This page consists of my FALL 2012 class work while attending NUFS : Nagoya University of Foreign Studies.
When I took my placement test for the fall semester, I was place in Level: Grammar 3
Below will be some examples of my challenges and my successes in learning, studying, practicing and excelling the language of Japanese. Also, there is some content of the cultural classes I attended while Studying Abroad
Samples: Grammar 3 > Reading
Writing
Kanji
Composition
Cultural Classes > Mapping_Field Trip to Nagoya Archives(Government Building)
The following will be my projects that were assigned while studying abroad:
LESCANT:
My submissions:
Website for viewing > Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, Japan 2012-2013
When I took my placement test for the fall semester, I was place in Level: Grammar 3
Below will be some examples of my challenges and my successes in learning, studying, practicing and excelling the language of Japanese. Also, there is some content of the cultural classes I attended while Studying Abroad
Samples: Grammar 3 > Reading
Writing
Kanji
Composition
Cultural Classes > Mapping_Field Trip to Nagoya Archives(Government Building)
The following will be my projects that were assigned while studying abroad:
LESCANT:
- Language – The cultural effects of Language go beyond the simple matter of speaking different languages. This area includes issues such as being identified as an insider or outsider, who decides which language to speak, the position of power based on language use, and linguistic ethnocentrism (we all think our language is somehow the best). Photographs in this section also show the way language is used in different cultures.
sometimes cultures differ because of language differences.
These include attitudes about your own language, insider relationships for those who speak a foreign language, decisions related to which language is used, and how to speak in ways that others will understand you. - Environment – This includes such things as the physical traits of a location (e.g., size of an office), the effects of climate, topography, population, and the use of space. It also includes the perception the use of technology in changing the physical surroundings. Photographs in this section show some of these physical items.
This includes the physical reality such as size, surroundings, population density, climate, food, topography, etc. This includes such things as the physical traits of a location (e.g., size of an office), the effects of climate, topography, population, and the use of space. It also includes the perception the use of technology in changing the physical surroundings. Photographs in this section show some of these physical items. - Social Organization – There are many ways that society can be subdivided into groups: kinship and family, education, class, religion, occupation, and gender. Tendencies towards individualism versus collectivism also fall under this category, as does how we use our free time.
This refers to how society is put together. This includes family, education, role of women, class systems, individualism, religion, etc. - Context – Context refers to how much people depend on overt communication (e.g., the actual words spoken, the items written, or rules followed) versus a communication that relies on stored information gained from personal relationship and interactions. Thus “low context” cultures depend less on the context while “high context” cultures rely on stored information for their communication. Issues related to face-saving and politeness are often tied to our understanding of Context.
This refers to how directly people communicate ideas and words versus how important it is to build a “context” within that communication. Low context cultures focus on the actual words that are spoken, the rules that are written. Those words and rules determine appropriate behavior. High context cultures focus on the situation and shared knowledge, which is what will determine appropriate behavior. - Authority – Definitions and expectations of authority and power are based on culture. Issues related to decision making, use of titles, leadership style all fit in the category of Authority. This category also included Power Distance, related to how much subordinates may influence and interact with their superiors.
This category deals with the role of authority figures and how power and decision making is accomplished. Authority also looks at leadership style and the relationship between bosses and their subordinates. - Non-Verbal – The category includes a wide range of cultural issues: emblems, gestures, dress, eye contact, touch, proxemics, smell, colors, and numbers. Photographs from this category can include a wide range of sights from all over the world.
here we are looking at everything from dress and adornment to colors, touch, smell, and the quality of one’s voice.
- Time – Not only does this focus on how we organize our calendar and schedule, but it focuses on cultures that follow monochronic time (those that handle one task at a time) and those that follow polychronic time (those that engage in many tasks at the same time). This category refers to how people divide time, how they schedule their activities, and how they organize their day.
My submissions:
Website for viewing > Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, Japan 2012-2013
The following consists of my monthly Journals that I have written that express my feelings throughout my time abroad:
Journals
.:In construction - Currently hunting down doc of monthly blog:..:Unfortunately, cannot locate journals in hard drive, I had faithfully written 1-page monthly journals for each month from what I had experienced, to make up for missing evidence-small paragraph shall be entered under each month:.
August 2012
This is the month I arrived in a brand new country and get acquainted with other new arrivals. The only thing I am feeling nervous about is all the new people I am going to meet. I have so much planned. I really care to travel and see so much of Japan while I am here. I love my room. It over looks into a restaurant and it is very quiet. I have already begun decorating my room and it feels like home.
September 2012
School has begun and it is a blast. the foreign students are classified together by the rank of grammar they each have passed.I LOVE all my teachers. Fujita-sensei, Murakami-sensei, Tsutzuki-sensei, and there are two others from which they names are escaping my memory as of right now. However, each and every one of them are so patient and kind. They teach with such confidence and faith for each of us. I have also made such great friends, especially two ladies of sweet personalities, Rachel and Elodie. I also discovered.....MELON PAN! OH MY WORD!!! BEST....INVENTION......EVER!!! Please Japan, take it to America?!
