Activity 8.3: Korean Americans Past, Present, and Future

Activity 8.3: Korean Americans Past, Present, and Future

    Students explore differences between biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. They conduct research for a biographical presentation and compose their own memoir.

Activity Questions

  • What are differences between biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs?
  • How do memoirs help us understand how individuals develop their Korean American identity?
  • How have movies directed by or starring Koreans and Korean Americans made an international impact?
  • How have Korean Americans contributed to the U.S. and world?
  • How have contributions of Korean Americans influenced your understanding of Korean Americans and their future?

Instructional Strategies

  • Use the Lesson 8: Korean Popular Culture in the United States (Activity 8.3) presentation to support this lesson.

Korean Americans: Past and Present

  • Introduce Susie Woo and provide an overview to the video. Point out that they should recognize (from earlier lessons) some of what Dr. Woo presents. However, Dr. Woo provides a synthesis of the immigration history of Korean Americans and examines their achievements in the last 50 years.
  • View the video (almost 40 minutes).
  • Discuss how Korean American achievements have evolved over the last 50 years.

Notable Korean Americans

  • Review the examples provided of notable Korean Americans (congressmember, scientists, engineers, athletes and writers).
  • Have students brainstorm a list of additional notable Korean Americans and their contributions.

Research Presentation

    • Review the differences between a biography, autobiography, and memoir. Point out that students have encountered biographies and memoirs in previous lessons:
      • Sammy Lee’s Biography: Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds (Lesson 3)
      • Sammy Lee’s Biographical Essay: A Biographical Overview of Dr. Sammy Lee (Lesson 3)
      • Young Oak Kim’s Biography (Lesson 5)
      • Carol Park’s Memoir: Memoir of a Cashier (Lesson 7)
    • Introduce students to the research assignment. Let them know they are going to compose a 10-slide research presentation on a notable Korean American of their choice.
  • Review the Peer Review and Scoring Guide for Biographical Presentation.

Closing Activity

  • End class with review and discussion of the activity questions.

Resources

Biographical Presentation Peer Review/Scoring Guide (PDF)

Notable Korean Americans (PDF)

YouTube Video: Korean Americans Past and Present (29:43)