2023 Special graduate degree programs Specially Offered Degree Programs for Graduate Students Tokyo Tech Academy for Leadership
Creative Discussion A
- Academic unit or major
- Tokyo Tech Academy for Leadership
- Instructor(s)
- Lorinda Robertson Kiyama
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Fri (M-156(H1103))
- Class
- A
- Course Code
- TAL.C602
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2023
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 8, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
To learn how to establish better relationships through discussions with people whose opinions and stances differ on complicated issues; to deepen understanding about diverse ways of thinking; to learn necessary communication techniques, attitudes, and expressions in English.
Students will read from books on creative conflict facilitation and will practice new skills using challenging topics they select.
Course description and aims
Students will have read, discussed, and practiced skills and phrases in English related to befriending conflict in oneself and with others.
Keywords
creative discussion, conflict resolution, English
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Students will explore conflict intrapersonally, interpersonally, in their immediate environment, in societies they are familiar with, and in the world at large. They will do exercises in class and may use an online discussion format to interact with classmates. They will research a conflict issue and analyze it from diverse perspectives using strategies learned in class.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Befriending Conflict, pp. 7-21, "Conflict: Friend or Foe?" Discussion on poetry from My Tears Flow Endlessly: Forced Out of House and Home by the Fukushima Nuclear Power Accident | read from textbook an introduction to dealing with conflict and read poetry; prepare for discussion on the Fukushima nuclear power accident |
| Class 2 | Befriending Conflict, pp. 23-33, "Three Challenges--and Three Keys--to Befriending Conflict" Discussion on the Fukushima Nuclear Power Accident | read from textbook on welcoming conflict; prepare for discussion on a topic selected by students |
| Class 3 | Conflict: Phases, Forums, and Solutions, pp. 3-20, "The Phases of Deep Democracy" Discussion topic determined by students | read from textbook on the phases of attitudes toward conflict; prepare for discussion on a topic selected by students |
| Class 4 | Befriending Conflict, pp. 53-67, "The Inner Theatre of Conflict" Discussion topic determined by students | read from textbook on recognizing various positions or sides within oneself; prepare for discussion on a topic selected by students |
| Class 5 | Befriending Conflict, pp. 69-87, "Befriending Inner Opposition" Discussion topic determined by students | read from textbook on preparing oneself for challenging discussions; prepare for discussion on a topic selected by students |
| Class 6 | Excerpts on rank and power from Power: A User's Guide Discussion topic determined by students | read from textbook on various types of rank and conscious use of power; prepare for discussion on a topic selected by students |
| Class 7 | Excerpts on bullying from Befriending Conflict, pp. 111-124 Discussion topic determined by students | read from textbook on bullying in various settings; prepare for discussion on a topic selected by students |
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)
Joe Goodbread, Befriending Conflict: How to Make Conflict Safer, More Productive, and More Fun (2010)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Chikara Kojima (Setsuko Kojima, transl.), A Selection of Poetical Works: My Tears Flow Endlessly--Forced out of House and Home by the Fukushima Nuclear Power Accident (2017)
Arnold Mindell, Conflict: Phases, Forums, and Solutions (2017)
Arnold Mindell, Sitting in the Fire: Large Group Transformation Using Conflict and Diversity (1995)
Julie Diamond, Power: A User's Guide (2016)
Amy Mindell, Metaskills (2001)
Evaluation methods and criteria
weekly preparation for discussions 30%; participation in weekly discussions 30%; final presentation analyzing a conflict 40%
Related courses
- TAL.C501 ： Global Writing
- TAL.C601 ： Strategic Debate
- TAL.C402 ： Global Communication
- TAL.C401 ： Global Presentation
Prerequisites
conversational English ability