JAPN 302: History of Japan (MLO 1&2/Fall 2014)
Course Description
This course further develops advanced Japanese proficiency through an understanding of Japanese history as a dynamic, interrelated system and employs a variety of processes to identify, analyze and evaluate cultural themes, values and ideas. Students will demonstrate ability to accurately comprehend ideas across a range of historical content.
Reflective Narrative
Out of all the language content courses I took during my time at California State University, Monterey Bay, "History of Japan" was by far the most difficult. This class was built around not only learning new grammar and vocabulary along with learning history, it also had a massive discussion component. After reading an excerpt or passage about a specific time in Japanese history, we would then split into groups and collaborate with each other about the material, deciding how to interpret the passage and what type of effect, if any, it held towards Japanese society in the long run. After having a class long discussion about the material, we then would go to the internet and discuss with each other over the forums about a broad variety of questions.
This class ultimately was a survey class, and so it painted a broad picture about Japan's revered history. Understanding history, whether of your own nation or another's, is critical to gaining a semblance of comprehension about the way one's own country thinks. In an attempt to focus on one specific concept related to both Japan and America, I looked closely at the opening of Yokohama and the role Townsend Harris played in doing so. My only wish was that I had more time to focus on a specific period, and while I am in Japan I plan to do so. Thanks to both this class and my own research, I plan on looking more into the expansion and initial expulsion of Christianity in Japan as it was one of the most significant reasons why Japan began its two century long isolation.
This course further develops advanced Japanese proficiency through an understanding of Japanese history as a dynamic, interrelated system and employs a variety of processes to identify, analyze and evaluate cultural themes, values and ideas. Students will demonstrate ability to accurately comprehend ideas across a range of historical content.
Reflective Narrative
Out of all the language content courses I took during my time at California State University, Monterey Bay, "History of Japan" was by far the most difficult. This class was built around not only learning new grammar and vocabulary along with learning history, it also had a massive discussion component. After reading an excerpt or passage about a specific time in Japanese history, we would then split into groups and collaborate with each other about the material, deciding how to interpret the passage and what type of effect, if any, it held towards Japanese society in the long run. After having a class long discussion about the material, we then would go to the internet and discuss with each other over the forums about a broad variety of questions.
This class ultimately was a survey class, and so it painted a broad picture about Japan's revered history. Understanding history, whether of your own nation or another's, is critical to gaining a semblance of comprehension about the way one's own country thinks. In an attempt to focus on one specific concept related to both Japan and America, I looked closely at the opening of Yokohama and the role Townsend Harris played in doing so. My only wish was that I had more time to focus on a specific period, and while I am in Japan I plan to do so. Thanks to both this class and my own research, I plan on looking more into the expansion and initial expulsion of Christianity in Japan as it was one of the most significant reasons why Japan began its two century long isolation.
戦国時代における感想 | |
File Size: | 82 kb |
File Type: |