There's some announcement about the courses offered by Center for Global Education in the 2020 Fall semester. If you are planning to or considering to take the courses, please click hereThis course is conducted entirely in English and is offered to students who have a minimum English language proficiency. Language requirements are indicated below, however, submission of proof of your score is not required at the time of registration. Minimum English language requirement: TOEFL ITP score of 500 or equivalent (TOEFL iBT 61,TOEIC 630, IELTS 5, or CASEC 660).Note: This course will be conducted in a small class size. Students are expected to participate actively in classroom activities (discussions, presentations).
<概要/Course Content Summary>
This academic course introduces a wide range of issues on Japanese culture to Japanese and foreign students of Doshisha University. Especially,it focuses on its origins, history, main religious and philosophical foundations, art expressions, social values and attitudes. By doing specific activities, writing assignments and oral presentations, students increase their knowledge and the meaning of what has been learnt from their interactions and shared experiences. Comparisons between different cultural manifestations with other countries will be held. Also,a study-tour that promotes activities or exchange with members of a cultural site or institution located inside or around Kyoto City are planned to strengthen final debates and discussions as well as to help the formation of group-research projects for final evaluation. The course is structured in three sessions, each one of five weeks. The first two sessions (10 weeks) are defined as 'Knowledge-based Learning'. Through the themes studied an understanding of urbanity and etiquette, human relations, cuisine, martial arts, flower arrangement, calligraphy, aesthetics, and the Japanese mind are pursued to increase understanding and sensitiveness toward Japan and its culture. Each class ends with a 10 minutes video documentary related to the theme presented to deepen knowledge. The last session (5 weeks) focuses on the 'Practicum' for experiential and skill-based learning where student’s participation and contribution are expected. In this session the students are not only introduced to the development of techniques for research capability and information management, but to enhance communicative skills and cross cultural competence. For this course an enthusiastic participation and positive attitude are required, where learning takes place in an interactive and culturally diverse context. The lectures are held in English and it is desirable for those students who apply to have a language proficiency level as indicated above.
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Visiting Byodo-in temple in Uji City (Kyoto) and learning about the culture of the Heian era (794-1185). Here, there were many graves of the Imperial family and aristocrats of this period creating an atmosphere in which this world mingled with the next. The famous Tale of Genji or Genji Monigatari was written by Lady Murasaki Shikibu about 1010 years ago, and the Tale of Genji Museum is in Uji.
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<到達目標/Goals,Aims>
1. To introduce issues on Japanese culture, its origins, history, main religious and philosophical foundations, art expressions, values and social attitudes, while developing global cultural competence and a deeper understanding of Japan. 2. To develop initiatives and group-research projects where debates and discussions can enhance communicative skills and cross cultural capabilities. 3. To implement teaching strategies based on the Constructive Learning Theory (CLT) and the development of a divergent thinking.
<授業計画/Schedule>
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(内容/ Contents)
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(授業時間外の学習/ Assignments)
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(実施回/ Week)
Week 1
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(内容/ Contents)
SESSION I (5 weeks: Lessons 1-4): FOUNDATIONS OF THE CULTURE. INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE: Explanation of attainment objectives and grading assessment. Introduction to the Study of Culture.
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(授業時間外の学習/ Assignments)
- To prepare materials and study for next class.
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(実施回/ Week)
Week 2
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(内容/ Contents)
LESSON 1: RELIGIOUS AND PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS. Overview, Origins and Definitions. The Emergence of Japanese Civilization. Shinto, Buddhism, Taoism, Zen, Confucianism, and some Western Influences.
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(授業時間外の学習/ Assignments)
- To prepare materials and study for next class.
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Week 3
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LESSON 2: THE CULTURE OF AESTHETICS. The Heian Court as it Zenith.
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(授業時間外の学習/ Assignments)
- To prepare materials and study for next class.
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Week 4
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(内容/ Contents)
LESSON 3: ZEN AND JAPANESE CULTURE. The Zen Influence in Japan.
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(授業時間外の学習/ Assignments)
- To prepare materials and study for next class.
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Week 5
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LESSON 4: THE CANON OF MEDIEVAL TASTE. New Aesthetics, Arts, Performances, and the Culture of Garden. RESEARCH PROJECT ASSIGNMENT: The learning process is done by individual study activities and experiencing group interaction. This class is centered on the confirmation of group members and individual roles of students. The groups are formed by them and not by the professor, and each group designates a leader, and editor, and a spokesperson. The groups are interconnected in the way that each one develops its own specific contents but in concordance with what other groups are doing for the whole study. Communication is important and special attention is placed on the process.
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(授業時間外の学習/ Assignments)
- To prepare materials and study for next class.
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Week 6
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SESSION II (5 weeks: Lessons 5-8): CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS AND ATTITUDES. LESSON 5: BUSHIDO AND TEA CULTURE. The Soul of Japan. History, Development, The Tea Ceremony, and Health Issues.
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(授業時間外の学習/ Assignments)
- To prepare materials and study for next class.
