Thursday, April 8, 2021

Looking For A Lady With Fangs And A Moustache online via Tull Family Theater, April 30.


The Tull Family Theater in Sewickley will present virtual screenings of Looking For A Lady With Fangs And A Moustache from April 30. From an April 8 New York Times review:
In Khyentse Norbu’s “Looking for a Lady with Fangs and a Moustache,” a Nepalese entrepreneur searches for spiritual enlightenment, hoping to avert a fatal prophecy. Looking to set up a new cafe, Tenzin (Tsering Tashi Gyalthang) sees unnerving visions after scouting an abandoned temple. With mounting fear, he follows the gnomic suggestions of a Buddhist monk in shades and a master sage, who insists that he find a goddess manifest on earth, known as a dakini.
The writer-director Norbu, a Buddhist spiritual leader making his fifth feature, presents Tenzin as a hip modern guy in bluejeans with a wide smile that vanishes as soon as he has to seek self-awareness. The cozy streets of Kathmandu become like a place without a map to Tenzin as he scans passing strangers for signs of divine femininity and leaves his business partners in the lurch. There’s a slight narrative echo of romantic comedy as the monk and the master sage feed him tips and ritual gestures, and it appears the woman he seeks could be right under his nose, in the form of a singer (Tenzin Kunsel) from his music lessons.
Tickets and showtime information is not yet available.

"Let's Take a Look at Vietnam's Education System," April 10 at Pitt.


The University of Pittsburgh's Vietnamese Student Association will host "Let's Take a Look at Vietnam's Education System" on April 10.
Interested in learning about the education system in Vietnam? Now is your only chance!
This is our first time hosting an event in collaboration with Teach For Vietnam, a non-profit organization that is working towards removing education inequality and building sustainable systems for children in Vietnam.
We will be having a very SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER: TRANG NGUYEN - THE CEO OF TEACH FOR VIETNAM. She will be presenting about:
1. What is the impact of COVID-19 on Vietnam's education?
2. What are the educational differences between the US and Vietnam, urban and rural areas?
3. Educational crisis that Vietnam is and Teach For Vietnam’s solutions
So please save the date and join with us on Saturday, April the 10th at 7:30 PM EST!
The event runs from 7:30 to 8:30 pm on Zoom and is free and open to the public.

CMU's annual Matsuri 2021, online April 9 - 10.


Carnegie Mellon University's Japanese Student Association presents a Matsuri ("festival") each spring, though this year's event has shifted online April 9 and 10, with a focus on supporting local Japanese businesses. From its Facebook page:
This year, JSA is launching a virtual Matsuri, with all kinds of opportunities to engage with Japanese music, film, food and games! This year, we're launching Matsuri to advocate for local Japanese businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Get ready for some authentic culture and fun!
Performances:
This year for Matsuri, we’ll be showcasing several performances, highlighting all kinds of traditional Japanese music, dance and literature. During our YouTube live stream, you’ll be able to see all of these featured artists and creators. These performances will feature centuries-old practice from Japan as well as other regions of the world. We hope you’ll join us!
Food:
This year, JSA is supporting local Japanese restaurants and stores affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. You can support your favorite local stores in two ways:
1. Order in food from restaurants like sushi fuku, fujiya ramen, and teppanyaki kyoto at a spicy discount price!
2. Buy care packages for yourself and your friends and pick it up at the UC.
Thank you for supporting your local stores and make sure to come to our other matsuri event as well!
Games:
Matsuri 2021 will feature both synchronous and asynchronous games that will allow participants to choose which type of games they want to join in. For the main synchronous session, we will be holding a virtual escape room, where participants will solve different puzzles as fast as possible for the prize! Across the duration of Matsuri, there will be new challenges posted at the start of the day and participants will submit video responses of the challenges to earn points, and the person with the most points at the end will win! There will also be shorter questions or brainteasers posted on social media for smaller prizes.
Visit each day's portal to access the online activities.

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

Duolingo hiring Curriculum Designer for Japanese.

Pittsburgh-based Duolingo is hiring a Curriculum Designer for Japanese.

We are looking for a world-class expert in teaching Japanese who has experience working across different educational settings and with learners from a variety of language backgrounds. Our ideal candidate has strong organizational skills, can build effective and engaging course content, and understands the unique challenges of digital education. You will join our team of course designers and help support our efforts to deliver the best language education in the world through evidence-based practices. Join Duolingo to feel empowered as an educator, affecting how millions of people learn!

You Will...

  • Design the curriculum and internal pedagogical resources for Duolingo courses teaching Japanese
  • Create content for a variety of features spanning both implicit and explicit teaching of Japanese
  • Create assessments of learners’ language knowledge
  • Provide Japanese-related pedagogical support to multiple teams
  • Help develop and implement efficient processes for scaling the creation of educational content
  • Help recruit, train, and supervise other course content creators
  • Help communicate the science behind Duolingo’s teaching methodology to a wider audience

You Have...

