Duolingo hiring Senior Curriculum Designer; proficiency in Japanese or Chinese (among others) required.

Pittsburgh-based Duolingo is hiring a Senior Curriculum Designer; the candidate will have at least intermediate proficiency in Japanese, Chinese, or a few other languages.

Help improve the learning effectiveness of Duolingo.

We are looking for a world-class expert in language teaching and curriculum design who has strong organizational skills and experience leading the creation of educational content for digital products. You will lead a group of curriculum designers, and together you will help transform Duolingo course creation into an efficient, large-scale process. If you have strong expertise in curriculum design for digital products, love good organization and efficient processes, and have experience managing people, this job is for you! You will be part of our efforts to advance Duolingo's mission through evidence-based teaching. Join Duolingo to feel empowered as an educator, affecting how millions of people learn.

Responsibilities:

• Lead a team of 4-5 curriculum designers (and likely more in the future)
• Oversee the creation of language curricula and assessments for multiple Duolingo courses
• Develop standards and guidelines for course content across a variety of features (core lessons, explicit explanations, mini auditory practice, etc.)
• Propose and implement efficient processes for large-scale course content creation
• Help hire and train additional curriculum experts
• Collaborate across teams and stakeholders to deliver high-quality course content

The full ad is available on the Duolingo site.

New Chinese movie Leap (夺冠) stays in Pittsburgh through October 7.

The 2020 Chinese movie Leap (夺冠), which opened in Pittsburgh on September 25, will stay here through October 7. A summary of the film, starring Gong Li and Huang Bo, from MyDramaList:

The film tells the journey of several generations of Chinese National Women's Volleyball Team and their touching stories of tenacious struggle and glory for the country for the past 40 years.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online. The theater is located at 300 West Waterfront Dr. in the Waterfront shopping complex in Homestead (map), across the Monongahela River from Greenfield, Squirrel Hill, and the rest of Pittsburgh.

BTS concert film Break the Silence (브레이크 더 사일런스: 더 무비) continues in Pittsburgh through (at least) October 7.

The BTS concert film Break the Silence (브레이크 더 사일런스: 더 무비), which opened in Pittsburgh on September 24, will stay here through at least October 7.

BTS WORLD TOUR 'LOVE YOURSELF: SPEAK YOURSELF' is now over. The worldwide stadium tour topped the Billboard Boxscore, and marked BTS as the first Korean group to perform at Wembley Stadium. The tour took place across Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, São Paulo, London, Paris, Osaka, Shizuoka, Riyadh, and Seoul.

With unprecedented access, BREAK THE SILENCE: THE MOVIE travels with BTS throughout the tour, exploring each band member behind the curtain. Off stage, we see another side of BTS. The seven members begin to candidly tell personal stories they have never voiced before.

Facing my other self ‘PERSONA’

It willcontinue to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville and Robinson. Tickets are available online.

2018 Taiwanese movie Dear Ex (誰先愛上他的) online at Pitt, October 14.

The University of Pittsburgh's Office of International Services will present the 2018 Taiwanese movie Dear Ex (誰先愛上他的) on October 14 as part of its Watch Party Wednesdays series. From a 2019 New York Times review:

Following the death of his father (Spark Chen), [13-year-old] Chengxi finds himself caught between his mother, Sanlian (Hsieh Ying-hsuan), and Jay (Roy Chiu), a man for whom his father left his family. Chengxi has been written out of his late father’s insurance policy, and all of the money will now go to Jay — as soon as Sanlian signs off on it. Chengxi copes with the resulting fight by moving in with Jay (to the displeasure of both adults), drawn to the man’s mercurial nature and relationship with his father.

The 7:00 pm event is free and open to the public, though registration is required.

Chinese 3D computer-animated film Legend of Deification (姜子牙) in Pittsburgh, from October 1.

The upcoming Chinese 3D computer-animated film Legend of Deification (姜子牙), also known as Jiang Ziya, will open in Pittsburgh on October 1. From the distributor:

To earn his place amongst the gods, celestial army commander Jiang Ziya must vanquish a terrifying fox demon threatening the very existence of the mortal realm. After learning the creature’s fate is tied to that of a young girl, Jiang Ziya disobeys Heaven’s edict and spares the demon, resulting in his banishment to the mortal realm. Ten years later, he is given one more chance to complete the task, and Jiang Ziya must decide: is joining the ranks of the heavens worth the price of one innocent life?

JIANG ZIYA—follow-up to international blockbuster NE ZHA and second chapter in the Fengshen Cinematic Universe—is a fate-defying, action-packed legendary tale retold through vibrant Chinese animation.

