ASIAN 3360
Date: TBA
(7 weeks)
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After returning from Vietnam, we will reconvene for the first 7 weeks of the spring semester. During the weekly meetings, we will discuss the field experience, reflect and report on the overall learning experiences. We will discuss and work on your final projects or term papers. It is anticipated that students will prepare posters for presentation at appropriate events during the spring semester.
Course Components and Schedule
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VIET 1100 – Elements of Vietnamese Language & Culture
(1 credit)
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The goal of this course is to provide cultural elements, language and historical background of Vietnam. A variety of topics on Vietnamese history and cultures will be discussed to help students familiarize with the country. You will also learn basic conversational pieces in Vietnamese.
Note: This course is a pre-requisite for ASIAN 3360. If you are not enrolled in this course in the fall you will not be be able to participate in the program in the winter.
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Pre-departure Meetings
and relevant lectures
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Students must attend ALL pre-departure meetings to prepare for the January fieldtrip.
Whenever possible, students will be strongly encouraged and requested to attend lectures/ films/talks of lectures on various topics related to climate change, broadly speaking and on the specific challenges facing the Mekong Delta.
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Recommended Fall 2017 course:
ASIAN 3312: "What was the Vietnam War?"
Prof. Keith Taylor.
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In VIETNAM
3 weeks
Date: TBA
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This component will take place in Vietnam during the winter break. We will tour historical and cultural sites in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), the economic center and the largest city in Vietnam. The group will travel to the Mekong Delta. There, you will crisscross the waterways to visit fruit orchards, shrimp farms and rice paddies. You will attend lectures given by scientists and climate change experts from Can Tho University among others. You will also engage with representatives from local government agencies, residents, students and farmers to gain knowledge and assess their beliefs and perceptions of climate change. There will be many opportunities for you to directly engage with local people in the Mekong Delta through service-learning activities.
WINTER 2019
FALL 2018
SPRING 2019
Overall Expectations
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You will be expected to participate in all of these components:
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1. Fall: VIET 1100 (1 credit) is a complementary course in the fall. All students regardless of language skill levels are required to take this course prior to the trip in January. This course is graded separately with a final grade given in December.
2. Attend all mandatory pre-departture meetings and recommended lectures
3. Pre-enroll in ASIAN 3360 (4 credits) in the fall.
4. January fieldtrip will take place in Vietnam. There will be reading assignments given prior to the departure of the program. Students are expected to keep journal entries and blog frequently during the trip.
5. Post-trip seminar in the spring. A final letter grade for ASIAN 3360 will be awarded at the end of the spring semester.
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