FAQs

The NCTA wants to help teachers learn more about East Asia and encourages them to find ways to incorporate the study of East Asia into their classrooms.  There is no catch – this is a great professional development opportunity, and the mission is to simply help you better understand East Asia.  Some programs introduce you to some of the basics on a topic, some do a deeper dive into the subject matter.  No prior knowledge about Asia is required!  Who doesn’t love an opportunity to learn and get free resources?

NCTA is open to K-12 teachers in ANY subject area.  We do require that you are currently teaching, since the goal is to incorporate the material in your classes.  

Our programs cover a wide range of subjects including history, geography, economics, politics, culture, etc. Many of the teachers are in the Social Sciences and Humanities, teaching World History, Geography, and World Cultures. However, we also get teachers in the Fine Arts, Sciences, Economics, and ESL.

There are no costs to sign up for any of our programs!  They are entirely free, thanks to a generous gift from the Freeman Foundation.

You always get a lecture by an expert in the field, and a chance to ask questions or engage with the speaker in more depth. In addition, the Texas programs always come with a free book tied to the lecture. The book may be something covered in the lecture or be a valuable resource for you to draw on as you bring the subject to life in your classes. Some programs also come with food or parking included.  In addition, you will receive certification of continuing education credit for each program you complete.

For each session you complete you will get a certificate indicating how many hours you have completed.  We can send it directly to your supervisor or whoever is managing your CTE or flex hours to ensure it is recorded.

Each workshop includes a two-hour interactive lecture led by an expert in the field. They are structured like a graduate seminar more than a lecture and the speakers are ready to help you discover how you can bring the material to life in your classrooms.  The classes usually include a mix of experienced and new teachers, and it is a great way to learn from each other as well.

No problem!  When the Spring Seminar topics are released, you can come to whichever sessions you find most appealing.  You will get more out of it if you can come the full ten weeks because sessions often build on each other.  However, you do not have to commit to the full ten weeks they are individual workshops.  We’d rather see you at some than at none! Please let us know which sessions you can or cannot attend so that we can plan accordingly.  

Book study groups are basically academic reading groups. I pick a book to read, and we come together as a group to discuss it in detail over food.  Free books, free food, and free education with an expert and your fellow teachers.  For these sessions you need to read the book (or most of it) to participate in the discussion.  Book study is organized primarily in the summer months to encourage reading when you have a little more down time.

Seminar and workshop topics change every year, we very rarely repeat any of our programs! Your opportunities to learn about East Asia are endless.  

YES!  If everyone who enrolls brings another teacher with them, I’d love it!  Even if they did not register but want to come to a session, don’t hesitate to bring them.  I’ll get them a book!

Every year I ask for suggestions on what YOU need or want for your classes. Nobody knows what is most useful to you, except you!  So let me know topics you want to learn more about, and I’ll try to find the experts to deliver them.

Come to the workshop, soak in the info, and tell your friends about it.  There is no gimmick or fine print you need to worry about!