Introduction to Foreign Languages 1

Academic unit or major

Humanities and social science courses

Instructor(s)

Makiko Antoku / Koichiro Mitsubori / Taro Yamazaki / Aya Kawamura / Akira Watanabe / Guanqiong Yang / Carla Tronu / Osamu Kanazawa

Class Format

Lecture (Face-to-face)

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

5-6 Mon

Class

-

Course Code

LAH.H110

Number of credits

100

Course offered

2025

Offered quarter

2Q

Syllabus updated

Mar 19, 2025

Language

Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

After an introductory class (a guidance and a symposium in the first week), in which instructors talk about the significance and pleasure of learning foreign languages from their own experiences, the lectures on some foreign languages are given by specialists of each language, explaining cultural, geographical, social and historical characteristics that form the background of that language.
This course is designed as a preparatory lecture for the students who launch out into a world of a new foreign language other than English and aims to introduce them a different way of thinking as a premise for practical learning and encourage their curiosity and enthusiasm. An encounter with a foreign language means changing one’s way of thinking and view of the world, and thus approaching a totally different culture based on that language. Participants are expected to become aware that every language is not merely a communication tool but a field where a culture and a history of each nation crystallize and its view of the world is projected.

Course description and aims

By the end of this course students will:
1) get to know the history, culture, land- and mindscape that are contained in each language as its essential features.
2) become aware that every foreign language has its own way of thinking as a projection of its view of the world, different from that of our mother tongues.

Keywords

・Foreign language learning
・History and culture of language
・International communication
・French, Russian, Classical languages-Classical Greek,Classical Latin, Chinese, Spanish,German

Competencies

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

Class flow

As an introduction, the instructors talk about the significance and pleasure of learning foreign languages from their own experiences in a guidance and in a symposium. The following lectures will focus on the history and culture of four languages.

Course schedule/Objectives

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 required.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Course materials are provided during class.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Students will be assessed on their commitment to the lectures (by response cards) (40%) and an essay on foreign languages (60%).

Related courses

• LAH.H111 ： Introduction to Foreign Languages 2
• LAL.F201 ： French: Basic Course 1
• LAL.R201 ： Russian: Basic Course 1
• LAL.C201 ： Chinese: Basic Course 1
• LAL.G201 ： German: Basic Course 1
• LAL.A301 ： Classical Greek 1
• LAL.L301 ： Classical Latin 1

Prerequisites

No prerequisites.