February 17, 2006

COURSES

Korea<= /b> the backdrop for adoption class

Part of the Asian language and literature department, the class is open to anyone interested in the adoptee experienc= e.

ive students shared stories from their adoption experiences during a class discussion.

Some found their bi= rth parents or made attempts to find them. Other students asked questions about= the experience.

The class offered t= his semester, titled Cultures of Korean Adoptions: The Adoptee Experience, is o= ne of the first of its kind in the United States — with the exception of= a similar project in Sweden — and gives students a chance to talk about adoption in an academic setting.

Jenni Edwards, the post-adoption coordinator at Children’s Home Society, said adoption should be a topic discussed academically.

“People shoul= d be educated because adoption does change and people’s feelings change,&q= uot; she said. “I think that this research will be very valuable to the community when it is all finished."

Instructor and grad= uate student Kim Park Nelson said the class is not meant to be a support group f= or students.

The class gives some students, such as family social science and global studies senior Mandy Beardsley, an opportunity to talk about being adopted that they otherwise w= ould not have had.

“After going = to Korea, finding my aunt, and getting some closure there, I also felt a lot of confusion," she said. “This class was a way to sort out my quest= ions and put my thoughts together."

The idea for the cl= ass first was conceived by Korean language director Hangtae Cho.

When he noticed 30 percent of students studying Korean were adopted, he wanted other classes offered to them.

Richard Smith, the director of Adoption for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, agreed with = Cho and said Korean students have the numbers to be recognized.

“It’s actually viable to pull together a classroom and have people in dialogue,&q= uot; he said. “A lot of adoptees from elsewhere would not have enough peop= le to do that, whereas Korean adoptees have had that advantage all along."= ;

The class is part o= f the Asian language and literature department and is open to anyone interested in the adoptee experience.

Class time is split between discussing adoptee writing and film, and American and international adoption policy.

Using the Korean Wa= r as the start of the class, students are expected to think critically about rac= e, supply and demand and the meaning of family.

“I’m re= ally trying to offer an opportunity," Nelson said. “I want to give th= em something personal, intellectually stimulating and try to make a connection= to things that should matter to everyone."

Although numbers we= re not available, according to Children’s Home Society and Lutheran Social Service, the state has one of the highest proportions of Korean adoptions i= n the world.

Many Korean childre= n are adopted by Minnesota families because of two large adoption agencies in Minnesota, Nelson said.

While some students= took the class out of curiosity, others took it because it directly addressed adopted students.

Anthropology and cu= ltural studies junior Adam Laine said he can relate to the other students in the c= lass and feel like an insider.

“I don’= t know a lot about my heritage and this was a great opportunity to find out about it," he said. “In this class, I’m surrounded by people who relate to me."

— Freelance Editor Emily Kaiser welcomes comments at ekaiser@mndaily.com.

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© Co= pyright 2006 The Minnesota Daily