2021 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Japanese language and culture courses
Japanese Culture 4: Multi-cultural collaboration 4QA
- Academic unit or major
- Japanese language and culture courses
- Instructor(s)
- Midori Komatsu
- Class Format
- Exercise
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 7-8 Tue
- Class
- 4QA
- Course Code
- LAJ.C502
- Number of credits
- 010
- Course offered
- 2021
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Through text readings and discussion, students will learn the current situation of exchange between Japanese students and international students, mechanisms of prejudice and stereotype formation that prevent positive contact, and conditions and theories of cross-cultural contact for prejudice reduction. Students are also exptected to deepen mutual understanding through exchange and collaborative experiences with Japanese students, and to acquire cross-cultural communication skills from cognitive, emotional, and behavioral perspectives through this course.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) understand the problems that prevent effective cross-cultural contact and the conditions for solving these problems from the perspective of social psychology;
2) learn diverse opinions and values practically through discussions among international students and collaborative experiences with Japanese students, and acquire communication skills and Japanese language proficiency for multicultural collaboration;
(3) acquire authentic cross-cultural communication skills.
Keywords
Multicultural Collaboration Multicultural Exchange Intercultural Communication Prejudice reduction
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
In the second and third classes, students will engage in exchange and collaborative activities with Japanese students. Students are expected to read the materials assigned for each class. The details will be explained in the first class. Attendance at the first class is compulsory for students planning to take this course. The course schedule described below may be changed depending on the number of students enrolled in the course.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Current status of exchange between international and Japanese students in Japan | Have an understanding on the current situation of exchange between international and Japanese students in Japan |
| Class 2 | Exchange and collaborative experience with Japanese students (1) | Deepen mutual understanding through exchange and collaborative experiences with Japanese students. Learn about diverse opinions and values through practical experiences. |
| Class 3 | Exchange and collaborative experience with Japanese students (2) | Deepen mutual understanding through exchange and collaborative experiences with Japanese students, and develop cross-cultural communication skills. |
| Class 4 | Awareness and Learning from collaborations with Japanese Students. | Make a presentation on the learnings from their collaboration with Japanese students. Discuss the conditions for positive cross-cultural interactions and the barriers to cross-cultural interactions. |
| Class 5 | Mechanisms of categorization, stereotyping, and prejudice formation | Understand the mechanisms of categorization, stereotyping, and prejudice formation that can be obstacles preventing cross-cultural interactions. |
| Class 6 | Conditions for Prejudice Reduction and Effective cross-cultural Contact | Understand the conditions for prejudice reduction and effective cross-cultural contact. |
| Class 7 | Summary of the whole classes | Summerize the lectures from No1. to No.7. |
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)
Not specified.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
加賀美常美代編著（2012）「多文化社会の偏見・差別－形成のメカニズムと提言のための教育－明石書店
村田晶子・中山京子・藤原孝章・森茂岳雄（2019）「チャレンジ！多文化体験ワークブック－国際理解と多文化共生のために－」ナカニシヤ出版
Evaluation methods and criteria
Evaluation will be based on the comment paper and the final report. Students are required to attend two-thirds of classes and submit the final report.
Related courses
- LAJ.C501 ： Japanese Culture 3: Multi-cultural collaboration
Prerequisites
Only for international students.
Other
You must reserve your place in the class in advance using the Japanese class online system (http://js.ila.titech.ac.jp/~web). You will not be allowed to attend the class without reservation.