Since he began teaching in the United States, Frank
Cai ends each semester of his discussion sections the same way.
He gives each of his students a gift of thanks for their cooperation in his class- a photograph of him with them. This gift is the last thing the students receive as they turn in their final exams to Frank and walk out of his class.
He proudly speaks about this gift- his hands folded in his lap, smiling both with his mouth and through his eyes. A 43-year-old man, his words are used slowly with thought.
"When students hand me their bluebooks, I give them their copies (of the picture). It's a moment of exchanging gifts- a farewell," Cai said.
Many might not consider a bluebook filled with Western Civilization or American Studies essay answers, depending on what Cai is teaching that semester, a great gift to receive.
But as a former Fulbright scholar from Beijing, Cai treasures his students' ideas and thoughts. His Chinese name is Hong Cai, but he prefers Frank. Currently, Cai is working on a doctorate in American Studies and is a graduate teaching assistant for Western Civilization at the University of Kansas.
One of Cai's office mates, Steven Tucker, a Birmingham, Ala., Western Civilization assistant instructor, said he could easily tell that he is a great teaching assistant.
"He devotes a lot of time to his students," he said. "He always seems interested in their academic success."
This passion for education stems from his childhood in China.
"You can find it everywhere throughout history in many proverbs ... ," he said. " There is a particular one that says you cannot return home gloriously until you achieve something academically famous."
This proverb explains Cai's life.
He came to the University from 2001 to 2003 as a Fulbright scholar to get his second master's degree in American Studies. Already he had a bachelor's degree in English and his first master's degree in American Studies from Beijing Foreign Studies University.
Cai returned to Beijing in 2003 until 2005 when he decided that he needed- not should, but needed- to get his doctorate in American Studies.
He lights up when asked how he ended up in the middle of the US from Beijing (he gets this question a lot)- his eyes grow bigger, he talks more with his hands and his tone of voice rises.
When he originally found out that he was coming to Kansas, Cai said that his friends in China asked him, "Kansas is Texas, right? Or Arkansas?" He laughs when he recalls this conversation. He, himself, had never heard of Kansas before coming.
KUJH's Lauren Cunningham offers Frank's unique perspective on Western culture.
Cai said that in his application letter to the
Fulbright program, he put that he wanted to see "the real heartland of
America and the most genuine, regional American thing."
He gives each of his students a gift of thanks for their cooperation in his class- a photograph of him with them. This gift is the last thing the students receive as they turn in their final exams to Frank and walk out of his class.
He proudly speaks about this gift- his hands folded in his lap, smiling both with his mouth and through his eyes. A 43-year-old man, his words are used slowly with thought.
"When students hand me their bluebooks, I give them their copies (of the picture). It's a moment of exchanging gifts- a farewell," Cai said.
Many might not consider a bluebook filled with Western Civilization or American Studies essay answers, depending on what Cai is teaching that semester, a great gift to receive.
But as a former Fulbright scholar from Beijing, Cai treasures his students' ideas and thoughts. His Chinese name is Hong Cai, but he prefers Frank. Currently, Cai is working on a doctorate in American Studies and is a graduate teaching assistant for Western Civilization at the University of Kansas.
One of Cai's office mates, Steven Tucker, a Birmingham, Ala., Western Civilization assistant instructor, said he could easily tell that he is a great teaching assistant.
"He devotes a lot of time to his students," he said. "He always seems interested in their academic success."
This passion for education stems from his childhood in China.
"You can find it everywhere throughout history in many proverbs ... ," he said. " There is a particular one that says you cannot return home gloriously until you achieve something academically famous."
This proverb explains Cai's life.
He came to the University from 2001 to 2003 as a Fulbright scholar to get his second master's degree in American Studies. Already he had a bachelor's degree in English and his first master's degree in American Studies from Beijing Foreign Studies University.
Cai returned to Beijing in 2003 until 2005 when he decided that he needed- not should, but needed- to get his doctorate in American Studies.
He lights up when asked how he ended up in the middle of the US from Beijing (he gets this question a lot)- his eyes grow bigger, he talks more with his hands and his tone of voice rises.
When he originally found out that he was coming to Kansas, Cai said that his friends in China asked him, "Kansas is Texas, right? Or Arkansas?" He laughs when he recalls this conversation. He, himself, had never heard of Kansas before coming.
KUJH's Lauren Cunningham offers Frank's unique perspective on Western culture.
He lives in Lawrence with his wife, another teacher
at the University, and 10-year-old daughter, both from Beijing.
