Performing Asianness as a Spiritual Classroom Practice

 *  Richie N. Hao (Southern Illinois Univ, Carbondale)

Abstract:

Teaching two hybrid public speaking classes designed for the American Culture and Language Program (ACLP) students, who were almost all Asian international students at California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State), allowed me to reconnect with my own Asianness. More importantly, interacting with ACLP students gave me an opportunity to find my spirituality in an unCONVENTIONal way by performing, confronting, and celebrating our Asianness in the classroom.