The first movie, Ne Zha, played in Pittsburgh last year. Legend of Diefication will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

4K remaster of Japanese movie Akira (アキラ) at Hollywood Theater in Dormont, October 2 through 8.

The 4K remaster of Japanese movie Akira (アキラ), which opened in Pittsburgh on September 24, will continue at the Hollywood Theater in Dormont from October 2 through 8. From the distributor:

Akira, the crown jewel of anime and science fiction, returns to theaters with remastered 4K visuals and remixed audio. In the future, Shotaro Kaneda and his motorcycle gang tear through Neo Tokyo, a city divided by growing tensions. But when caught in an accident, Kaneda’s friend Tetsuo Shima discovers a secret government project and receives psychic abilities beyond his control.

Tickets for the Hollywood Theater's screenings are available online. The theater is located at 1449 Potomac Ave. in Dormont (map), and is accessible by Pittsburgh's subway/LRT at a block south of Potomac Station. The movie will continue at local Cinemark theaters through the 30th.

2004 Japanese film Nobody Knows (誰も知らない), part of Hirokazu Koreeda series, online at Pitt on October 14.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will present the 2004 Japanese film 2004's Nobody Knows (誰も知らない) on October 14, the second of a three-part series of Hirokazu Koreeda films. A brief introduction, from a 2005 Roger Ebert review:

As "Nobody Knows" opens, we watch a mother and two kids moving into a new apartment. They wrestle some heavy suitcases up the stairs. When the movers have left, they open the suitcases and release two younger children, who are a secret from the landlord. "Remember the new rules," the mother says. "No going outside. Not even on the veranda -- except for Kyoko, to do the laundry."

The film will be presented with comments from Dr. Charles Exley of Pitt's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures. Registration for the free 7:00 pm event is required.

Pittsburgh-based WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) hiring bilingual Mandarin-English ECE tutor.

Pittsburgh-based Chinese education consulting and placement firm WholeRen Education (美国厚仁教育集团) has announced an opening for a Mandarin-speaking ECE tutor.

An Ant Strikes Back (アリ地獄天国), Grand Prize winner of the 2020 Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award, online on September 26.

The Japan Council of the University of Pittsburgh and SCREENSHOT: ASIA will present the documentary An Ant Strikes Back (アリ地獄天国), Grand Prize winner of the 2020 Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award, on September 26. The online screening begins at 7:00 pm, followed by a conversation with director Tokachi Tsuchiya. A synopsis, from Nippon Connection:

More than 5,000 people died from the ramifications of overworking in Japan between 2006 and 2017 – and this is only the official number. Rarely do Japanese employees stand up against exploitative working conditions, since the social pressure is too high. In his documentary, Tokachi TSUCHIYA follows the case of a moving company sales agent who decides to no longer accept illegal employment contract clauses and a humiliating work environment. Initially being just like an ant among others, he joins a labor union and fights not only for his own rights, but for the rights of all “ants” in Japan’s workforce.

The free event will be hosted live on Vimeo.

Ross Park Mall's Tiffany & Co. hiring Mandarin-speaking seasonal help.

The Tiffany's store in Ross Park Mall is hiring Mandarin-speaking seasonal help: Seasonal Operations Professional - Pittsburgh and a Seasonal Sales Professional / Seasonal Sales Support positions. The qualifications for both: 

Required Qualifications:

• Must be available to work non-traditional business hours including nights, weekends and holidays.
• Previous retail or luxury retail or customer related experience (i.e. hospitality, etc.).
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, customer service skills and the ability to prioritize while handling multiple tasks is required.
• Ability to work with a diverse client base.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Must have authorization to work in the United States or in the country where the position is based.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in Point of Sales (POS) systems and Microsoft Outlook/e-mail.
• Language skills appreciated: Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese), Spanish, and Japanese.

2018 Chinese movie Animal World (动物世界) online at Pitt, part of Watch Party Wednesdays, September 30.

The University of Pittsburgh's Office of International Services will present the 2018 Chinese film Animal World (动物世界) on September 30, part of its Watch Party Wednesday series. A South China Morning Post review writes:

An earnest adaptation of a profoundly silly Japanese anime, Chinese director Han Yan’s film is about a young man stuck in a dead-end job who dreams of slaying monsters and gets sucked into a deadly game of rock-paper-scissors

The 7:00 pm event is free and open to the Pitt community, though registration is required.

"International Pathways to The Pitt School of Education," online on September 29.