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(実施回/ Week)
Week 7
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(内容/ Contents)
LESSON 6: THE FLOURISH OF A BOURGEOIS CULTURE AND HETERODOX TRENDS. The Emergence of a Culture in Isolation.
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(授業時間外の学習/ Assignments)
- To prepare materials and study for next class.
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Week 8
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LESSON 7: ENCOUNTER WITH THE WEST AND THE FRUITS OF MODERNITY. Rediscover, Aperture, and Nationalism.
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(授業時間外の学習/ Assignments)
- To prepare materials and study for next class.
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Week 9
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(内容/ Contents)
LESSON 8: THE JAPANESE MIND. Contemporary Issues in Japanese Culture.
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(授業時間外の学習/ Assignments)
- To prepare materials and study for next class.
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(実施回/ Week)
Week 10
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(内容/ Contents)
REVIEW OF THE CONTENTS STUDIED, DEBATE AND SEMINAR DISCUSSION, AND MIDDLE-TERM TEST.
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(授業時間外の学習/ Assignments)
- To prepare materials and study for next class.
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(実施回/ Week)
Week 11
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(内容/ Contents)
SESSION III (5 weeks): THE PRACTICUM. RESEARCH PRACTICE: GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT. This class is dedicated to group-research activities, consultation and support from the teacher. Assignments are supervised and guidance is given for writing. The students most work together, consult the library and other information resources before this class.
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(授業時間外の学習/ Assignments)
- To prepare materials and study for next class.
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(実施回/ Week)
Week 12
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(内容/ Contents)
STUDY-TOUR TO A CULTURAL INSTITUTION AND/OR PRACTICE. Tentatively to be held on December 5th, 2020 (Saturday 8:00 am - 1:00 pm). A Study-tour provides a great opportunity to learn and to build a shared understanding around specific topics. It is an opportunity for socialization and experiential learning. Tentatively, the tour will be held in Kyoto City. Starting at 8:00 am in front of the underground ticket vending machines of Kitaoji subway station (Karasuma line; 10 min. from Imadegawa station and Doshisha's Imadegawa campus). Visiting: (a) Daisen-in temple (for Zen meditation). (b) Koto-in temple. (c) Zuiho-in temple. (d) Tea time at Imamiya shrine (optional). The study-tour ends at 1:00 pm. It has been estimated an amount less than 3.000 yens/person for transportation, Zen practice session and entrance fee to the temples.
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(授業時間外の学習/ Assignments)
- To prepare materials and study for next class.
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Week 13
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(内容/ Contents)
SUBMISSION OF A FIRST VERSION OF THE FINAL RESEARCH REPORT OF THE ENTIRE CLASS. ORAL PRESENTATION, DEBATE, SUMMARY, AND CONCLUSION. Speech presentation will be held by each group (10-15 min.). Debate will be carried out under the Task-Directed Discussion (5-10 min.). Summary, conclusion and recommendations will be held by the professor.
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(授業時間外の学習/ Assignments)
- To prepare materials and study for next class.
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(実施回/ Week)
Week 14
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(内容/ Contents)
RESEARCH PRACTICE: GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT. This class is dedicated to group-research activities, consultation and support from the teacher. Assignments are supervised and guidance is given for writing. The students most work together, consult the library and other information resources before this class.
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(授業時間外の学習/ Assignments)
- To prepare materials and study for next class.
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(実施回/ Week)
Week 15
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(内容/ Contents)
THE WHOLE-CLASS RESEARCH REPORT SUBMISSION, AND IN-CLASS FINAL EVALUATION. Final observations and recommendation.
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(授業時間外の学習/ Assignments)
- To Recognize from now on the characteristics within a wide range of attitudes and elements in Japanese culture.
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<成績評価基準/Evaluation Criteria>
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Weekly evaluation (attendance).
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15%
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Attendance to class based on the active participation of the student, involvement in group challenges and collaboration under the evaluation process.
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Seminar participation, discussion and contribution to the class.
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10%
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A contribution that students have to make by proposing ideas, comments, opinions or keeping a mere conversation on the topics studied.
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Middle-term test.
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40%
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Individual Evaluation: To evaluate the understanding of contents covered in class. Also, based on how the student expresses ideas subject to evaluation. There is one (1) middle-term test report during the semester which will be held at the end of the Second Session of the course (on the 10th week). The middle-term test has 40% of total evaluation.
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Group oral presentation.
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15%
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Group Evaluation: This is the student's group-research oral presentation that will be held on the 13th week.
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Whole-class research report submission.
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15%
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Whole-class Evaluation: This is the submission of the group-research report on the 13th week. After a review and recommendation made by the professor, the whole-class research report (all groups included) will be finally submitted on the 15th week (last day of class). The report is a single document elaborated by the entire class. This is the final stage of the Practicum where the students have more than 10 weeks to complete this assignment.
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Study tour.
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5%
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The study-tour will be carried out on the 12th week. Tentatively, it will be held on December 5th, 2020 (Saturday 8:00 am - 1:00 pm).
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<テキスト/Textbook>
There is no textbook. Documents and materials for study are in English and prepared by the professor.
<参考文献/Reference Book>
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