2021 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Japanese language and culture courses
Japanese Culture : Adaptation
- Academic unit or major
- Japanese language and culture courses
- Instructor(s)
- Midori Komatsu / Reiko Sato / Mika Ebara / Hilofumi Yamamoto
- Class Format
- Exercise
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Wed (W935)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAJ.C102
- Number of credits
- 010
- Course offered
- 2021
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This is a Japanese culture course intended for first-year international undergraduate students. The aim of this course is to enable students to obtain and summarize information delivered through large-scale lectures and to participate in group work, for these abilities are indispensable for Tokyo Tech Visionary Project. Using the concept of intercultural communication and methodology, this course will also help students acquire a point of view which is essential in order to live harmoniously with people with different languages and cultures. In addition to lectures, students will take part in group work and discussions to acquire both knowledge and experiences, which can be used as communication skills on practical situations.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- understand the theory of intercultural contact.consider possible events and problems which could occur in due course of interpersonal interactions.;
- analyze and understand their own communication style and values;
- express their own ideas and opinions in an appropriate way in Japanese society;
- understand different values and harmonize views in order to work cooperatively in a group with multinational members.
Keywords
Communication, International student, Cross-culture, Japanese, Japanese culture, Tokyo Tech Visionary Project
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Class will be conducted with small groups of 5~6 people. Class will start with lecture, followed by group work. Students will make a presentation on the discussion outcome. As for group work, active participation such as stepping forward as a group leader is desired . At the end of each class students are expected to complete and turn in a review sheet.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Orientation: Cross-cultural communication, Tokyo Tech Visionary Project | Understand interpersonal communication. |
| Class 2 | Exercises in Tokyo Tech Visionary Project: Skills for academic listening and note-taking | Analyze and use your own language skills. |
| Class 3 | Exercises in Tokyo Tech Visionary Project: Skills for group discussion | Through case study, analyze how misunderstanding occurs. |
| Class 4 | Exercises in Tokyo Tech Visionary Project: Skills for book review Cross-cultural contact and adjustment | Understand the theory of intercultural contact. Analyze cultural receptive attitude and the process of cultural adaption based on your own experience of intercultural contact |
| Class 5 | Cross-cultural contact and adjustment(2) | Understand culture shock and reverse culture shock based on your own experience. Term paper subject will be announced. Students who need comments should turn in the paper by Class 7 to get comments. |
| Class 6 | Communication and approach in a multicultural environment | Learn and practice communication skills. |
| Class 7 | Communication and approach in a multicultural environment | Learn and practice communication skills. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Handouts will be given in each class.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
none
Evaluation methods and criteria
Review sheet (20%), Group work(10%), Term paper(70%)
Related courses
- LAJ.C301 ： Japanese Culture: Language and literature
- LAJ.C301 ： Japanese Culture: Language and literature
- LAJ.J101 ： Japanese 1
- LAJ.J102 ： Japanese 2
- LAJ.J103 ： Japanese 3
- LAJ.J104 ： Japanese 4
- LAJ.J201 ： Japanese 5
- LAJ.J202 ： Japanese 6
- LAJ.J203 ： Japanese 7
- LAJ.J204 ： Japanese 8
Prerequisites
International students only.