To learn how to establish better relationships through discussions with people whose opinions and stances differ on complicated issues; to deepen understanding about diverse ways of thinking; to learn necessary communication techniques, attitudes, and expressions in English.
Students will read from books on creative conflict facilitation and will practice new skills using challenging topics they select.
Students will have read, discussed, and practiced skills and phrases in English related to befriending conflict in oneself and with others.
creative discussion, conflict resolution, English
✔ Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
Students will submit reflection papers after each class. They will write one creative discussion simulation on a challenging topic using skills and phrases learned in class.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Befriending Conflict, pp. 7-21, "Conflict: Friend or Foe?" Discussion on poetry from My Tears Flow Endlessly: Forced Out of House and Home by the Fukushima Nuclear Power Accident | read from textbook an introduction to dealing with conflict and read poetry; prepare for discussion on the Fukushima nuclear power accident |
Class 2 | Befriending Conflict, pp. 23-33, "Three Challenges--and Three Keys--to Befriending Conflict" Discussion on the Fukushima Nuclear Power Accident | read from textbook on welcoming conflict; prepare for discussion on a topic selected by students |
Class 3 | Conflict: Phases, Forums, and Solutions, pp. 3-20, "The Phases of Deep Democracy" Discussion topic determined by students | read from textbook on the phases of attitudes toward conflict; prepare for discussion on a topic selected by students |
Class 4 | Befriending Conflict, pp. 53-67, "The Inner Theatre of Conflict" Discussion topic determined by students | read from textbook on recognizing various positions or sides within oneself; prepare for discussion on a topic selected by students |
Class 5 | Befriending Conflict, pp. 69-87, "Befriending Inner Opposition" Discussion topic determined by students | read from textbook on preparing oneself for challenging discussions; prepare for discussion on a topic selected by students |
Class 6 | Excerpts on rank and power from Power: A User's Guide Discussion topic determined by students | read from textbook on various types of rank and conscious use of power; prepare for discussion on a topic selected by students |
Class 7 | Excerpts on bullying from Befriending Conflict, pp. 111-124 Discussion topic determined by students | read from textbook on bullying in various settings; prepare for discussion on a topic selected by students |
Class 8 | Excerpts on metaskills from Metaskills and on eldership from Sitting in the Fire Discussion topic determined by students | read from textbook on skills of expert leaders; prepare for discussion on a topic selected by students |
Joe Goodbread, Befriending Conflict: How to Make Conflict Safer, More Productive, and More Fun (2010)
Chikara Kojima (Setsuko Kojima, transl.), A Selection of Poetical Works: My Tears Flow Endlessly--Forced out of House and Home by the Fukushima Nuclear Power Accident (2017)
Arnold Mindell, Conflict: Phases, Forums, and Solutions (2017)
Arnold Mindell, Sitting in the Fire: Large Group Transformation Using Conflict and Diversity (1995)
Julie Diamond, Power: A User's Guide (2016)
Amy Mindell, Metaskills (2001)
weekly preparation for discussions 16%; participation in weekly discussions 16%; weekly reflection papers 32%; final creative discussion script 36%
conversational English ability