calling it the orient is not pc

"How old is China?"

There's nothing like a trick question to start off a lecture. ("China" didn't exist until the middle of the 20th century.) My professor was attending a conference on this, the second day of lecture, leaving me and my fellow AI to instruct the class.

How did it go? Well, I learned that it is very difficult to teach very simple things, despite having notes. Somehow you must make them learn that "East Asia is not a straightforward region; many of our concepts of it are modern and arbitrary." But you can't just say that. You have to beat about the bush, asking questions, wading through pregnant pauses, and attempting not to repeat yourself.

In the end, a video is your best friend.