Multicultural Understanding Through Art and International Experience

Academic unit or major

Breadth courses

Instructor(s)

Saho Kawashima / Aiko Miyanaga

Class Format

Exercise

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

Intensive

Class

-

Course Code

LAW.X433

Number of credits

010

Course offered

2022

Offered quarter

4Q

Syllabus updated

Jul 10, 2025

Language

English

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

Global identity which contributes to solving international social issues can be acquired by the sincere attitude of showing understanding to multi-culture with having various international experiences. That is because currently the concept of “diversity” is more important than ever in daily lives, academic fields and professional practices. A good start of cherishing multi-culture and communication for the development of a sustainable community is each person’s learning to listen to and look at the situation carefully and express productive ideas for collaboration.
The aim of this course is particularly to introduce a fresh view of “art and international experience” when students learn to understand one another and develop more friendly relationships regardless of nationalities, regions of origin, languages and cultural backgrounds. As much as free from language barriers with the practice of art work creations and expressions instructed by an internationally acclaimed artist who has been studied and worked globally, students learn diverse expressions each other and understand more about what multi-culture is. Getting familiar to the artistic point of view, the course leads students to get more sophisticated visual communication skill which can be applied to writing a paper, making a presentation for a conference and making a prototype of innovative products in science and technology/engineering fields.

Course description and aims

By participating this course, students will be able to:
1. Have a constructive attitude toward building relationships with people with diversity, including international students of Tokyo Tech.
2. Have an opportunity to deepen the idea of cultural understanding through art, and to get more universal, visual communication skill which could be applied to a practice of engineering.
3. Experience collaborative team work (workshop) in a multicultural environment.

Keywords

Multicultural understanding, Art, International students, International experience, Workshop

Competencies

• Specialist skills
• Intercultural skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

The classroom will be at W833 of West 8 Building 3F on 20th, 25th and 27th in the afternoon. A class in the morning on the 27th will be at W832.The classes will include self-introduction, lectures, workshop of art creation and presentation. Communication among local students, international students and instructors in team works will be supported by the main instructor throughout the classes.

Course schedule/Objectives

Study advice (preparation and review)

Textbook(s)

Instructor will distribute teaching materials as needed.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Instructor will distribute teaching materials as needed.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Assessment will be done from the comprehensive viewpoint by evaluating the student's effort in and contribution to the team work and the final presentation. It is required to clarify the individual roles and contributions in the team in the final presentation.

Related courses

• LAW.X358 ： Bringing Ideas in Remote Discussion
• LAW.X121 ： Multicultural Understanding Through Art
• LAW.X364 ： Tohoku Co-learning Camp

Prerequisites

The classes will be held in the classroom. The capacity of students taking this course is about 30. The instructors would welcome the active participation of students who are interested in international co-learning and team work regardless of their language proficiency. Students who would like to take this course need to register by Thursday, January 5, 2023.