The University of Pittsburgh's Institute for International Studies in Education will host its first online Brown Bag of the year, "International Pathways to The Pitt School of Education," on September 29.

2019 Japanese documentary Book-Paper-Scissors (つつんで、ひらいて) online on September 25, part of 2020 Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award.

The 2019 Japanese documentary Book-Paper-Scissors (つつんで、ひらいて), named the 2020 Honorable mention in this year's Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award, will screen online on September 25. A summary, via Japan Cuts:

Nobuyoshi Kikuchi is a man contentedly out of step with the times. Forgoing modern technology, the 77-year-old master book designer (soutei-ka) has utilized the traditional tools of scissors, rulers, and pencils to design over 15,000 extraordinary book covers by hand throughout his decades-long career. With careful, philosophical consideration of every aspect of the process, Kikuchi also chooses the paper and ink to best represent the essence of each book. Filmed over three years, this passion project from Hirokazu Kore-eda protege Nanako Hirose (whose late father was also a book designer) matches Kikuchi’s contemplative and considerate approach to his craft, offering a thoroughly measured portrait of the pursuit of perfection and 94 minutes of ASMR for design enthusiasts and bibliophiles.

The free event starts at 7:00 pm and is followed by a conversation with director Nanako Hirose. It will be hosted live on Vimeo.

Japanese documentary Oyster Factory (牡蠣工場) online as part of 2020 Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award, tonight, September 24.

The Japanese documentary Oyster Factory (牡蠣工場) will be presented online this evening from 6:30 pm, followed by a conversation with the director, Soda Kazuhiro, as part of the University of Pittsburgh's 2020 Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award.

2019 documentary Queer Japan (クィア・ジャパン) part of (online) Reel Q: Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ Film Festival, October 12.

The 2019 documentary Queer Japan (クィア・ジャパン) will play online on October 12 as part of the Reel Q: Pittsburgh LGBTQ+ Film Festival.

Queer Japan is an ensemble film that profiles a range of artists, academics, community organizers, and activists who are members of the LGBTQcommunity in Japan. Kolbeins has described the film as "a series of character studies," rather than an issue-focused documentary.

The film will be available online on the 12th and viewers will have 24 hours to complete it.

New Chinese movie Leap (夺冠) in Pittsburgh from September 25.

The 2020 Chinese movie Leap (夺冠) will play in Pittsburgh from September 25. A summary of the film, starring Gong Li and Huang Bo, from MyDramaList:

The film tells the journey of several generations of Chinese National Women's Volleyball Team and their touching stories of tenacious struggle and glory for the country for the past 40 years.

It will play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online. The theater is located at 300 West Waterfront Dr. in the Waterfront shopping complex in Homestead (map), across the Monongahela River from Greenfield, Squirrel Hill, and the rest of Pittsburgh.

2019 Japanese film Lupin III: The First (ルパン三世 THE FIRST) in Pittsburgh, October 18 and 21.

The 2019 Japanese film Lupin III: The First (ルパン三世 THE FIRST) will play in Pittsburgh on October 18 and 21. A summary from the distributor:

The iconic “gentleman thief” Lupin III returns in an action-packed, continent-spanning adventure, as Lupin III and his colorful underworld companions race to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Bresson Diary, before it falls into the hands of a dark cabal that will stop at nothing to resurrect the Third Reich. The gang undertakes trap-filled tombs, aerial escapades and daring prison escapes with the trademark wit and visual finesse that have made LUPIN THE 3RD one of the most storied animation franchises in the world, in a thrilling new caper that is sure to delight fans old and new.

It will play locally at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless and Monroeville, and tickets are available online. The October 18th screening is dubbed in English while the October 21st one has English subtitles.

2019 Chinese documentary Our Time Machine (时光机) playing online via Tull Family Theater, from November 16.

The 2019 Chinese documentary Our Time Machine (时光机) will play online via the Tull Family Theater in Sewickley from November 16. A synopsis from the film's official site:

Shaken by the news of his father’s dementia, artist Maleonn creates “Papa’s Time Machine,” a wondrous time-travel adventure performed on stage with life-size mechanical puppets. Through the play’s production, he confronts his own mortality. Maleonn finds grace and unexpected joy in this moving meditation on art, the agonies of love and loss, and the circle of life.

It played in Pittsburgh last year and was scheduled to run online this month but was cancelled due to the Rangos Giant Cinema's closure. Tickets for the November screenings are not yet available.

The Korean Peninsula and the U.S. Commitment to the Region, September 30 with World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh.

The World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh will host "The Korean Peninsula and the U.S. Commitment to the Region" online on September 30.

