Malaysia/Singapore: Where Asian Culturesmeet
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 471 818 SO 033 977 TITLE Malaysia/Singapore: Where Asian CulturesMeet. Participants' Papers. Fulbright-Hays Seminars AbroadProgram, 2001 (Malaysia and Singapore). INSTITUTION Malaysian-American Commissionon Educational Exchange, Kuala Lumpur. SPONS AGENCY Center for International Education(ED), Washington, DC. PUB DATE 2002-00-00 NOTE 489p. AVAILABLE FROM Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program,Center for International Education, U.S.Department of Education, International Education & GraduateProgram Services, 1990 K Street NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC20202-5332. Web site: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/HEP/iegps/sap.html, PUB TYPE Books (010) Collected Works General (020) -- Guides Non- Classroom (055) EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF02/PC20 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Area Studies; Asian Studies; *CulturalAwareness; Developing Nations; Educational Objectives;Elementary Secondary Education; Foreign Countries; GlobalEducation; International Communication; *International Studies;Social Studies; Study Abroad IDENTIFIERS *Malaysia; *Singapore ABSTRACT The general objective of theFulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program is to help U.S. educators enhancetheir international understanding and increase their knowledge of thepeople and culture of other countries. This particular program offered participantsan overview of life in Malaysia and Singapore through seminars and other activities. Participants'papers in this collection are: "You've Got Mail:Pen Pals from Malaysia" (N. Brangwin); "World Tour Malaysia" (J. Campe);"Malaysia Creative Connection"(Beverly Crow-Stromme); "Postcards from Malaysia"(M. Dahl); "Malaysia: Where East Meets West" (D. Godfrey); "JapaneseTreatment of Prisoners of War during World War II" (L. Gunter); "MalaysianAnimals and Their Rainforest Habitat" (A. La Tour); "CelebrateMalaysia: An Interdisciplinary Curriculum Unit" (A. Loughlin); "A Study of Sarawakand the Native People" (M. J. Morris); "Making Personal Connectionsto Create Global Understanding: Helping Young Children Build Relationships throughthe Use of Technology" (M. R. Patel); "Plants and Animals in theMalaysian Rain Forest" (B. Paul); "Malaysia and Singapore: Where AsianCultures Meet" (C. Steinbacher); "The Role and Status of the EnglishLanguage in Multiethnic/Multilingual Malaysia" (Y. St. Hill); "Dress and BodyAdornment in Malaysia" (C. E. Warner); "Malaysia in Our Classroom: Activities" (M. Wong); and "Peopleof the Cedar and People of the Hornbill:A Cross Cultural Comparison of Northwest Coastal Natives of WashingtonState, USA, and the Ibans of Sarawak, Malaysia" (J. Younkin). (BT) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best thatcan be made from the original document. Malaysia/Singapore: Where Asian Cultures Meet. Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad , Program, 2001 (Malaysia and Singapore). ,4 Malaysian-American Commissionon Educational Exchange, Kuala Lumpur. Center for International Education (ED), Washington, DC. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) df This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent BEST COPY AVAILABLE 2 official OERI position or policy. fULD.K.turf U.3. 1Jepartment of tducation 4...___<%am'I',-'__ Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad Program MACEE "Malaysia/Singapore:Where Asian Cultures Meet" PARTICIPANTS' PAPERS 2001 MALAYSIA owne 7- _A BRUNEI DARUSSALAMAle Pulau Pangkor- .L R GI-g xrzfir--Zerflia MACEE INTRODUCTION We live in a world of words. With the advent of email and electronic communication, we face a continuous barrage of words that threatens to undermine communication altogether.It is all the more significant that above this din some few words retain significant meaning. Such were the words of Senator J. William Fulbright when he observed that The essence of intercultural education is the acquisition of empathy the ability to see the world as others see it, and to allow for the possibility that others may see something we have failed to see, or may see it more accurately.' The essays presented in this volume reflect the finest efforts in people-to-people communication and its concomitant empathy. As importantly, the participants in this program are teachers who will have opportunities to share this empathy with countless students in years to come. If every teacher from every country in the world were able to participate in programs such as thisour world would be a far, and better, different place. It remains surprisingly true that, despite our increasingly complex and interconnected world, peoples of different countries and cultures