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2017　Introduction to Foreign Languages 1

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Academic unit or major
Humanities and social science courses
Instructor(s)
Antoku Makiko  Ichikawa Shinji  Zhan Xiaomei  Mitsubori Koichiro  Yamazaki Taro  Liu Anwei  Jean Francoise  Kawamura Aya 
Class Format
Lecture     
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Mon5-6(W631)  
Group
-
Course number
LAH.H110
Credits
1
Academic year
2017
Offered quarter
2Q
Syllabus updated
2017/3/17
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

After two introductory classes (a guidance in the first week and a symposium in the second), in which instructors talk about the significance and pleasure of learning foreign languages from their own experiences, the lectures on some foreign languages are given by specialists of each language, explaining cultural, geographical, social and historical characteristics that form the background of that language.
This course is designed as a preparatory lecture for the students who launch out into a world of a new foreign language other than English and aims to introduce them a different way of thinking as a premise for practical learning and encourage their curiosity and enthusiasm. An encounter with a foreign language means changing one’s way of thinking and view of the world, and thus approaching a totally different culture based on that language. Participants are expected to become aware that every language is not merely a communication tool but a field where a culture and a history of each nation crystallize and its view of the world is projected.

Student learning outcomes

By the end of this course students will:
1) get to know the history, culture, land- and mindscape that are contained in each language as its essential features.
2) become aware that every foreign language has its own way of thinking as a projection of its view of the world, different from that of our mother tongues.

Keywords

・Foreign language learning
・History and culture of language
・International communication
・French, Russian

Competencies that will be developed

Specialist skills ✔ Intercultural skills ✔ Communication skills ✔ Critical thinking skills Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

As an introduction, the instructors talk about the significance and pleasure of learning foreign languages from their own experiences in a guidance and in a symposium. The following lectures will focus on the history and culture of two languages.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Introduction - Why do we learn foreign languages? To be announced during classes.
Class 2 Symposium - Pleasure of learning foreign languages
Class 3 French language and history
Class 4 French language and culture
Class 5 French language and Life
Class 6 Russian language and history
Class 7 Russian language and culture
Class 8 Russian language and life

Textbook(s)

None required.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Course materials are provided during class.

Assessment criteria and methods

Students will be assessed on their commitment to the lectures (by response cards) (40%) and an essay on foreign languages (60%).

Related courses

  • LAH.H111 ： Introduction to Foreign Languages 2
  • LAL.F201 ： French: Basic Course 1
  • LAL.R201 ： Russian: Basic Course 1
  • LAL.C201 ： Chinese: Basic Course 1
  • LAL.G201 ： German: Basic Course 1

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

No prerequisites.

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