MLO 5: Cultural Internalization and Language Immersion
Outcomes:
5.1. Students demonstrate that they have actively immersed themselves in authentic Japanese cultural and linguistic environments and have internalized the language and cultural experience, from which they have developed a personal understanding and new perspectives of the community.
Courses Taken:
Fall 2012:
Japanese IV A (Intermediate-Advanced I)
Intermediate Kanji
Intermediate-Advanced Speaking
Introduction to Japanese Folklore
Spring 2013:
Japanese IV B (Intermediate-Advanced II)
Intermediate-Advanced Writing
Intermediate-Advance Tutorial
Japan Seen in Real Time
Reflective Narrative:
I was able to meet this MLO requirement through my one-year study abroad experience at J.F. Oberlin University in Machida, Tokyo. This was a time for me to completely immerse myself in the language and surround myself in the culture. My time at Oberlin helped immensely with my improvement in the language overall. Along with my core class which focused on study of the language, I also took many supplementary and elective courses.
During my first semester, I aimed to improve my speaking skills, which led me to take the Intermediate-Advanced Speaking elective course. In this course we utilized many methods to improve our speaking abilities, such as spontaneous role-play, group discussions, shadowing, and so on. This course also had class guests for every session, which gave us the opportunity to speak with the native Japanese students.
After becoming more comfortable with speaking, my goal for the second semester was to learn the language on a more academic level through reading, writing, and interpreting. My core class and the Intermediate-Advanced Writing course helped me to achieve this. One of the most beneficial exercises from my core class was our focus on reading and interpreting news. We would practice our interpretation skills by watching news clips and answering follow up questions about the content of the video. Furthermore, we had written news assignments, in which we would read a news article and summarize the key points (see Sample 1). I was able to write these assignments using the skills I acquired in the Intermediate-Advanced Writing course. Before this point, I had never formally learned written form in Japanese, and so my writing style was very inconsistent in the beginning. However, after learning proper writing style and writing many essays, I was able to see a big difference in my writing. We completed the course by writing our final essay on a topic of our choice, and submitting it to the Asahi Shinbun (see Sample 2). My second semester truly helped me to achieve a more academic level of Japanese, and increased my desire to become more advanced in the language.
Aside from what I gained in the classroom, the most significant aspect of my study abroad was being able to live and experience the language and culture in everyday life outside of school. What helped me most to fulfill this MLO was my experience interacting with Japanese people on a daily basis, whether it was talking to friends, instructors, store clerks, or even strangers. I also had the opportunity to experience the culture firsthand through visits to cultural spots like shrines and temples, and by celebrating cultural events such as Oshogatsu (New Year's) with my host family. These interactions with natives and exposure to the community introduced me to a new world and a new lifestyle, which helped to expand my understanding of Japan in ways I couldn't by studying textbooks alone. I could see that I had achieved full immersion when I became able to live on my own and communicate without any trouble. For example, tasks such as being able to order in a restaurant, speaking to a bank teller, understanding transportation signs, making/changing reservations by phone, were all skills I acquired from living in Japan, where I could put the language to practical use. Being surrounded by the language and culture in everyday life was truly the best way for me to improve, and I hope to experience that immersion again someday.
5.1. Students demonstrate that they have actively immersed themselves in authentic Japanese cultural and linguistic environments and have internalized the language and cultural experience, from which they have developed a personal understanding and new perspectives of the community.
Courses Taken:
Fall 2012:
Japanese IV A (Intermediate-Advanced I)
Intermediate Kanji
Intermediate-Advanced Speaking
Introduction to Japanese Folklore
Spring 2013:
Japanese IV B (Intermediate-Advanced II)
Intermediate-Advanced Writing
Intermediate-Advance Tutorial
Japan Seen in Real Time
Reflective Narrative:
I was able to meet this MLO requirement through my one-year study abroad experience at J.F. Oberlin University in Machida, Tokyo. This was a time for me to completely immerse myself in the language and surround myself in the culture. My time at Oberlin helped immensely with my improvement in the language overall. Along with my core class which focused on study of the language, I also took many supplementary and elective courses.
During my first semester, I aimed to improve my speaking skills, which led me to take the Intermediate-Advanced Speaking elective course. In this course we utilized many methods to improve our speaking abilities, such as spontaneous role-play, group discussions, shadowing, and so on. This course also had class guests for every session, which gave us the opportunity to speak with the native Japanese students.
After becoming more comfortable with speaking, my goal for the second semester was to learn the language on a more academic level through reading, writing, and interpreting. My core class and the Intermediate-Advanced Writing course helped me to achieve this. One of the most beneficial exercises from my core class was our focus on reading and interpreting news. We would practice our interpretation skills by watching news clips and answering follow up questions about the content of the video. Furthermore, we had written news assignments, in which we would read a news article and summarize the key points (see Sample 1). I was able to write these assignments using the skills I acquired in the Intermediate-Advanced Writing course. Before this point, I had never formally learned written form in Japanese, and so my writing style was very inconsistent in the beginning. However, after learning proper writing style and writing many essays, I was able to see a big difference in my writing. We completed the course by writing our final essay on a topic of our choice, and submitting it to the Asahi Shinbun (see Sample 2). My second semester truly helped me to achieve a more academic level of Japanese, and increased my desire to become more advanced in the language.
Aside from what I gained in the classroom, the most significant aspect of my study abroad was being able to live and experience the language and culture in everyday life outside of school. What helped me most to fulfill this MLO was my experience interacting with Japanese people on a daily basis, whether it was talking to friends, instructors, store clerks, or even strangers. I also had the opportunity to experience the culture firsthand through visits to cultural spots like shrines and temples, and by celebrating cultural events such as Oshogatsu (New Year's) with my host family. These interactions with natives and exposure to the community introduced me to a new world and a new lifestyle, which helped to expand my understanding of Japan in ways I couldn't by studying textbooks alone. I could see that I had achieved full immersion when I became able to live on my own and communicate without any trouble. For example, tasks such as being able to order in a restaurant, speaking to a bank teller, understanding transportation signs, making/changing reservations by phone, were all skills I acquired from living in Japan, where I could put the language to practical use. Being surrounded by the language and culture in everyday life was truly the best way for me to improve, and I hope to experience that immersion again someday.
Sample 1: News Assignment (Core Class) | |
File Size: | 144 kb |
File Type: |
Sample 2: Final Essay (Writing Class) | |
File Size: | 134 kb |
File Type: |
Flickr Photo Project:
CSUMB Oberlin
CSUMB Oberlin