On behalf of the Board of Directors of East Rock Institute, I welcome you warmly to 2007 ERI Teach Korea Corps Conference. I have also the privilege to honor and thank our sponsors, faculty members, teachers, ERI staff, interns and volunteers all who made this conference possible. We are pleased that many new teachers as well as some previous years' participants are here today. We also welcome new participants from the independent schools. ERI's teachers' conference began in 1985 with the sponsorship of the Wilson Center National Task Force for Korean Studies and the three year grants of the National Endowment for the Humanities was held at Yale University . Since then ERI undertook eight regional and national teacher's conferences or workshop and some in cooperation with the National Association for Korean Schools. In 2005, ERI launched the Teach Korea Corps movement which includes this annual teachers' conference.

In bridging cultural understanding between East and West with the emphasis on Korea and United States, ERI sought innovative approaches for research and teaching. We used
comparative and interdisciplinary approaches often through inter-institutional and international cooperation. Theory was combined with practice.

ERI's pioneering effort in the field of Korean and Korean Diaspora culture and history programs includes publication of the Korean and Korean American Studies Bulletin, ERI's bi-annual journal since 1984. Our long experience of holding teachers; conferences and workshop produced many high school curriculum modules both in book and interactive teaching website form (See www.instrok.org) Thus providing unique teaching materials on Korean and Korean diaspora cultures.

As a mother of six Korean Americans and 11 grandchildren, ERI's motto to search, to learn and to teach Korean culture is more than a cerebral matter. It is my passion and that of late Dr. Kwang Lim Koh, founder of East Rock Institute. This passion is shared by all those who supported and made ERI's over 50 years history possible.

This conference is a unique collaborative effort of scholars of Korean culture and history, middle and high school teachers, and Korean American young professionals .The aim of this conference is for you, the teachers, to learn more about Korean culture and history so that you are better prepared to teach your students about Korea..

We also aim to develop relevant, interesting and trustworthy curricula and interactive lessons and above all to train master teachers who can mentor other teachers on Korean culture and history. In fact, several teacher participants of 2006 conferences formed a Group called of ERIK (Educators Reflecting on Information on Korea) and helped to develop programs of this year's conference through a number of all day meetings.

Only with all of your active participation we can achieve this program's full potential. May you above all enjoy each other's company while learning and teaching about Korea!

Hesung Chun Koh, Ph.D.
Chair of the Board of Directors, East Rock Institute and the Conference Director