"After I got here, I began to learn that the people here are really nice and very generous ... ," he said. "It's a great place for outsiders because of the large, beautiful campus and the teams of professors. The students also are very hardworking and disciplined."
Cai, who claims he has never seen any negativity toward international students, has invited many students from China to study at the University for these reasons.
According to International Student and Scholar Services, from fall 2007 to fall 2008, the number of international students, both undergraduate and graduate, increased by 14.1 percent. This semester, about 36 percent of the international students at the University are from China.
The rapport between Cai and his students shows his passion for teaching.
Teaching does not ensure a lot of money, he said, but that it does ensure a good reputation.
"The dynamic exchanges of ideas between a teacher and his or her students is something that we as human beings should really cherish," he said. "I hope that with my devotion to and hard work in teaching, I can train them to be better human beings."
Cai formats his discussions in a way that reflects the American democratic process.
He divides the class into groups who discuss questions about weekly topics and choose one group leader to present the group's thoughts. He gives his own opinions about the topics throughout this discussion.
After the midterm, he switches this format to class debates, dividing the class into two teams that each present an argument about a topic. Cai then asks the students to decide who had a better argument.
"He wants us to learn rather than just get a grade," said Miller Davis, a Tulsa, Okla., fifth-year senior who has had Cai for Western Civilization for the past two semesters. "I look forward to discussion groups. He makes it interesting and leaves a lot of space open for people to express themselves."
Davis also likes how Cai relates current events to Western Civilization philosophy.
Because he's from the east, Cai thinks he brings a "bifocal" view to Western Civilization.
Antha Cotten-Spreckelmeyer, associate director of the Humanities and Western Civilization Program, said Cai offers students a "window from China into Western Civilization" that Cai provides is valuable in so many ways.
"He kind of puts the rest of us to shame with how committed to and great he is with his students," she said.
Cai said he plans to return to Beijing after KU.
He said that although other cities might offer more "physical" aspects, like subways, city-scapes or more things to do in general, he has enjoyed the Midwest the most.
"Life here is very enjoyable. It's not because of the physical 'something' (that I want to go back to Beijing)," he said. "It's because of a mission to let more people know this place- to let more people know the people of Kansas, of the Midwest, of the United States- as a whole."
"After I got here, I began to learn that the people here are really nice and very generous ... ," he said. "It's a great place for outsiders because of the large, beautiful campus and the teams of professors. The students also are very hardworking and disciplined."
Cai, who claims he has never seen any negativity toward international students, has invited many students from China to study at the University for these reasons.
According to International Student and Scholar Services, from fall 2007 to fall 2008, the number of international students, both undergraduate and graduate, increased by 14.1 percent. This semester, about 36 percent of the international students at the University are from China.
The rapport between Cai and his students shows his passion for teaching.
Teaching does not ensure a lot of money, he said, but that it does ensure a good reputation.
"The dynamic exchanges of ideas between a teacher and his or her students is something that we as human beings should really cherish," he said. "I hope that with my devotion to and hard work in teaching, I can train them to be better human beings."
Cai formats his discussions in a way that reflects the American democratic process.
He divides the class into groups who discuss questions about weekly topics and choose one group leader to present the group's thoughts. He gives his own opinions about the topics throughout this discussion.
After the midterm, he switches this format to class debates, dividing the class into two teams that each present an argument about a topic. Cai then asks the students to decide who had a better argument.
"He wants us to learn rather than just get a grade," said Miller Davis, a Tulsa, Okla., fifth-year senior who has had Cai for Western Civilization for the past two semesters. "I look forward to discussion groups. He makes it interesting and leaves a lot of space open for people to express themselves."
Davis also likes how Cai relates current events to Western Civilization philosophy.
Because he's from the east, Cai thinks he brings a "bifocal" view to Western Civilization.
Antha Cotten-Spreckelmeyer, associate director of the Humanities and Western Civilization Program, said Cai offers students a "window from China into Western Civilization" that Cai provides is valuable in so many ways.
"He kind of puts the rest of us to shame with how committed to and great he is with his students," she said.
Cai said he plans to return to Beijing after KU.
He said that although other cities might offer more "physical" aspects, like subways, city-scapes or more things to do in general, he has enjoyed the Midwest the most.
"Life here is very enjoyable. It's not because of the physical 'something' (that I want to go back to Beijing)," he said. "It's because of a mission to let more people know this place- to let more people know the people of Kansas, of the Midwest, of the United States- as a whole."
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