Is North Korea the nation posing the greatest threat to the U.S.? Why do we need to pay attention to what’s happening in the Korean Peninsula? Amidst COVID-19 and its fallout, policymakers are confronted with newly emergent issues alongside pre-existing ones. As the pandemic spreads, US-North Korea talks remain stalled, inter-Korean relations persist as mostly one-sided, and North Korea has continued to test and refine its military capabilities as well as ratchet up its rhetoric, and COVID-19 has intensified a growing US-China strategic competition. From a decades-old military alliance to deep economic ties and a large and vibrant Korean-American community, the linkages between the United States and the Korean Peninsula remain as important as ever.

The Stimson Center and Stimson’s 38 North program, working with the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, presents a dialogue to discuss the importance of the US commitment to the Korean Peninsula. Speakers include: (Ret.) Walter Sharp, former Commander, US Forces Korea (2008-2011) and former President of the Korea Defense Veterans Association (KDVA), Jenny Town, Stimson Fellow & Deputy Director of Stimson’s 38 North, and moderated by Clint Work, Stimson Fellow & Security for a New Century & 38 North.

The talk runs from 2:00 to 3:00 pm online and is free and open to the public. Registration can be completed online.

BTS concert film Break the Silence (브레이크 더 사일런스: 더 무비) in Pittsburgh from September 24.

The upcoming BTS concert film Break the Silence (브레이크 더 사일런스: 더 무비) will play in Pittsburgh from September 24 through October 1.

BTS WORLD TOUR 'LOVE YOURSELF: SPEAK YOURSELF' is now over. The worldwide stadium tour topped the Billboard Boxscore, and marked BTS as the first Korean group to perform at Wembley Stadium. The tour took place across Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, São Paulo, London, Paris, Osaka, Shizuoka, Riyadh, and Seoul. With unprecedented access, BREAK THE SILENCE: THE MOVIE travels with BTS throughout the tour, exploring each band member behind the curtain. Off stage, we see another side of BTS. The seven members begin to candidly tell personal stories they have never voiced before. Facing my other self ‘PERSONA’

It will play locally at the Cinemark in Monaca (through the 1st), Monroeville (through the 27th), and Robinson (through the 30th), and the AMC Loews in Waterfront, and tickets are available online.

Discussion of Leslie Chang's Factory Girls, October 15 with University of Pittsburgh's Global Studies Center.

The University of Pittsburgh's Global Studies Center will host a discussion of Leslie Chang's 2008 book Factory Girls on October 15.

This reading group for educators explores literary texts from a global perspective. Content specialists present the work and its context, and together we brainstorm innovative pedagogical practices for incorporating the text and its themes into the curriculum. Sessions this year will take place virtually on Thursday evenings from 5-7:30 PM. Books and Act 48 credit are provided.

More showtimes announced for 4K remaster of Japanese movie Akira (アキラ), in Pittsburgh from September 24.

More showtimes have been announced for the 4K remaster of the 1988 Japanese movie Akira (アキラ), which will play in Pittsburgh from September 24. Wikipedia provides a summary of the film:

Set in a dystopian 2019, Akira tells the story of Shōtarō Kaneda, a leader of a biker gang whose childhood friend, Tetsuo Shima, acquires incredible telekinetic abilities after a motorcycle accident, eventually threatening an entire military complex amidst chaos and rebellion in the sprawling futuristic metropolis of Neo-Tokyo. While most of the character designs and settings were adapted from the manga, the plot differs considerably and does not include much of the last half of the manga. The soundtrack, which draws heavily from traditional Indonesian gamelan as well as Japanese noh music, was composed by Shōji Yamashiro and performed by Geinoh Yamashirogumi.

It is scheduled to play locally at the Cinemark in McCandless on the 24th and the Cinemark in Robinson from the 24th through 30th; tickets are available online.

"Make Tea, Not War: Tea and Conflict in Russia and Northeast Asia," October 1 (online) at Pitt.

by Flood G.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center and Center for Russian and Eastern European Studies will present a discussion and demonstration of Japanese green teas, "Make Tea, Not War: Tea and Conflict in Russia and Northeast Asia," on October 1.

Join the Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies and the Asian Studies Center for a demonstration and tasting of Japanese green teas. We will discuss tea in the context of regional conflicts, starting with the Russo-Japanese war, and guide the audience in the proper brewing techniques.

Registration for the 4:00 pm event is required. Pitt students have an opportunity to request a free sample from Squirrel Hill's Dobra Tea upon registration.

