News & Events - Arkansas NCTA

A person in a patterned robe stands at the front of a classroom, gesturing toward seated students who are watching attentively—an inspiring scene that reflects the spirit of teacher development supported by ARNCTA 2026 and opportunities like mini-grant applications.

ARNCTA 2026 Teacher Development Mini-Grant Applications | Deadline October 15th

Classes are back in session and the Arkansas National Consortium for Teaching about Asia is pleased to offer teachers support […]

A field trip session is held as people in traditional clothing hold foam swords, demonstrating lesson plans to an audience seated in rows who watch and take photos.

ARNCTA Teacher Development Reflection and Lesson Plans | Janetta Freeman, April 2026 |

News

The Dardanelle High School History Club received a grant from ARNCTA that enabled students to attend a lecture by Dr.

Three women in traditional Japanese clothing engage in a hands-on learning experience at a tea ceremony, seated on tatami mats with tea utensils and a decorative screen reflecting the art of East Asia.

Art, Tea, Music, and More: Hands-On Learning about East Asia

Events

Looking to teach about Asia beyond the common texts and bullet points? This highly interactive, full-day workshop brings together expert

Vegetable garden with rows of plants in front of wooden barracks; makeshift trellises and laundry hanging outside—an evocative glimpse into daily life during Japanese American Incarceration for use in digital classroom resources.

Interactive History: Digital Classroom Resources and Lesson Plans for Teaching Japanese American Incarceration in Arkansas | June-July 2026 Workshop

Events, News

Multiple dates/locations available This workshop introduces teachers to the topic of Japanese American incarceration during WWII, beginning with the national

Two soldiers in uniform with a machine gun take cover on a hillside near the Great Wall of China, with World War II-era watchtowers visible in the background, capturing a tense moment in East Asia’s wartime history.

Beyond the Pacific War: Exploring World War II in East and Southeast Asia

Events

Decades before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese empire expanded into Korea and Manchuria, setting off a conflict that

Three people stand and sit with luggage on an empty airstrip under a cloudy sky, evoking the spirit of Xuanzang from the Travels of Xuanzang, with the text MEETING WITH POL POT: A FILM BY RITHY PANH above them.

Meeting with Pol Pot Screening | March 14, 2026

Events

Join Alan Elrod (Pulaski Institution), Dr. Hyo-Won Shin (Political Scientist), and Samnang Lep (Cambodian American Association of Arkansas) to screen

A watercolor painting depicts a fenced camp with multiple barracks, a watchtower, and a muddy landscape with puddles in the foreground, capturing the stark reality of Japanese American Incarceration during World War II.

Exploring Digital Humanities: Japanese American Incarceration during World War II | March 2026 Workshop

Events

Photo Credit: The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies Join Prof. Kimball Erdman (University of Arkansas – Fayetteville) and Angie Payne

Bluff City Chinese Screening | February 19, 2026

Events

Arkansas NCTA and the UCA Center for Asian Languages and Cultures present a free public screening of Bluff City Chinese,

Three animated female characters in colorful, futuristic outfits stand confidently on a lit stage with glowing weapons, channeling K-Pop vibes against a blue background with vibrant purple lights.

Understanding the Rise of K-Culture: K-Pop Demon Hunters in the Classroom | November 2025 Workshop

Events

Arkansas NCTA presents “Understanding the Rise of K-Culture: K-Pop Demon Hunters in the Classroom,” an in-person workshop for teachers of