Since September 2014, the Department of Asian Studies has been awarding annual prizes to two Lecturers to recognize and celebrate excellence in teaching in the Lecturer rank. It is with great pleasure that we announce Zheng (Tim) Cai and Jeonghye Son as our 2024/2025 Lecturers of The Year.
Zheng (Tim) Cai
Lecturer in Chinese Language and Literature
Dr. Cai earned his PhD in Comparative Literature from the University of Alberta and joined the Chinese Language Program in 2019. Over the past six years, Dr. Cai has been teaching advanced content-based Chinese Language courses (known collectively as CHIN 460+) and has achieved outstanding outcomes in teaching and service here in the department.
Dr. Cai has taught 14 out of the 23 CHIN 460+ courses, three of which are new courses that he created. These 14 courses cover a wide range of topics from Classical Poetry to Modern Chinese Literature, from Artistic Images in Chinese Literature to Contemporary Chinese Fiction in Film. To all of these courses, Dr. Cai brings his extensive knowledge, research, and pedagogical passion.
Despite having a reputation as a harsh grader, students flock to his classes. In the past academic year alone, he has taught an astonishing 534 students in 8 class sections of 7 different courses. And this was not an anomaly: Dr. Cai regularly teaches more than 400 students every year. What is especially notable, however, is that Dr. Cai’s accomplishments are not solely a matter of quantity: according to his colleagues and student evaluations, the quality of learning opportunities he has provided for his undergraduate students is superb.
In four of the last five years, Dr. Cai has been the primary organizer of the UCCS (UBC Undergraduate Conference of Chinese Studies 3-Minute-Thesis Competition), an annual event which foster skills of critical thinking, clarity of argument, and oral presentation in his students. He has recruited the participation of many of our colleagues in Asian Studies, as well as organizations in the community, culminating in an impressive event that serves to encourage, inspire, and applaud the learning outcomes of students in CHIN 460+ courses.
Jeonghye Son
Lecturer in Korean Language and Culture
After completing a PhD in Korean Sociolinguistics in this department in 2017, Dr. Son joined us as a lecturer in Korean language. Over the past eight years she has taught a wide range of Korean language courses at every level, and in a variety of formats: in-person, hybrid, and online. She applies a critical content-based pedagogy that not only develops students’ language proficiency but also encourages students to engage with broader cultural and social perspectives while deepening their critical thinking skills. Her course evaluations make evident students’ appreciation of this challenging but rewarding approach.
Dr. Son has played a central role in renewing the Korean language curriculum, updating vocabulary and grammar sequences for multiple courses, collaborating with colleagues to improve oral assessment practices, and ensuring that the course content remains both pedagogically rigorous and relevant to students’ needs. She has also been a leader in pedagogical innovation, integrating flipped learning models, creating lecture videos with embedded quizzes, and employing game-based learning platforms to engage and motivate her students. She draws on authentic materials, including clips from Korean dramas, to help students understand the nuances of Korean speech and sociocultural meanings.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Son has been instrumental in building a vibrant and supportive learning community. She has organized and co-organized numerous events, such as Korean-English language exchanges, K-pop cultural events, and collaborative international activities with students from KAIST (Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, South Korea), NYU, and USC. Through these efforts, she has created valuable opportunities for students to apply their language skills in authentic contexts and to connect meaningfully with Korean culture.
In sum, through her leadership, creativity, and dedication, Dr. Son has greatly enriched the student experience. Her contributions exemplify the values of student-centered education, and she has been central to building a dynamic, collaborative learning environment for Korean language learners at UBC.
