I am an East Asian specialist. I received my doctorate in 1988 from the Department of East Asian Languages & Literature at the University of Wisconsin at Madison (USA). My main fields of interest are traditional Chinese literature and philosophy, comparative literature and philosophy (ancient Greek and ancient Chinese), and translation studies (Chinese/English and Korean/English). My native language is English (American), but I am also fluent in Chinese and Korean and have a good reading knowledge of Japanese. Since graduation from the University of Wisconsin at Madison I have held five main positions, including three in East Asia, where I lived almost uninterrupted during the twelve-year period from 1988 to 2000.
My first overseas position was as foreign advisor for the Government Information Office, the Republic of China (1988-1989). At this position I performed a variety of tasks, including consulting on political and cultural affairs, translating (Chinese/English), and the editing of English-language texts. Individual assignments ranged from speeches, press releases, and special announcements for the president and prime minister of the Republic of China, to general government documents, publications, and correspondence. Later I was employed as associate professor in the Department of Foreign Languages & Literature, National Cheng Kung University, the Republic of China (1990-1993). At this position I taught a variety of courses: Comparative Philosophy (Early Greek/Pre-Ch'in Chinese Philosophy), Comparative Literature (Myth, Early Chinese/Early Greek), Elementary Korean Language, Chinese/English Translation, Rhetoric, and English Composition. I also worked as a member of the Hiring and Promotion Committee and Departmental Preparatory Committee, and as editor of the departmental journal Fiction and Drama. My last position in East Asia was assistant professor in the College of Education and Graduate School of Education at Gyeongsang National University, Republic of Korea (1995-2000). Courses I taught at this institution included a graduate seminar on Language Teaching: Theory & Practice, and courses in British & American Culture, Rhetoric (Speech Presentation Skills), Theory and Principles of Speaking & Comprehension, and English Composition.
More recently, I was head instructor in Chinese Studies at Anoka Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids, MN (2001-2005), where I built the Chinese Studies curriculum. However, presently I am employed as head Chinese Studies instructor at Inver Hills Community College, Inver Grove Heights, MN. I also handle duties as director and instructor at East Asian Martial Arts and as head consultant for East Asian Resources.
I have received a variety of scholarships and awards (see C.V.) and have published many of my research results from my main fields of interest (see C.V.). In my free time I am an avid practitioner of martial arts, in which I hold black belts in Taekwondo and Wushu Kungfu (see Martial Arts Background).
I am always looking for teaching opportunities in a university or college environment, preferably one where a knowledge of East Asia and comparative East/West studies and problems is appreciated and needed. And I am always interested in working with private or governmental organizations or research institutes where my knowledge of and background in East Asia could be practically utilized. In addition, being an experienced editor and translator (Chinese/English and Korean/English), I welcome involvement in any long or short-term writing, editing, or translation projects.
For comments, questions, or to report dead links write to: pgfendos@yahoo.com
East Asian Martial Arts East Asian Resources