  • Teaching experience. You have at least 2 years of experience teaching Japanese as a second language.
  • Pedagogical expertise. You are familiar with external standards for teaching Japanese (e.g. JLPT), and can design course curricula that effectively scaffold the learning experience for learners with a particular language background.
  • Analytical thinking. You are able to think about language in a structured and analytical way. For example, you excel at breaking down grammatical concepts into smaller parts for the purposes of teaching and assessment.
  • Language expertise. You have native or near-native proficiency in Japanese and strong familiarity with the Japanese culture.
  • Strong communication. You have excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Operational focus. You are organized and efficient, and strive to continuously improve your workflow and processes.

Requirements:

  • MA (or equivalent experience) in Japanese, applied linguistics, linguistics, or a related field
  • Ability to work full-time from or relocate to Pittsburgh, PA

Exceptional Candidates Will Have...

  • Multilingual language background
  • Experience managing people and projects

2020 Korean-American film Minari remains in Pittsburgh through (at least) April 14.


The 2020 Korean-American film Minari, which opened in Pittsburgh on February 11, will remain here through at least April 14. A synopsis, from the distributor:
A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. Amidst the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks, Minari shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.
It will continue at several local theaters, including (on certain days) the AMC Loews Waterfront and Cinemark in Robinson. Tickets are available online.

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Pitt hiring Visiting Korean Instructor.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures is hiring a Visiting Instructor to teach Korean courses for the 2021-2022 academic year.
The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures of the University of Pittsburgh invites applications for the position of Visiting Instructor for its Korean language program, pending budgetary approval. The appointment will begin on September 1, 2021, and end on April 30, 2022. The candidate must hold a MA degree in teaching Korean as a second language, foreign language teaching, applied linguistics, or a related field by the time of appointment and possess broad competence in teaching Korean language courses. The successful candidate will teach six courses per year. The candidate must be native or near a native user of Korean and English. should have at least one year’s experience teaching Korean language courses at a North American institution, preferably in person. Other duties may include mentoring students, normal service duties in the Department, and working with other Asia specialists in the Department and on campus.

The University of Pittsburgh has dedicated substantial resources to international studies and encourages interdisciplinary research and teaching through the established programs in Film Studies, Cultural Studies, Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies, and Global Studies. The intellectual environment at the University of Pittsburgh provides ample opportunities for interdisciplinary cooperation. The East Asian Library is one of the best in the nation, and there are superlative research facilities, as well as funds for research and teaching.

Applicants should send a letter of application, CV, evidence of teaching ability (e. g., student teaching evaluations), sample syllabus for one course, statements of teaching philosophy, diversity and inclusion statement, and a list of three references to the University of Pittsburgh’s Talent Center.

For more information, contact Victoria Donahoe (vjd8@pitt.edu). The position will be filled as soon as the qualified candidate is found.

Eddie Huang film Boogie continues in Pittsburgh, through (at least) April 14.


The Eddie Huang film Boogie, which opened in Pittsburgh on March 5, will continue here through at least April 14. From the distributor:
From acclaimed writer, producer and restaurateur Eddie Huang comes his directorial debut Boogie, the coming-of-age story of Alfred “Boogie” Chin, a basketball phenom living in Queens, New York, who dreams of one day playing in the NBA. While his parents pressure him to focus on earning a scholarship to an elite college, Boogie must find a way to navigate a new girlfriend, high school, on-court rivals and the burden of expectation.
It will continue locally at AMC Loews Waterfront, and tickets are available online.

"Asian/American: A roundtable about Race, Identity, and Community," April 15 at Pitt.


The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures will host "Asian/American: A roundtable about Race, Identity, and Community" on April 15. It starts at 5:30 pm and is free and open to the public, though registration is required.

Pitt hiring part-time Japanese teacher for Summer 2021.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures is hiring a part-time instructor of Japanese for Summer 2021.
The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures seeks a part-time instructor of Japanese Language starting Summer Term 2021. Instructors must have a Bachelor’s degree and experience teaching Japanese conversation classes at university level more than one year. Native speakers of Japanese are preferred. Duties include teaching recitation sections. The instructor will continue teaching during the regular academic year, though work hours are expected to be limited and/or unstable. Interested applicants should remit a CV and cover letter. The position will be filled as soon as qualified candidates are found.

Monday, April 5, 2021

2020 Japanese movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編) in Pittsburgh, from April 23.


The 2020 Japanese animated movie Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train (劇場版「鬼滅の刃」 無限列車編) will play in Pittsburgh from April 23. A synopsis of the top-grossing film in Japan last year, from the theaters:
Tanjiro Kamado, joined with Inosuke Hashibira, a boy raised by boars who wears a boar's head, and Zenitsu Agatsuma, a scared boy who reveals his true power when he sleeps, board the Infinity Train on a new mission with the Fire Pillar, Kyojuro Rengoku, to defeat a demon who has been tormenting the people and killing the demon slayers who oppose it!
Tickets will go on sale on April 9, though showings have been announced so far for the Waterworks and Cranberry Cinemas.

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