) co-hosted the Forum and Exhibition on Multimodality in Multilingual and Intercultural Education. A collaboration between DKU and WHU, the forum and exhibition took place in-person at DKU, though it was also attended by audience online through Zoom and on Spot, the latter being a metaverse exhibition. The one-day forum consisted of invited talks, workshops, and faculty lightning talks by professors across multiple acclaimed universities beyond DKU and WHU, including Duke, University of Sydney, the Ohio State University and University of HongKong, and a student-led artwork exhibition.
The forum started with a welcome speech by the senior director of Language and Culture Center (LCC) Dr. Don Snow, followed by Dr. Peiru Tong’s introducation of the “Multimodal Intercultural Education Interdisciplinary Innovation Platform”, co-funded by the WHU and DKU Joint Research Platform Seed Funding and the Kunshan Municipal Government Research Funding, and the DKU HRC Small Event Grant.
The talks and workshops on Multimodality in Multilingual and Intercultural Education were led by nine accomplished professors: Dr. Francis Troyan from Ohio State University and Dr. Zhenjie Weng from Duke Kunshan spoke about the development of language teacher identity through photo-elicitation in TESOL teacher education, which is a reflection technique used to explore the connection between emotions and the teachers’ identities. They also shared some reflections from participating teachers. Dr. Yan Liu gave a speech on the multimodal approaches to teaching Chinese, focusing on the power of visual arts, followed by a collaborative presentation between Dr. Xin Zhang from Duke Kunshan University and Dr. Peiru Tong from Wuhan University on the visual narratives of international students’ multilingual identity (co)construction during their long-term studies abroad in China. After that, Dr. Hongzhi (Veronica) Yang from the University of Sydney shared her insights on the use of generative AI to create multimodal language learning resources.
After a lunch break to allow participants to explore the exhibition and discuss the contents of the morning presentations, Dr. Mari Noda and Dr. Galal Walker from the Ohio State University led a pedagogy workshop on applying performance watch tasks in language and culture classrooms. Dr. Tai, Kevin W.H. from the University of Hong Kong, led the a second workshop on research methodology for understanding the construction of translanguaging spaces in multilingual classrooms, focusing on insights from combining multimodal conversation analysis with interpretative phenomenological analysis. Another highlight of the forum was the faculty-led lightning talks which showcased various teaching and research projects by faculty in the Language and Culture Center at DKU, and faculty from peer institutions including Wuhan University and University of Sydney.
The student artwork exhibition consisted of artwork and reflections created by DKU, WHU, and University of Sydney (USYD) students, as part of a collaborative research project between Dr. Xin Zhang and Dr. Peiru Tong. Student participants were asked to reflect on their identity as international students in an intercultural student cohort and their experiences with multilinguality over two months with weekly check-ins, which were then processed through an extensive selection process and displayed by two student workers, Delfin Kaplan and Davit Kavkasyan, supervised by Dr. Xin Zhang. Both students responsible for the exhibition were also part of the preliminary artwork collection process in 2023.
Throughout the weeks leading up to the exhibition, Delfin and Davit individually inspected every single one of the dozens of artworks and the accompanying reflection and chose around 30 final artworks to be presented in the exhibition. The forum attendees could view these posters on the day of the exhibition, and they will remain visible in the foyer outside Performance Cafe in CCTE for another month. The artwork can also be viewed virtually via a metaverse exhibition.
In curating the exhibitions, the two student workers independently handled the budget, acquired the materials, communicated with the creators of the artworks, set up the exhibition, and they gave a short speech in the forum to talk about their experience and what they’ve learned. Both students reported that seeing the perspective of other international students was ‘eye-opening’ and that this exhibition was especially important to them due to both of them being the only students from their countries.
Book Proposal Workshop: Incendiary Cities: Fire, Technology, and the Origins of Modern Emergency Response in Germany and the U.s.,1800-1900
Date: November 7 (Thursday)
Time: 12-1pm
Location: IB 2025
On November 7, Professor Jan Hua-Henning invites faculty and students to join his book proposal workshop. We’ll discuss his book proposal for Incendiary Cities: Fire, Technology, and the Origins of Modern Emergency Response in Germany and the U.S., 1800-1900. Incendiary Cities explores how and why emergency fire services evolved during the nineteenth century and who they deemed worthy of protection.
