Thursday, December 19, 2019

Lesson 23 – Hafu and Final Presentation Topics


Hafu
We finished watching the documentary Hafu. You will write a 5-paragraph report on the lessons you learned from the documentary. 


Final presentation: Intercultural issue (including Japan)
You will give a 10-minute presentation on an intercultural issue. You should present the Japanese perspective for an English audience and compare it with other cultures (one or several). Below is a list of some choices:
  • Non-verbal communication 
  • Festivals
  • Customs (o-chugen & o-seibo, toshidama, NY card, hatsumode, hatsuhinode, cherry blossoms viewing, fireworks, shichi-go-san, setsubun, shogatsu, o-sechi, o-mochi, hina matsuri, funerals, 
  • Concepts (enryo, amae, wa)
  • Tourism (traditional sites)
  • Youth issues (
  • Elderly issues (aging society, driving)
  • Pop culture (manga, anime, karaoke, idol)
  • Sports (sumo, karate, judo, kyudo, )
  • Performance art (kabuki, no, shamisen, taiko)
  • Traditional clothing (kimono, hakata)
  • Ceremonies (coming-of-age, )
  • Japanese holidays (obon, shogatsu)


Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Lesson 13 – Japanese Subculture

Discussion (Readings)
You discussed the readings for What Is Your Cup of Tea? and Styles of Interesting Subcultures.

Research a Japanese subculture and prepare to give a presentation on 11/19.


Tokyo Idols
We looked at this documentary for a few minutes to consider the fans of idols, one subculture.


Hafu
We continued watching Hafu.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Lesson 12 – Presentations

Presentations
You each presented on enryo and wa. Be sure to prepare earlier for future presentations.

Hafu
We continued to watch Hafu.

Homework
I gave you a new reading handout: Styles of Interesting Subcultures. Be prepare to talk about it in our next lesson.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Lesson 10 – Identity Presentations and Mask Reading

Identity Presentations
You gave your presentations on your experiences and the Dan Gilbert TED Talk.

Next Tuesday (10/29) you will give your presentation about food or personal space.


Reading: Why Wear a Mask?
You read and began to discuss the article on wearing masks.

You will give a presentation on one of the three roots of collectivism (wa, amae, or enryo) or about masks in Japan on 11/7).

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Lesson 8 – Megumi Nishikura Talk

Now, we have all watched the Megumi Nishikura (director of Hafu) TED Kyoto talk. Please continue to think about these issues as we will watch episodes of the documentary together going forward. You can see her talk again below.






Presentation Schedule
Future Self Presentation 10/22
Food Presentation 10/24 (not 10/29)

Lesson 7 – Canceled

Because of my tooth problem, I canceled the lesson. The new dates for your presentations are below:

Future Self Presentation 10/22

Food Presentation 10/24 (not 10/29)

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Lesson 6 – Collectivism

Reading – The Three Roots of Collectivism
We read the article about three concepts: wa, amae, and enryo. Research the concepts more to prepare for a future presentation.


Presentation Preparation
Prepare for your presentation (10/15) on the TED Talk by Dan Gilbert: The Psychology of Your Future Self. Your presentation should be about 5 minutes and summarize the talk and give examples from your own experience.


2nd Presentation
On 10/22 you will give a presentation on your chosen article. Prepare your talk to be for an intercultural audience.

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Lessons 4 & 5

You each talked with me about the food article, So Many Choices! After that, we watched a video about the experience of hafu

We will watch more episodes of this documentary during the next few weeks because it is good material to understand intercultural issues.

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Lesson 3 – Dan Gilbert TED Talk (cont)

Dan Gilbert TED Talk (cont)
We watched the video again and then read through the transcript.

Finish reading the transcript and be prepared to talk about it and your own experiences on Thursday. 

  • Here are some questions to think about:
  • How have you changed over the past 10 years (values, personality, likes and dislikes, etc…)?
  • How do you expect you will change in the next 10 years?
  • After learning this, what you should think or do?



Homework
Also, read the new handout So Many Choice! and be prepared 

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Lesson 2 – Dan Gilbert TED Talk

Handout Discussion
We discussed the handouts from Tuesday.


Ted Talk Video
We watched the video The Psychology of Your Future Self (Dan Gilbert TED Talk)

We will watch again next class.