Submitted by Noriko Fujiokaito

Language: Japanese Unit Cultural Theme or Academic Content Area: cross-cultural comparisons Target Audience: Traditional Post-Secondary Year of Instruction: K Proficiency Level: Intermediate Mid

Standards: Communication:    1.1, 1.2, 1.3 Cultures:    2.1, 2.2 Connections:    3.1, 3.2 Comparisons:    4.1, 4.2 Communities:    5.1, 5.2

Unit Timeframe:

Seven 50-minute class sessions and 2-4 hour and 30 minute homework assignments

Unit Overview:

In this unit, students will obtain information on study abroad programs, understand some issues of cross-cultural adjustment, and identify the advantages of study abroad. In Lesson 1, students learn about study abroad programs such as how to apply and transfer credits they earn in Japan. In Lesson 2, students learn ways of alleviating negative affective factors (e.g., culture shock and homesickness) through positive human relationships with host families, friends, and professors. In addition, the end of Lesson 2 provides students with a preparation stage (producing their own TV commercial) in which they explore the advantages and disadvantages of study in Japan.

Context:

This unit is beneficial for students who are interested in going to Japan to study in the future; however, those who have studied in Japan before could be given opportunities to analyze their cross-cultural experiences and play an active role as resource persons. Students will read a selection in their textbook whose target users have completed basic grammar and vocabulary about study abroad programs in Japan, using the linguistic and content knowledge students obtained through conversation sections previously covered in the same textbook. Furthermore, the reading material will provide students with basic knowledge about studying in Japan with or without exchange agreements with home institutions and new grammar, expressions, and vocabulary which explain international students' life. Students will continue to conduct research on study abroad in Japan through a variety of other resources such as videos, websites, and interviews with people who have been to and come from Japan. Students will use their research materials to make TV commercials to promote study abroad which will be videotaped and evaluated using rubric.

General Unit References and Resources:

Miura, A. & McGloin, N. H. (1994). An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese Tokyo, Japan: The Japan Times.

Links or files for unit content:     A new window will open for each lesson.

Lesson 01: Study Abroad Information
Lesson 02: Cross-Cultural Adjustment
Unit Assessment