The book proposal as a genre of writing is not only interesting for those planning to publish a book. It also shares many similarities with research and grant proposals. Book proposals highlight the novelty of an argument and research agenda while also providing an overview of the targeted audience. The workshop is a great way to learn about academic writing and research and to get to know faculty at DKU.
We will be joined by Scott G. Knowles, a historian of disaster worldwide and Professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. Knowles is the author of The Disaster Experts and is currently completing two new books: The United States of Disaster; and Slow Disaster. Students are welcome to join the workshop. Food will be provided.
If you would like to read the book proposal in advance, please reach out to our student coordinator, Sydney Brown, at sydney.brown@dukekunshan.edu.cn.
Translating the Mysterious
Translating the Mysterious
HUM Space (AB1075A)
Monday 11 November, 6:30-8:00pm
Translating from one language to another is made more difficult when the terms in question relate to the unseen world of gods, ghosts, and ancestors. Is a Chinese gui 鬼 really the same as the English “ghost” or “devil”? Is a xian 仙 a “fairy” or an “immortal”? How can translate these terms when we don’t know exactly what they refer to?
Join Professor James Miller to read some spooky stories together and delve into the mysterious world of Chinese spirits. Refreshments will be provided.
Exploring the Digital Archives of the English East India Company
Time: Thursday, October 24, 12 noon – 1 pm
Location: LIB 1115
Presenter: Titas Chakraborty
Join Us for an Engaging Workshop: Exploring the Digital Archives of the English East India Company with Prof. Titas Chakraborty!
Discover the rich resources of the British Library and learn how to effectively navigate the digital archives of the English East India Company. This workshop will cover:
- Exploring the British Library website
- Utilizing various guides for research support
- Discussing related research questions
Don’t miss this chance to explore the past through a modern lens!
Food will be provided!
Migratory Ghosts Series: Open Call for Student Works
Calling all writers with a creative (and optionally spooky) spark!
Submit 3-5 poems or 2-5 pages of prose to be judged by our visiting writers, Juli Min and Zhou Sivan. A winner from each genre will be chosen to read alongside them on November 22. Let your words haunt us!
Bio:
Juli Min is the author of Shanghailanders.
Zhou Sivan has published three poetry chapbooks, which address poetic form (Zero Copula, Delete Press, 2015), Malaysia’s policies on refugees and migrants (Sea Hypocrisy, co-published by DoubleCross Press and Projective Industries, 2016), and trees as metaphor (The Geometry of Trees, Sputnik & Fizzle, 2022).
Deadline: November 22, 2024
Send your submission to: yl984@duke.edu
Migratory Ghosts Series: A Reading By Megan Mcdowell
Megan McDowell has translated many of the most important Latin American writers working today, including Alejandro Zambra, Samanta Schweblin, Mariana Enríquez, and Lina Meruane. Her translations have won the National Book Award for Translated Literature, the English PEN award, the Premio Valle-Inclán, and two O. Henry Prizes, and have been nominated for the International Booker Prize (four times) and the Kirkus Prize. Her short story translations have been featured in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, The New York Times Magazine, Tin House, McSweeney’s, and Granta, among others. In 2020 she won an Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, She is from Richmond, KY and lives in Santiago, Chile.
Zooming in from New York, Megan McDowell will read from her newest work of translation, A Sunny Place for Shady People, by Mariana Enríquez. “A diabolical collection of stories featuring achingly human characters whose lives intertwine with ghosts, goblins, and the macabre, by ‘Buenos Aires’s sorceress of horror.’ ” (Samanta Schweblin, The New York Times). The reading will conclude with a Q&A. Bubble tea will be provided.
Please RSVP here: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6saDBs3eAJRUZeK
Student Report on US-China Relations Symposium
Report By Yaxuan Wang, Class of 2027 & Photos by Ruixiang Hu, class of 2027
On October 11, 2024, DKU’s AB1079 was buzzing with discussions as around 15 faculty, staff, and students gathered for the US-China Relations Symposium. This event brought together a diverse group of scholars and students eager to dive into one of the most critical global relationships of our time. From deep historical analyses to cutting-edge geopolitical debates, the day was packed with engaging sessions that left everyone reflecting on the complexities of Sino-American dynamics.
Opening and Morning Research Presentations
Prof. Erez Manela from Harvard University began the morning session with an exploration of how racial equality movements following WWII influenced global diplomacy, particularly in the context of US-China relations. His insights into the role of racial dynamics within international organizations sparked a lively conversation among attendees.