do not know one another well. Many have pointed out that Americans are almost frustratingly uninformed of other peoples and cultures, and cliches as to our failings in cultural knowledge and history abound. What is much less talked about is the peoples in other countries are also uninformed about the world at large and particularly about the United States. It is no exaggeration to note that the cinema remains the primary vehicle for learning about America. While this lack of intercultural knowledge and understanding is lamentable, it is more rewardingas well as more funto acknowledge and celebrate the wonderful stimulation and productivity that results when people do find opportunities to learn about the share cultural differences. This is the crux of this Fulbright program in all of its components, and the group of American educators who participated in the Malaysia/Singapore Program for 2001 have demonstrated the positive outcomes for this cultural and educational exchange program. The sixteen papers included in this volume reflect growth and understanding at its very best.It is safe to say that few of these papers could have been written before the authors experienced this program. The diversity reflected in the topics is suggestive of the broad and varied interests of individual participants, but their collective knowledge represents growth and intercultural understanding exactly as Senator Fulbright hoped for this program. Congratulations to the group of authors for their very creative writing and to those whose hard work in planning, organizing and implementing the program made the learning possible. And a heart-felt thanks to the U.S. Department of State for supporting the program and the U.S.Congress for providing the funding needed to sustain it. The world will be a better place because this program took place. Dr. Donald G. McCloud Executive Director, MACEE April 15, 2002 ' The Price of Empire (New York: Pantheon Books, 1989). U.S.E.D FULBRIGHT-HAYS SEMINARS ABROAD PROGRAM MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE JULY 1 - AUGUST 12, 2001 OBJECTIVES The general objective of the program is to help U.S. educators enhance their international understanding and increase their knowledge of the people and culture of other countries. Upon their return to the United States, participants are expected to share their acquired knowledge and experiences with students, colleagues, members of civic and professional organizations, and the public in their home communities. The objectives of the program in Malaysia were to offer participants an overview of life in Malaysia and Singapore. Specifically to acquaint the participants with: 1. The history, economics, geography and culture of Malaysia and Singapore; 2. The cultural diversity of Malaysia and Singapore and to appreciate the multicultural nature of these societies; 3. The contributions of the peoples of Malaysia and Singapore in the areas of art, music, dance, science and technology; 4. The systems of education in Malaysia and Singapore. PROGRAM The program included seminars and other activities designed to provide participants with a comprehensive overview of how the people of Malaysia and Singapore live, work and strive towards their vision of moving towards a more modern society and secure east-west relationships, without sacrificing their history or culture. During the six-week visit, presentations were given by professors from universities and other institutions in Malaysia and Singapore. The lectures were interspersed with visits to relevant nearby sites of interest. During the five-week study tour of Malaysia, the seminars were offered relating to Malaysia's geography and history, political structure, cultural plurality, religions, economy, educational system, aspirations and goals for the future, and contemporary issues facing society. Participants were also introduced to Malaysia and the Malaysian way of life through talks, discussions 5 and field trips to schools, educational institutions and cultural centers, not only around Kuala Lumpur but also in other parts of the country. They traveled to Melaka, Terengganu, Kelantan, Penang, Perak and Sarawak. Visits were made to places of historical interest, places of worship and towns and villages. School visits were also arranged. Places were chosen to reflect the diversity of the nation's life and culture. During the travel phase, opportunities were provided for participants to interact with Malaysian involved with. education, culture, development planning, etc. On a personal level, participants also had opportunities to spend time with Malaysians in their homes. As far as possible, these home-stays were arranged with Malaysians who have interests in common with individual participants. One week of academic seminars and visits in Singapore