Chinese Language & Culture Club Meeting at Pitt, September 22.

Chinese Dim Sum, by Lezlie (Creative Commons)

The University of Pittsburgh's Chinese Language & Culture Club will meet every other week this semester, with the next meeting onilne on September 22 at 8:00 pm.

Join the Chinese Language & Culture Club for their bi-weekly meetings. The club celebrates the Chinese culture, language, festivals, and traditions. This semester, we’ll celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival, watch Chinese TV shows, learn about Pitt Chinese Programs, and learn how to make hot pot! etc.

A Zoom link should follow next week, but those interested may also contact Dr. Bei Cheng at beicheng at pitt.edu.

Three Japanese documentaries to be screened September 24 - 26 (online) at Pitt.

As part of the 2020 Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award, the Japan Council of the University of Pittsburgh and SCREENSHOT: ASIA will screen three documentaries online later this month:

* Friday, September 24: Oyster Factory (牡蠣工場) at 6:30 pm followed by a conversation with the director, Soda Kazuhiro.
* Saturday, September 25: Book-Paper-Scissors (つつんで、ひらいて), the 2020 Honorable Mention, at 7:00 pm, followed by a conversation with director Nanako Hirose.
* Sunday, September 26: An Ant Strikes Back (アリ地獄天国), the 2020 Grand Prize winner, at 7:00 pm, followed by a conversation with director Tokachi Tsuchiya.

"Jasmine Cho’s Portraits in Icing: The Intersection of Representation, Race, and Cookies," online at Heinz History Center, September 24.

via @jasminemcho

The Heinz History Center will present "Jasmine Cho’s Portraits in Icing: The Intersection of Representation, Race, and Cookies" online on September 24.

While the Smithsonian’s Portraits of Pittsburgh exhibition is filled with a range of portrait styles, none are as unique as the portraits that Pittsburgh artist Jasmine Cho paints onto cookies. Join Jasmine for a portrait demonstration and conversation about her unique combination of cookie art and social justice. Explore how Jasmine uses cookies to initiate conversations on race, creating intricate portraits of important Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and giving representation to a historically underrepresented community.

Tickets for the discussion and demonstration are $5 and available online.

Online dance workshop for Seventeen's "Snap Shoot" with PITT FRESA, September 19.

PITT Fresh Entertainment by Student Artists (FRESA) is hosting an online dance workshop for Seventeen's "Snap Shoot" on September 19.

Fresitas, it's time for another online workshop! This week, our awesome Internal VP Cathy Si will be teaching Snap Shoot by Seventeen-- see you there!

The event is open to the University of Pittsburgh student community and the Zoom link for the 12:00 - 2:00 pm workshop is available on the event's page.

Pittsburgh-based StarKist hiring bilingual Korean-English or Chinese-English Associate, Seafood Procurement Specialist.

Pittsburgh-based StarKist, owned by Korean parent company Dongwon Industries, is hiring for a bilingual Korean-English or Chinese-English Associate, Seafood Procurement Specialist position.

PURPOSE -

• Under the direction of the Manager, Seafood Procurement, this position will help to plan and manage the purchase of raw seafood and seafood products to ensure that price, quality, quantity and delivery schedules contribute effectively to company profit and growth objectives.
• This position will be responsible for the coordinating of vessel schedules for unloading, sizing of fish to support daily plant activity and company objectives. Position will also manage communications between the plants and fish suppliers in regards to downgrades, rejects and all quality issues.

4K remaster of Japanese movie Akira (アキラ) in Pittsburgh, September 24.

A 4K remaster of the 1988 Japanese movie Akira (アキラ) will play in Pittsburgh on September 24. Wikipedia provides a summary of the film:

Set in a dystopian 2019, Akira tells the story of Shōtarō Kaneda, a leader of a biker gang whose childhood friend, Tetsuo Shima, acquires incredible telekinetic abilities after a motorcycle accident, eventually threatening an entire military complex amidst chaos and rebellion in the sprawling futuristic metropolis of Neo-Tokyo. While most of the character designs and settings were adapted from the manga, the plot differs considerably and does not include much of the last half of the manga. The soundtrack, which draws heavily from traditional Indonesian gamelan as well as Japanese noh music, was composed by Shōji Yamashiro and performed by Geinoh Yamashirogumi.

It is scheduled to play locally at the Cinemark in McCandless and tickets are now available online.

Chinese movie Wild Grass (荞麦疯长) continues in Pittsburgh through (at least) September 23.

