2022 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences53:Communication
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Takashi Takao
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Wed (S222)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.S445
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2022
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course is designed to help students acquire practical communication skills through impro (improvisational theater), which is gaining attention not only as a form of theater but also as a new method for learning and team building. Improvisation is a form of theater in which players create a story without a script or setting, and is used in school education and corporate training to enhance teamwork, communication, and creativity.
In this class, we will learn about the basic themes of impro.
Course description and aims
Acquire practical communication skills
Learn the basic themes of impro
Keywords
communication, impro, improvisation, creativity, cooperation, collaboration, teamwork
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
In-person workshop. Through communication games and activities, participants will move their minds and bodies, interact with each other, and learn.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Orientation and ice breaking | Experience and its verbalization in a short report |
| Class 2 | Impro workshop (1): Failure and fear | Impro experience and its verbalization in a short report |
| Class 3 | Impro workshop (2): Creativity and spontaneity | Impro experience and its verbalization in a short report |
| Class 4 | Impro workshop (3): Cooperation and collaboration | Impro experience and its verbalization in a short report |
| Class 5 | Impro workshop (4): Give your partner a good time | Impro experience and its verbalization in a short report |
| Class 6 | Impro workshop (5): Status | Impro experience and its verbalization in a short report |
| Class 7 | Impro workshop (6): Changing | Impro experience and its verbalization in a short report |
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)
None in particular.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Takao,Takashi & Nakahara, Jun. Improvising Organization. Sanseido, 2012; ISBN-13: 978-4781908939. (Japanese)
Other instructions will be given as appropriate.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Attendance, short report, contribution to the class 50%
Final report 50%.
Related courses
- LAH.H107 ： Communication A
- LAH.H207 ： Communication B
- LAH.H319 ： Communication C
Prerequisites
No previous experience in theater is required. Active participation and involvement are appreciated.
Other
Come to class in comfortable clothes.