The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa hosted the 2025 Southeast Asian Language Council (SEALC) Symposium on September 26 and 27, welcoming more than 100 educators and researchers from across the globe, both in person and online. The two-day gathering showcased innovative research and teaching practices in Southeast Asian language education.
“Our university’s longstanding commitment to Southeast Asian language instruction and the expertise of our faculty and staff made our university an excellent venue for this workshop,” Miriam Stark, director of UH Mānoa’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS). “We were honored to host our SEALC colleagues at the event, and look forward to extending the collaborations that it launched.”
Shared expertise
More than 30 paper and panel presentations explored a wide range of topics, from proficiency-based reading and listening assessments to project-based learning and curriculum innovations. Participants represented leading institutions such as UCLA, Harvard, and universities from across Southeast Asia.
Since its founding, SEALC has been instrumental in strengthening Southeast Asian language teaching in the U.S. and abroad through professional development workshops, materials design, and assessment innovation.
This year’s symposium was supported by funds from a Henry Luce Foundation grant awarded to CSEAS. The event was organized by Jayson Parba and Precious Arao (UH Mānoa Filipino & Philippine Culture Program), in collaboration with Erlin Barnard of the SEALC Steering Committee and UW–Madison. Additional support was provided by Peter Arnade, dean of the College of Arts, Languages & Letters, the SEALC Steering Committee and a dedicated team of volunteers.
—Jayson Parba and Precious Arao