The 2020 Chinese movie Wild Grass (荞麦疯长), which opened in Pittsburgh on September 10, will continue here through at least September 23. Something of a synopsis, from the distributor:

In the 1990s, the two girls and a boy who first entered the society tested the incredible destiny they experienced in the pursuit of a new life. In the flourishing 1990s, they rose up with the dream and they survived.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

"Becoming Taiwanese: Religion, Colonialism, and Ethnogenesis in 20th Century Taiwan" online at Pitt, October 2.

The University of Pittsburgh will host Dr. Evan Dawley and his talk "Becoming Taiwanese: Religion, Colonialism, and Ethnogenesis in 20th Century Taiwan" on October 2. A description of the book from whence the talk's name is drawn:

What does it mean to be Taiwanese? This question sits at the heart of Taiwan’s modern history and its place in the world. In contrast to the prevailing scholarly focus on Taiwan after 1987, Becoming Taiwanese examines the important first era in the history of Taiwanese identity construction during the early twentieth century, in the place that served as the crucible for the formation of new identities: the northern port city of Jilong (Keelung).

Part colonial urban social history, part exploration of the relationship between modern ethnicity and nationalism, Becoming Taiwanese offers new insights into ethnic identity formation. Evan Dawley examines how people from China’s southeastern coast became rooted in Taiwan; how the transfer to Japanese colonial rule established new contexts and relationships that promoted the formation of distinct urban, ethnic, and national identities; and how the so-called retrocession to China replicated earlier patterns and reinforced those same identities. Based on original research in Taiwan and Japan, and focused on the settings and practices of social organizations, religion, and social welfare, as well as the local elites who served as community gatekeepers, Becoming Taiwanese fundamentally challenges our understanding of what it means to be Taiwanese.

The 3:00 pm lecture is free and open to the public via Zoom.

Pitt hiring Assistant Instructor of Chinese.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures is hiring an Assistant Instructor of Chinese:

The University of Pittsburgh seeks an Assistant Instructor of Chinese to work in The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA. Duties include teaching both recitations and lectures of language courses, with a 3/3 course workload, as well as working closely with the language coordinator to contribute to the overall effectiveness of the Chinese language program. Will also collaborate with Asianists in other units (e. g., the Asian Studies Center) to promote Chinese language learning and China studies. Will also lecture in English on Chinese grammar, vocabulary, and contexts in which the language is used as well as provide students opportunities to use the language grammatically correctly and in socially appropriate ways through practice in recitation sections that are conducted exclusively in Mandarin Chinese. Will meet with students to discuss and advise on academic issues as appropriate and monitor their progress as well as supervise and train part-time instructors.

Must have a master’s degree (or foreign equivalent degree) in Chinese language pedagogy, Asian Civilizations, Linguistics, foreign language pedagogy, or a related field plus one (1) year of experience teaching Chinese at the college/university level in a North American institution.

Must also have: (i) demonstrated excellence in teaching as measured through student evaluations/teaching surveys; (ii) any experience with the use of course management technology (e.g., Blackboard); (iii) any knowledge of the Chinese as a Foreign Language field as well as the general foreign language pedagogy theory and practice in the United States; (iv) working with the language coordinator, students, other department faculty; (v) student advisement; and (vi) engaging in professional development to further her/his skills and knowledge.

Those interested should apply through Interfolio via the Pitt website.

Squirrel Hill's Panda Supermarket starts delivery via Fantuan, from September 14.

Panda Supermarket, a Chinesse grocery in Squirrel Hill, will begin delivery service on September 14 via Fantuan. Fantuan is a Canada-based delivery service that recently expanded to Pittsburgh and specializes in Chinese restaurants and groceries. Those interested will need to download the app to make an order. Among other local Asian markets, Lotus Food in the Strip District also offers its own delivery service at present.

Korean Conversation Hour (수다 시간) with Pitt's Daehwa Korean Conversation Club, Sundays from September 13.

The University of Pittsburgh's Daehwa Korean Conversation Club will begin a weekly online Korean Conversation Hour on Sundays from 4:00 to 5:00 pm.

We are happy to announce that the Daehwa Korean Conversation Club will be starting a weekly Korean Conversation Hour (수다 시간)!

Students will have conversations using Korean within small groups, and it will be a great opportunity for those studying Korean to practice speaking. All students are welcome, from new learners to native speakers.

Please note that this will be separate from our regular weekly meetings on Fridays, which use both English and Korean. The Conversation Hour will be every Sunday 4:00-5:00 PM ET on Zoom. The first gathering will be this Sunday, September 13th. We hope to see you all there!