October 2012
This month a bit hard for me. The holidays are coming, yet it is more difficult due to not only the tests and lessons, yet there are some certain residents who feel they need to drink they heart and brains out to where they cause trouble for other in the International House. Of course I am not used to this because most of my life, I spent it alone or in an environment where it is not surrounded by unsophisticated drunkards..there are going to be looooong nights ahead. On a more happier note, I am enjoying all the field trips and excursions provided by the school. I am learning so much and loving the traveling opportunities.
November 2012
Ahhhhh, the Thanksgiving month. Of course I know this holiday is not in Japan. So far, I have been talking to my mother ever so often. Thankfully, I am not suffering from homesickness. However, I do feel for my family situation as I am 3000 miles away from the only family I have left. I can't say the same for others...my new friends are missing their home quite a lot. So we planned to make a Thanksgiving together by each of us making something and eating with one another. This was quite awesome and it helped.
December 2012
I learned something new today. Christmas is meant more for couples here. I di dnot know this. Yet speaking of Christmas, I am beginning to see how the holidays may seem quite sad when one is away from family during such times. However, I personally still feel very well and no homesickness. My dear friends are feeling it a bit, especially since our previous semester friends had to return home. So this month, my friends and I watched each a chosen film that we would watch at Christmas time with our families and mad a Christmas dinner. I truly enjoyed this month as I also got to pass well from all my classes and I got to travel locally so many times. I got to see Osu Mall quite a few times and I am finding out that Hamazushi is a student's BEST FRIEND X3 .
January 2013
The beginning of winter break. I forgot what it is like not to have a job and work on a three month break. For once I am living like a real student.I don't have to wake up at 3AM and get ready for work. However, I am finding out that I am sleeping a LOT. I think this is due to 15 years of all work and school and no rest; it is finally catching up to me. So this month I am catching up on some sleep, drawing like crazy and going to the local cafe called "YEAST PARADISE"...I love this place x3 ...made some new friends here too!
Spring semester journals continues here: LINK
Journals
.:In construction - Currently hunting down doc of monthly blog:..:Unfortunately, cannot locate journals in hard drive, I had faithfully written 1-page monthly journals for each month from what I had experienced, to make up for missing evidence-small paragraph shall be entered under each month:.
August 2012
This is the month I arrived in a brand new country and get acquainted with other new arrivals. The only thing I am feeling nervous about is all the new people I am going to meet. I have so much planned. I really care to travel and see so much of Japan while I am here. I love my room. It over looks into a restaurant and it is very quiet. I have already begun decorating my room and it feels like home.
September 2012
School has begun and it is a blast. the foreign students are classified together by the rank of grammar they each have passed.I LOVE all my teachers. Fujita-sensei, Murakami-sensei, Tsutzuki-sensei, and there are two others from which they names are escaping my memory as of right now. However, each and every one of them are so patient and kind. They teach with such confidence and faith for each of us. I have also made such great friends, especially two ladies of sweet personalities, Rachel and Elodie. I also discovered.....MELON PAN! OH MY WORD!!! BEST....INVENTION......EVER!!! Please Japan, take it to America?!
October 2012
This month a bit hard for me. The holidays are coming, yet it is more difficult due to not only the tests and lessons, yet there are some certain residents who feel they need to drink they heart and brains out to where they cause trouble for other in the International House. Of course I am not used to this because most of my life, I spent it alone or in an environment where it is not surrounded by unsophisticated drunkards..there are going to be looooong nights ahead. On a more happier note, I am enjoying all the field trips and excursions provided by the school. I am learning so much and loving the traveling opportunities.
November 2012
Ahhhhh, the Thanksgiving month. Of course I know this holiday is not in Japan. So far, I have been talking to my mother ever so often. Thankfully, I am not suffering from homesickness. However, I do feel for my family situation as I am 3000 miles away from the only family I have left. I can't say the same for others...my new friends are missing their home quite a lot. So we planned to make a Thanksgiving together by each of us making something and eating with one another. This was quite awesome and it helped.
December 2012
I learned something new today. Christmas is meant more for couples here. I di dnot know this. Yet speaking of Christmas, I am beginning to see how the holidays may seem quite sad when one is away from family during such times. However, I personally still feel very well and no homesickness. My dear friends are feeling it a bit, especially since our previous semester friends had to return home. So this month, my friends and I watched each a chosen film that we would watch at Christmas time with our families and mad a Christmas dinner. I truly enjoyed this month as I also got to pass well from all my classes and I got to travel locally so many times. I got to see Osu Mall quite a few times and I am finding out that Hamazushi is a student's BEST FRIEND X3 .
January 2013
The beginning of winter break. I forgot what it is like not to have a job and work on a three month break. For once I am living like a real student.I don't have to wake up at 3AM and get ready for work. However, I am finding out that I am sleeping a LOT. I think this is due to 15 years of all work and school and no rest; it is finally catching up to me. So this month I am catching up on some sleep, drawing like crazy and going to the local cafe called "YEAST PARADISE"...I love this place x3 ...made some new friends here too!
Spring semester journals continues here: LINK