Shifting focus to China’s internal strategies, Prof. Peter E. Hamilton of Lingnan University examined the country’s adoption of scientific management post-1978. He highlighted how these management practices contributed to China’s economic rise and their continued influence on international relations today.
Offering a different angle, Prof. Ivan Willis Rasmussen from NYU Shanghai challenged the common narrative of a “New Cold War” between the US and China. His thought-provoking take invited the audience to reconsider whether this term accurately describes the current geopolitical situation.
As the only Chinese speaker here, Prof. Ariel Shangguan of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University delved into the epistemological differences between the two nations, exploring how contrasting approaches to knowledge shape policy-making. Her talk encouraged reflection on the deep-rooted cultural distinctions that impact global relations.
Turning the conversation towards the Middle East, Prof. Gürol Baba from the Social Sciences University of Ankarahighlighted China’s expanding influence in the region. He drew comparisons between China’s diplomatic efforts and the US’s traditional dominance, particularly focusing on China’s role in brokering Saudi-Iran relations.
Closing the session, Prof. Zach Fredman from Duke Kunshan University provided a historical perspective, focusing on US military rest and recreation during the Vietnam War. His analysis uncovered the often-overlooked effects of military policy on US-Asia relations, adding a unique historical layer to the day’s discussions.
Afternoon Discussions and Workshops
After lunch, the event moved into more interactive sessions. During the syllabus workshop, faculty discussed ways to improve how US-China relations are taught, with an emphasis on making the curriculum more interdisciplinary. There was a lot of excitement as professors shared ideas on how to bring fresh perspectives into the classroom. The following pedagogy session focused on connecting academic learning with real-world experiences. Professors shared examples of integrating current events, internships, and co-curricular activities into their teaching, sparking practical discussions on how to make learning more dynamic.
Wrap-Up and Reflections
By the end of the symposium, participants left with a sense of accomplishment and curiosity. The discussions had raised more questions than answers, highlighting the complexities of US-China relations. The event showcased the dedication of both faculty and students to understanding this vital relationship, making it a memorable and thought-provoking day.
Special thanks go to all the professors, students and the workers whose contributions made this symposium a success.
DKU US-China Relations Symposium
Date: October 11, 2024
Location: AB1079
About the Symposium:
The DKU US-China Relations Symposium aims to promote meaningful dialogue among faculty and students on the topic of Sino-American relations. Participants will have the opportunity to share research, review course syllabi, and brainstorm innovative ideas for both academic and co-curricular programs. The goal is to help students gain a dee per understanding of this pivotal bilateral relationship. This one-day event will feature an esteemed panel of interdisciplinary scholars from DKU, Harvard University, Lingnan University, and NYU-Shanghai, exploring the evolving dynamics of China-U.S. relations within a global context.
Symposium Schedule:
9:00 – 9:15 AM: Opening Remarks9:15 – 11:15 AM: Faculty Research Presentations11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Student-Faculty Discussion12:30 – 2:00 PM: Lunch2:00 – 3:30 PM: Syllabus Workshop3:45 – 5:15 PM: Pedagogy and Co-Curricular Programming Discussion
Speakers Bio
Professor Gurol Baba
Gürol Baba is a Professor at the Social Sciences University of Ankara;Faculty of Political Science, Department of International Relations. His research focuses on Middle Powers in International Politics, Asia-Pacific Regional Affairs and more. He published An Asymmetrical Transregionalism, in the Journal of Asian and African Studies, which he guest edited with his colleague Amit Ranhan. The issue features Baba and Ranjan’s introduction, as well as Baba’s research article Middle East–South Asia Relations: Transregional Minilateralism Cemented with Bilateralism. Baba, G. (2023). Journal of Asian and African Studies, 58(4), 500–517.
Professor Zach Fredman
Zach Fredman is an Associate Professor of History and Chair of the Division of Arts and Humanities at Duke Kunshan University. His research focuses on US-China relations. He is the author of The Tormented Alliance: American Servicemen and the Occupation of China, 1941-1949 (UNC Press, 2022) and co-editor of Uneasy Allies: Sino-American Relations at the Grassroots, 1937-1949 (Cambridge UP, 2024).