Join using the Zoom link below:
https://pitt.zoom.us/j/97651721960

The event is free and open to the Pitt community.

Bong Joon-ho film Snowpiercer (설국열차) online at Pitt, part of Watch Party Wednesday series, September 16.

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The University of Pittsburgh's Office of International Services will present the 2013 Bong Joon-ho film Snowpiercer (설국열차) online on September 16, part of its Watch Party Wednesday series. An introduction, via a review from The Atlantic:

Snowpiercer is set after the onset of an ice age, triggered by humanity’s efforts to solve global warming, and set on a train that runs perpetually around the earth, doing one circuit per year, using some combo of a perpetual motion engine and recycled ice that it’s better not to think too hard about. The glorious advantage of setting the movie entirely on a train is that it’s so easy to make the class stratifications Bong wants to talk about clear. At the back of the train, conditions are grim; everyone’s got soot on their faces, people are missing limbs, they eat black jellied “protein bars” handed out by the military, and once in a while their kids get measured and snatched away for reasons unknown.

The 7:00 pm event is free and open to the Pitt community, though registration is required.

"Friends of Japan: African American Women’s Visions of Afro-Asian Solidarity" at Pitt, October 8.

via the Chicago Defender, 1953.

The University of Pittsburgh's Humanities Center will present the Department of History's Keisha Blain and her talk "Friends of Japan: African American Women’s Visions of Afro-Asian Solidarity" online on October 8.

This presentation examines how African American women engaged Japan during the early twentieth century. It foregrounds the ideas of a cohort of women who envisioned political collaborations with Japanese people as a strategy to combat racism and global white supremacy.

It will be presented on Zoom from 12:30 pm on the 8th.

Susan Choi talk with Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures, online on September 14.

Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures will host author Susan Choi online on September 14 as part of this year's Ten Evenings series.

The author of five novels, Susan Choi won the 2019 National Book Award for Trust Exercise, an ingenious meditation on fiction and truth, friendships and loyalties, the capacities of adolescents, and the powers of adults.

In an American suburb in the early 1980s, students at a highly competitive performing arts high school struggle and thrive in a rarified bubble, ambitiously pursuing music, movement, Shakespeare, and, particularly, their acting classes. The outside world of family life and economic status, of academic pressure and of their future adult lives, fails to penetrate this school’s walls — until it does, in a shocking spiral of events that catapults the action forward in time and flips the premise upside-down.

Choi’s first novel, The Foreign Student, won the Asian American Literary Award for fiction. Her second novel, American Woman, was a finalist for the 2004 Pulitzer Prize and was adapted into a film. A Person of Interest was a finalist for the 2009 PEN/Faulkner Award. In 2010, Choi was named the inaugural recipient of the PEN/W. G. Sebald Award. Her fourth novel, My Education, received a 2014 Lammy Award.

Tickets for the 7:30 pm event are $10 for students and $15 for the general public.

2003 Bong Joon-ho film Memories of Murder (살인의 추억) in Pittsburgh-area theaters, October 19 and 20.

The 2003 Bong Joon-ho film Memories of Murder (살인의 추억) will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters on October 19 and 20. From the distributor:

MEMORIES OF MURDER tells the harrowing true story of the hunt for a sadistic serial rapist and murderer terrorizing a small province in 1980s South Korea. Marking the first of many successful collaborations between four-time Oscar winner Bong Joon Ho and leading man Song Kang Ho, the film follows the paths of three increasingly desperate detectives as they attempt to decipher the violent mind of a killer in a futile effort to solve the case.

Now, seventeen years after its initial release, and a year after the real culprit was identified, this cult classic takes its place as a modern masterpiece.

So far it is scheduled to play at AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson and tickets are available online.

Fantuan / Just Order Enterprises Corp. (饭团) hiring Mandarin-speaking Marketing Developer.

Fantuan, a delivery service catering to Asian restaurants and groceries that recently expanded to Pittsburgh, is hiring a Mandarin-speaking Marketing Developer.

Fantuan was founded in Vancouver, Canada in 2014. With a mission of “life made easier,” the company is a one-stop platform providing food delivery (Fantuan Delivery), reviews (Fantuan Reviews), an errand service (Fantuan Rush), e-commerce and marketing services. Fantuan is one of the top Asian life-services platforms in North America, currently operating across Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal, Seattle, Los Angeles, New York and other metropolitan areas in Canada and the US.

