Spring 2020
JAPN 307: Japan-American Experience
This course focuses on Japanese-American experience from the 1860s to the present as an ongoing study in ethnographic assimilation, including early immigration and response; immigration and labor laws; property rights; and WWII internment. Students identify and evaluate the issues of the ethics of assimilation, racial and ethnic discrimination, educational opportunity, social justice, and cultural identity. Taught in English.
MLO 2 Japanese Culture
MLO 2 Japanese Culture
Work Example
The Japanese American experience was a class that is described perfectly by its name. In this class, we went over the history of Japanese American immigrants, and Japanese American people struggles while being born citizens in United States. We primarily focused on World War II era, during which Japanese American people were being sent to concentration camps due to rampant fear amongst the predominantly white US population. it was very interesting taking this class because although we talk about internment camps and high school during US government in US history, we do not go very in-depth about the Japanese American experience itself. This class had us take a closer look up about how the Japanese American people themselves felt about Japan’s attacks, the country, overall, and their identity of whether or not they conform more to Japanese Ideologies or American ideologies. We would also go over the history of Asian American targeted hate crimes and how the Japanese American community have overcome such adversities. In addition, we also discussed how Japanese Americans have contributed to the growth of the US economy, as well as some famous Japanese Americans, who have impacted our lives, either through scientific, technological, or economic discoveries. In the link provided above, I have given you access to my final essay on war brides from World War II, and how they tried to conform to American beauty standards. This is something that many people do not consider when thinking about World War II, however, we did go over in class quite in depth about the phenomenon of American soldiers bringing back home Japanese brides that they met while deployed overseas and fighting. This is a very interesting topic because we are blessed to believe that every single person in America, and especially the army at the time, did not like the Japanese people as a whole, but as we can see through this that they did overcome the propaganda pushed by the US and Japanese government, and found a commonality between them and a Japanese citizen. Although certainly not all of these war brides had marriages based on love.
JAPN 380: Japan: Land and People
This course introduces the language and culture of Japan through a thematic approach. Selected topics include geography, climate, population, and industry. This course is designed to develop advanced Japanese language competency and to introduce various aspects of related Japanese culture using technology and web-based materials. Taught in Japanese.
MLO 1 Japanese Language and Communication& MLO 2 Japanese Culture
MLO 1 Japanese Language and Communication& MLO 2 Japanese Culture
Work Example
In this course, we developed advanced Japanese language skills as well as gained an introduction to various aspects of related Japanese culture using technology and web-based materials. All of us which were enrolled had to practice our speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills in various contexts, such as class discussions, presentations, and written assignments. The professor also taught us more complex grammar and vocabulary structures, as well as cultural nuances of the Japanese language. Throughout the course, we students were exposed to Japanese culture and traditions, allowing us to gain a deeper understanding of the country and its people. By teaching us the geography and climates of the Japan archipelago, we were allowed to understand why Japanese culture is the way it is and how it developed over time. This as well allowed us to learn about historical moments in Japanese history and discuss how the said geography of Japan may have influenced the outcomes or helped to spur on the course of action. By the end of the course, we students had a more solid foundation in both the language and culture of Japan, allowing us to communicate more effectively with Japanese speakers and navigate cultural differences with greater ease.
JAPN 420: Maximizing Study Abroad
Your study abroad experience is potentially a rich opportunity for you to enhance your language skills and deepen your understanding of other cultures, people and their practices. This course provides the resources to help you prepare to maximize your study abroad experiences. This course is taught in English.
MLO 4 Research & Technology
MLO 4 Research & Technology
Work Example
In this course, I learned how to make the most of what would have been my study abroad experience by enhancing my language skills and deepening my understanding of other cultures and practices; not just Japanese culture and language. The course provided resources and guidance to help us students prepare for our study abroad program, such as identifying our own learning goals, researching Japan's culture, and developing intercultural communication skills. Since the course was taught in English, we learned how to navigate intercultural differences and communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds in English. We also learned how we would have to reflect on our experiences, built connections with local communities, and integrate our study abroad experience into personal and professional goals. Overall, the course aimed to equip us students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for a successful and meaningful study abroad experience. However, this unfortunately would not come to fruition as in 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic hit and almost none of us enrolled in this class was able to do study abroad and still will never be able to.