2025 (Current Year) 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
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.S445
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Impro (improvisational theatre) is a form of theater in which players create scenes and stories together without a script or setting. It is also used in school education and corporate training to enhance teamwork, communication, and creativity. This course is designed to learn about communication, teamwork, leadership etc. through the experience of impro which is attracting attention as a new method of learning and team building. We will also deepen our thinking by reading a book on humor and discussing it in a world café style.
The aim is to acquire practical and improvisational communication skills and to learn the basic concepts of impro and dialogue.
Course description and aims
To enhance practical and improvisational communication skills
To learn the basic ideas of impro and dialogue
Keywords
communication, impro, improvisation, creativity, teamwork, leadership, humor, group work
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Classes will be conducted in a workshop style.
Impro workshop: Through improvisation games and activities, students will move their minds and bodies and learn from each other.
World café: Students will read a book on dialogue and discuss it.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Orientation and ice breaking | Experience and short report |
| Class 2 | Impro workshop (1): Creativity and self-censorship, world café introduction and chapter 1 | Reading textbook, experience and short report |
| Class 3 | Impro workshop (2): Verbal and Nonverbal communication, world café chapter 2&3 | Reading textbook, experience and short report |
| Class 4 | Impro workshop (3): Physical expression activities, world café chapter 4&5 | Reading textbook, experience and short report |
| Class 5 | Impro workshop (4): Leadership and control sharing, world café chapter 6&7 | Reading textbook, えxperience and short report |
| Class 6 | Impro workshop (5): Giving your partner a good time, world café chapter 7.5&(After)Words | Reading textbook, experience and short report |
| Class 7 | Reflecting on the final report | Writing the final report, experience and 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)
Aaker, Jennifer & Naomi Bagdonas. Humour, Seriously: Why Humour Is A Superpower At Work And In Life. Portfolio Penguin, 2020 (You may also purchase the book on Kindle.)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Takao, Takashi & Nakahara, Jun. Improvising Organization. Sanseido, 2012 (Japanese)
Takao, Takashi and Yurie Sonobe (eds.). Inquiry of Impro Education. Shinyosha, 2024 (Japanese)
Other instructions will be given as appropriate.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Short report, participation and contribution 70%
Final report 30%
Related courses
- LAH.H107 ： Communication A
- LAH.H207 ： Communication B
- LAH.H319 ： Communication C
Prerequisites
No previous theatrical experience is necessary. Active participation and involvement are appreciated.
Other
Please be sure not to be late for class as group work is the main part of the class. 15 minutes or more late is not considered as attendance.
Please read the relevant chapter of the textbook in preparation for the world café. (If you have not read it, you will not be allowed to participate.)
Please wear comfortable clothes to class as there will be physical activities in each class.