Responsibilities

• Actively develop business partners and maintain relationships with existing businesses
• Correctly instruct customers to register, install and use merchant app
• Responsible for the offline promotions
• Complete specified monthly tasks on time

Requirements

• University/college degree/diploma related to marketing an asset
• Must have valid SIN number
• Valid Driver's License and access to vehicle
• Positive mindset when facing challenges
• Strong communication skills and good customer negotiation skills
• Hardworking, motivated, and entrepreneurial
• Willing to work independently, while being a part of a great team
• Understand Chinese is an asset

Chinese movie Wild Grass (荞麦疯长) in Pittsburgh, from September 10.

The 2020 Chinese movie Wild Grass (荞麦疯长) will play in Pittsburgh from September 10. Something of a synopsis, from the distributor:

In the 1990s, the two girls and a boy who first entered the society tested the incredible destiny they experienced in the pursuit of a new life. In the flourishing 1990s, they rose up with the dream and they survived.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

Applications for Pitt's Asian Studies Center Language Partner program being accepted.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center is now accepting applicatiosn for its latest Language Partner program.

"Harbor From the Holocaust," documentary on European Jews who fled to Shanghai in the 1930s, premieres on WQED, September 8.

The new documentary "Harbor From the Holocaust" will premiere on WQED, Pittsburgh's PBS affiliate, on September 8. The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center newsletter provides more information:

18,000 Jewish families were able to escape from Europe to China during World War II because of the good deeds of one Chinese official, Ho Feng-Shen. These Jewish families, called Shanghailanders, lived and worked along side Chinese families in a small section of Shanghai’s occupied area. There are a surprisingly large number of Pittsburgh connections to the story of the Shanghailander Jews. The granddaughter of Ho Feng-Shen lives in Pittsburgh as does the grand-niece of the principal of the Jewish school in Shanghai. These connections intrigued Michele Ferrier of the Asian Studies Center and Daryl Ford-Williams from WQED, the Pittsburgh PBS station. Now after almost 6 years of work, several grants, and many trips to China, we are proud to announce the grand premier of the film Harbor from the Holocaust on WQED Tuesday September 8 at 10 pm EDT. We hope that you enjoy this fascinating and unsung World War II story, and look out for more teaching and engagement content about this topic in the weeks and months ahead.

It will play on WQED and stream on the PBS website at 10:00 pm EST.

뭐야? Seen at the Waterworks Party City.

September screenings of 2019 Chinese documentary Our Time Machine (时光机) cancelled due to Rangos Giant Cinema's closure.

The 2019 Chinese documentary Our Time Machine (时光机) was to play online via Carnegie Science Center's Rangos Giant Cinema from September 11 but it, and other upcoming events, are cancelled due to the cinema's closure for the foreseeable future.

The Rangos Giant Cinema is closed indefinitely due to the challenging circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

It will still be available online via dozens of other theaters nationwide from September 11 through 25.

BTS concert film Break the Silence (브레이크 더 사일런스: 더 무비) in Pittsburgh from September 24.

The upcoming BTS concert film Break the Silence (브레이크 더 사일런스: 더 무비) will play in Pittsburgh from September 24.

BTS WORLD TOUR 'LOVE YOURSELF: SPEAK YOURSELF' is now over. The worldwide stadium tour topped the Billboard Boxscore, and marked BTS as the first Korean group to perform at Wembley Stadium. The tour took place across Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, São Paulo, London, Paris, Osaka, Shizuoka, Riyadh, and Seoul. With unprecedented access, BREAK THE SILENCE: THE MOVIE travels with BTS throughout the tour, exploring each band member behind the curtain. Off stage, we see another side of BTS. The seven members begin to candidly tell personal stories they have never voiced before. Facing my other self ‘PERSONA’

It will play locally at the Cinemark in Monroeville and Robinson though more venues may be announced later. Tickets for the Monroeville screenings are available online via Fandango.

Three Japanese documentaries to be screened September 24 - 26 (online) at Pitt.

As part of the 2020 Pittsburgh Japan Documentary Film Award, the Japan Council of the University of Pittsburgh and SCREENSHOT: ASIA will screen three documentaries online later this month:

* Friday, September 24: Oyster Factory (牡蠣工場) at 6:30 pm followed by a conversation with the director, Soda Kazuhiro.
* Saturday, September 25: Book-Paper-Scissors (つつんで、ひらいて), the 2020 Honorable Mention, at 7:00 pm, followed by a conversation with director Nanako Hirose.
* Sunday, September 26: An Ant Strikes Back (アリ地獄天国), the 2020 Grand Prize winner, at 7:00 pm, followed by a conversation with director Tokachi Tsuchiya.