Social and Cultural Values in Japan: Digital Book Project (Intermediate) (JPN4402.01)

Ikuko Yoshida

This intermediate-level course is designed for students to create digital books which will teach Japanese children how to embrace cultural differences. First, students will read short stories for Japanese children and watch Japanese animations to examine how Japanese children are expected to behave and communicate with others. Students will also analyze social and cultural values in Japan, how those values are taught, and how gender differences are depicted in children’s short stories and animations. As they analyze the short stories and animations, students will continue to develop their skills by interacting in Japanese through stating and supporting their opinions during discussions that focus on narrative texts. As a final project of the course, students will write their own digital book stories which teach children to embrace cultural differences based on their analyses and understanding of social and cultural values in Japan. Their digital book stories will be read by Japanese children at the Albany Japanese Language School, Schenectady, New York. Approximately 60 new Kanji characters will also be introduced. Conducted in Japanese.


Learning Outcomes:
Students will be able to
①. Raise valid questions on what they’ve observed and learned and discuss their ideas in a culturally appropriate manner.
②. Analyze Japanese cultural values in Japanese children’s books and TV shows and reflect on them objectively and subjectively.
③. Embrace cultural differences.
④. Create their own digital books which will help Japanese children to learn how to embrace cultural differences.


Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Corequisites: CSL Series
Course Level: 4000-level
Credits: 4
T/F 8:30AM - 10:20AM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 10
Course Frequency: Once a year

Categories: 4000 , All courses , Four Credit , Fully In-Person , Japanese , Updates
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