East Asia Summer Institute for Middle School Teachers

The application period is currently open. The application deadline is Friday, May 1, 2026.
Application link: https://forms.gle/bMj3zHH7jtToHqpDA.

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2026 Virtual SPICE/NCTA East Asia Summer Institute for Middle School Teachers
July 6 – July 9, 2026
9:30am–12:30pm PDT

In an effort to infuse Asian studies in the social studies and language arts curricula, SPICE (in collaboration with the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia (NCTA)) is offering a free Virtual Summer Institute on East Asia for up to 25 middle school teachers. This four-day program delivers engaging content and practical classroom strategies to build teachers' confidence in teaching East Asia and Asian American experiences—covering geography, cultures, religions, history, literature, and arts, with a focus on ancient Chinese dynasties, feudal Japan, and the Silk Road. Completing all requirements (full attendance, readings, discussions, and a lesson plan) earns participants 2 units of Stanford Continuing Studies credit, a $300 stipend, and ample free books and curricular resources. Live Zoom sessions run 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (PDT), July 6–9, 2026.

Institute Goals and Objectives:

Participants will:

1. Gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of East Asia.
2. Be provided with instructional materials about China, Japan, Korea, and the Asian American experience for classroom use.
3. Design lessons that integrate content knowledge about East Asia and/or Asian American experiences with effective, thoughtful, and engaging instructional approaches.
4. Become a community of learners committed to a long-term engagement in the exploration of East Asian studies.

Eligibility:

The Virtual SPICE/NCTA East Asia Summer Institute for Middle School Teachers is open to all grade 5–8 teachers in California and is designed to be most relevant for social studies and language arts classrooms. Enrollment is limited to 25 teachers.

Requirements:

Teachers are required to attend all synchronous sessions of the summer institute, complete pre-assigned readings, and participate in group discussions and activities. 

Resource sharing and collaborative discussion time is designed to help participants absorb the new information and to think about how to apply it to their own classrooms while the information is still fresh in their minds. 

Professional Stipend:

Participants will receive a $300 professional stipend upon completion of all seminar requirements.

Stanford Continuing Studies Credit:

Upon completion of all seminar requirements, participants are eligible to receive two quarter credits (2 units) from Stanford University Continuing Studies. There is a fee of $50 ($25/unit of credit) to receive the credits. 

Contact Information:

Sabrina Ishimatsu, Event Coordinator
SPICE, Stanford University
sishi@stanford.edu
P: 650-723-2410

Naomi Funahashi, Seminar Coordinator
SPICE, Stanford University
naomif1@stanford.edu
P: 650-724-4396