GLED 391: VCU Globe in Japan Shimane University/Virginia Commonwealth University Summer 2016 (5-27 July)

Transcription

1 GLED 391: VCU Globe in Japan Shimane University/Virginia Commonwealth University Summer 2016 (5-27 July) Instructors Dr. Jill E. Blondin, Director, VCU Globe, Virginia Commonwealth University Dr. Naomi Kagawa, Assistant Professor of Education, Shimane University Course description Dr. Jill Blondin, Director of VCU Globe, and Dr. Naomi Kagawa, Assistant Professor of Education at Shimane University, have developed this course, VCU-Shimane Global Summer Project, as a reciprocal, continuous education abroad program, in which students and faculty from Virginia Commonwealth University and Shimane University spend three weeks each in Japan and in Virginia. Together with students from SHIMANE UNIVERSITY, VCU Globe students will visit sites in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima, before participating in courses and activities in and around SHIMANE UNIVERSITY in Matsue, Japan. The goal of this course is to enhance knowledge and to introduce tools and strategies for intercultural communication so that students become proficient communicators in intercultural settings inside and outside of the classroom. The uniqueness of this program lies in its emphasis on all participants living, working, and studying together. All students will learn about communication styles and characteristics of the cultural communities in the Richmond Metropolitan area and in Matsue, Japan. VCU Globe students will interact closely with students and visitors at SHIMANE UNIVERSITY and in Matsue, Japan. Participants will encounter a wide range of individuals and groups of people and have direct and substantive contact with worldviews and experiences different from their own. Learning outcomes This course will: Develop students abilities to navigate cultural and personal borders, with particular reference to professional goals and plans. Expose students to a wide range of individuals and groups of people; students should have direct and substantive contact with worldviews and experiences different from their own. Foster students awareness of the skills required of a global citizen/culture broker within relevant professional fields. Course format and structure 1

2 This is a seminar-style course, and there will be no exams. The course is a combination of classroom instruction/discussion and site visits (including museums and shrines), homestays, and interactive activities involving VCU Globe and Shimane students. Textbooks and Reading Assignments Ray T. Donahue, Japanese Culture and Communication: Critical Cultural Analysis, University Press of America, 1998 (1 st Edition). Joseph Shaules, A Beginner s Guide to the Deep Culture Experience: Beneath the Surface. Intercultural Press, Bruce Feiler, Learning to Bow: Inside the Heart of Japan. Perennial, Hector Garcia, A Geek in Japan: Discovering the Land of Manga, Anime, Zen, and the Tea Ceremony. Tuttle, Additional reading assignments will be distributed by the instructors. Attendance and Class participation Attendance is mandatory. All students are expected to attend all class meetings and excursions in Japan (as well as an orientation meeting in Richmond before departing). There are no excused or unexcused absences. Students are also expected to participate actively in all classroom activities, discussions, and excursions. Attendance and participation comprise 25% of your final grade. Assignments and Grading Assignments: Intercultural Communication Journal 30 Presentation 25 Paper 20 Attendance and class participation 25 Total 100 Grading Scale A B C D F 59 and below INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION JOURNAL: Students will be expected to keep a daily journal that chronicles their learning experiences and observations on intercultural communication in Japan. Students are encouraged to sketch art works as well as to write prose and students are expected to write words per day. This journal will be handed in at the conclusion of the trip. The journal comprises 30% of the final grade. PRESENTATION: Each participant will deliver an oral presentation to the class. Students will have time to work on the presentation before they depart and while in Japan. If there is a topic 2

3 on Intercultural Communication and Japan that you would like to present, please let Dr. Blondin know. Otherwise you will be assigned a topic. There will be no make-up presentations. The oral presentation comprises 25% of the final grade. RESEARCH PAPER: The topic of the 8-page research paper will be based on the student s oral presentation. This paper will be due after we return from Japan, since I will expect you to incorporate firsthand knowledge and observation of a particular topic as well as additional research. The research paper comprises 20% of the final grade. Electronic devices Please silence your cell phones and other electronic devices and put them away for the duration of class, unless you are taking notes. Surfing the Internet, using Facebook, checking , playing games, or anything else unrelated to class is strictly prohibited. The instructors will request that you relinquish your device until the end of class if you use it for anything other than note-taking in class. Syllabus and Itinerary (subject to change) Part 1 Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima July 5: Depart United States July 6: Arrive in Tokyo July 7: AM: classroom (orientation) PM: guided tour of Akihabara and Asakusa July 8: AM: classroom PM: guided tour of Meji/Imperial Palace/Tokyo Skytree July 9: AM: travel to Kyoto PM: visit to Golden Pavilion (Ryoanji) July 10: AM: classroom; Fushimi inari PM: Gion, Nijo Castle July 11: AM: travel to Hiroshima PM: Peace Park and Memorial Museum July 12: AM: Miyajima: Itsukushima Shrine PM: Miyajima: Ropeway Part 2 - Matsue July 13: AM: bus to Matsue PM: welcome reception at Shimane University July 14: AM: classroom (orientation to Matsue) PM: Matsue Castle/Samurai Residence and Lafcadio Hearn museum July 15: AM: classroom (**presentations**) PM: classroom (**presentations**) July 16: AM: classroom PM: Sanbe Youth Center/group activities July 17: AM: Sanbe Youth Center/group activities (shoe making) PM: Sanbe Youth Center/group activities (cooking dinner together) July 18: AM: Sanbe Youth Center/classroom PM: Ginzan Silver Mine July 19: AM: visit Matsue High School (Zen practice, green tea) 3

4 PM: visit Matsue High School July 20: AM: classroom PM: visit to Asakumi Elementary School July 21: AM: classroom PM: Takobana campsite/classroom/bbq (cooking dinner together) July 22: AM: classroom/matsue Art Museum PM: Vogel Park and Hot Springs July 23: AM: Izumo (Japanese candy making) and visit to Taisha Shrine and Shimane Museum of Ancient Art PM: discussion and activities with Taisha High School students; Homestay begins July 24: AM: Izumo homestay PM: Izumo homestay July 25: AM: Izumo homestay July 26: AM: travel to Matsue/Soba noodle cooking PM: classroom/farewell party at Shimane July 27: End of program **Journals due** Part 3 United States 7 August **Papers Due** University Policies and Information Policy Electronic mail or " " is considered an official method for communication at VCU because it delivers information in a convenient, timely, cost effective and environmentally aware manner. Students are expected to check their official VCU on a frequent and consistent basis in order to remain informed of university-related communications. The university recommends checking daily. Students are responsible for the consequences of not reading, in a timely fashion, university-related communications sent to their official VCU student account. This policy ensures that all students have access to this important form of communication. It ensures students can be reached through a standardized channel by faculty and other staff of the university as needed. Mail sent to the VCU address may include notification of university-related actions, including disciplinary action. Please read the policy in its entirety: VCU Honor System: Upholding Academic Integrity The VCU Honor System policy describes the responsibilities of students, faculty and administration in upholding academic integrity, while at the same time respecting the rights of individuals to the due process offered by administrative hearings and appeals. According to this policy, "Members of the academic community are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the highest standards of academic honesty and integrity." In addition, "All members of the VCU community are presumed to have an understanding of the VCU Honor System and are required to: Agree to be bound by the Honor System policy and its procedures; Report suspicion or knowledge of possible violations of the Honor System; Support an environment that reflects a commitment to academic integrity; Answer truthfully when called upon to do so regarding Honor System cases, and, 4

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