Professor Peter E. Hamilton (韓墨松)
Peter E. Hamilton (韓墨松) is the Assistant Professor in World History (Pacific World) at Lingnan University. He is the author of Made in Hong Kong: Transpacific Networks and a New History of Globalization (Studies of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University Press, 2021). It was recently translated into Chinese as 香港製造：跨太平洋網絡與全球化新史 (Monsoon Zone, 2024). His second book project is researching the history of scientific management across twentieth-century Chinese thought and society. Research from this project has recently been published in The Journal of Asian Studies, Business History, and multiple anthologies.
Professor Erez Manela
Erez Manela is the Francis Lee Higginson Professor of History at Harvard University, where he teaches international history and the history of the United States in the world. He is the author of the prize-winning book The Wilsonian Moment: Self-Determination and the International Origins of Anticolonial Nationalism (2007) and co-editor of four collaborative volumes, most recently The Anticolonial Transnational: Imaginaries, Mobilities, and Networks in the Struggle against Empire (2023). He also has a longstanding interest in the conceptual and methodological aspects of writing international history and is currently working on a collaborative volume titled Explaining International History.
Professor Ivan Willis Rasmussen
Professor Ivan Willis Rasmussen is the Undergraduate Coordinator of Social Sciences and an Associate Professor of Practice in Political Science at NYU Shanghai. He previously served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Hamilton College and a Research Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center. His research includes contributions to the Asian Journal of Public Affairs and Chinese Yearbook of International Law and Affairs, and he co-authored the book At the Dawn of Belt and Road: China in the Developing World (RAND Report).
Professor Rasmussen has taught at institutions such as Tufts University and Boston College and has worked with the US Department of State, Duke University/Gates Foundation, and the RAND Corporation. He is a member of several associations, including the American Political Science Association, and has received the Teaching Excellence Award from NYU Shanghai. Recently, he was named a Mansfield Luce Asia Scholar.
Join Us:
Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity to engage with leading experts and enrich your understanding of US-China relations. Together, we can foster insightful discussions and innovative ideas that shape the future of this vital field. We look forward to seeing you there!
US-China Relations Symposium Call for Student Proposals
Date: October 11, 2024
Location: Duke Kunshan University
The Duke Kunshan University (DKU) US-China Relations Symposium invites students to submit proposals for presentations at our upcoming event. This one-day symposium will bring together a distinguished group of interdisciplinary scholars, including faculty from DKU, Harvard University, Lingnan University, and NYU-Shanghai. The symposium will focus on exploring the complex and evolving relationship between China and the United States in a global context.
About the Symposium:
The US-China Relations Symposium at DKU aims to engage both faculty and students in meaningful discussions about Sino-American relations. Participants will have the opportunity to share research, discuss course syllabi, and brainstorm new ideas for pedagogical and co-curricular programming that can help students gain a deeper understanding of this crucial bilateral relationship.
Symposium Schedule:
- 9:30 to 11:00 AM: Faculty Research Presentations
- 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM: Student-Faculty Discussion
- 12:30 to 2:00 PM: Lunch
- 2:00 to 3:30 PM: Syllabus Workshop
- 3:45 to 5:15 PM: Pedagogy and Co-Curricular Programming Discussion
- 5:30 PM: Dinner
Invitation to Students:
We welcome all DKU students to submit proposals to present their own research on topics related to US-China relations. This is a valuable opportunity to showcase your work and engage in discussions with scholars working in this field. Students interested in presenting are invited to submit a 100-word abstract summarizing their research. Proposals should focus on any aspect of Sino-American relations, whether historical, contemporary, economic, political, cultural, or related to educational and co-curricular programming.
Submission Guidelines:
- Deadline: Please submit your abstract by September 30th, 2024.
- How to Apply: Send your proposal (100-word abstract) to Professor Zach Fredman at zsf5@duke.edu.
- Eligibility: All DKU undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to submit proposals.
About Professor Zach Fredman:
Zach Fredman is an Associate Professor of History and Chair of the Division of Arts and Humanities at Duke Kunshan University. His research focuses on US-China relations. He is the author of The Tormented Alliance: American Servicemen and the Occupation of China, 1941-1949 (UNC Press, 2022) and co-editor of Uneasy Allies: Sino-American Relations at the Grassroots, 1937-1949 (Cambridge UP, 2024).
We look forward to receiving your submissions and hope to see you at the symposium!
