Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
14772:Liberal Arts Seminar (05) § 14773:Theme Study (05) 2024 Fall Wed5 College　Of　Law,College　Of　Economics,College　Of　Business　Administration,College　Of　Social　Sciences,College　Of　International　Relations,College　Of　Policy　Science,College　Of　Letters,College　of　Image　Arts　and　Sciences,College　of　Comprehensive　Psychology,College　of　Science　and　Engineering,College　of　Gastronomy　Management,College　of　Information　Science　and　Engineering,College　of　Life　Sciences,College　of　Pharmaceutical　Sciences,College　of　Sport　and　Health　Science　(tentative　name) KOBAYASHI KAHORI 2

Campus

KIC

Class Venue

IGAKUKAN　IG310

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

This course is designed to help students develop intercultural communication skills, collaboratively problem-solving skills, and project skills through working on a group project with Asian students in English. The project is going to be done in distance online, and students are going to use ICT and SNS skills. They will communicate with their partner students from Asia, most possibly from Taiwan, to implement their project. They will give their final presentation in the international exchange meeting, the Asian Student Exchange Program (ASEP) hosted by Education Bureau, Kaohsiung City Government, Taiwan, which means that students are expected to travel to Taiwan to attend the meeting in Dec. (around 12/26-29). However, to those who will not attend ASEP, alternative assignments will be given to reflect the project work.
     The general topic will be informed by the ASEP committee, and students will discuss with their partners from abroad to choose their topic in relation to the ASEP general topic.
     
 .

Student Attainment Objectives

Students can attain the following objectives:
1. Intercultural communication skills
2. Collaboratively problem-solving skills
3. Project skills which include:
1) research, discussion and presentation skills in English
2) engaging with challenges of working across cultures and building good relationships
3) accomplishing a project

Recommended Preparatory Course

【Stage 3】This class is open for the students with the following English ability: a TOEFL ITP®test score between 480 and 530, a TOEFL iBT®test score between 55 and 71, a TOEIC®test score between 580 and 630, an IELTS score above 5.0, or equivalent.

＊TOEIC®, TOEFL®はEducational Testing Service(ETS)の登録商標です。

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1

Introduction to the course

Effective & interactive communication and co-learning(peer-learning) across cultures HW(Homework): 3 minute speech to 1) introduce yourself, your country or your hometown & 2) explain why you have chosen this course

2

Introduction to the international exchange meeting, the Asian Student Exchange Program (ASEP)

Discussion skills & Research skills
HW: 3 minute speech about challenges expected to the project study across cultures & how to cope with them

3

ASEP Theme & Grouping Research skills

Discussion on challenges expected to the project study across cultures & how to cope with them
HW: Research on ASEP theme and pick up 3 possible project topics (Short report on the 3 topics with the reasons why they are important/interesting)

4

Meeting with Asian partners (Introducing each other & discussion on project theme)

Discussion on project theme
HW: Choose 1 topic and write a short report on the topic

5

Meeting with Asian partners & discussion on project topic

Project skills
Discussion on project topic
HW: Research on group project

6

Reporting group project & discussion

Research on group project and discussion
HW: Mid-term report (Main topic, outline & research methods)

7

Reporting group project & discussion

Research skills (Interview & questionnaire)
Mid-term report (Main topic, outline & research methods)
Further research and discussion with partners
Mutual evaluation

8

Reporting project work & discussion

Presentation skills
Reporting group project
Mutual evaluation
HW: Presentation slides & draft

9

Project work

Reporting group project
Communication with partner students to finalize the topic of the project

10

Project work

Reporting group project
Communication with partner students to prepare for the presentation

11

Project work

Reporting group project
Communication with partner students to prepare for the presentation

12

Rehearsal for ASEP

Communication with partner students to prepare for the presentation
Mutual evaluation

13

Rehearsal for ASEP

Communication with partner students to prepare for the presentation
Mutual evaluation

14

Rehearsal for ASEP

Communication with partner students to prepare for the presentation
Mutual evaluation

15

Course summary and reflection activity on the project work & participation in the ASEP

Questionnaire

Class Format

All the classes will be conducted via Zoom.

*The Liberal Arts Seminar will be offered online for a total of 15 sessions.
Students may take the course from any environment where they can concentrate and participate in class.

Classrooms are prepared only at the campus where the person in charge of the class belongs.
You will need to bring your own PC and earphones if you choose to take the course in the classroom.

Recommendations for Private Study

Will be advised in class or via email & manaba+R. Also, you are expected to work together wit the peers, especially overseas students outside of the classes.

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written)

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)		 100

1. Active participation and every day performance: 40%
2. Assignments: 20%
3. Final presentation: 20%
4. Final paper: 20%

Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

Class contribution and participation
Over the 15 classes, students will receive marks for class contribution and participation according to below points.

A) Neither late attendance nor early leave.
B) Actively participate in pair & group works, and other class discussions.
C) No excessive use of electronic devices or any other items unrelated to class contents.

*If you are absent more than 2 times, a passing grade will not be granted unless you provide convincing and justifiable reasons.

Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

英語
Important: must read carefully before registering to this class. If you have any questions, contact the lecturer in charge (kmt23381@fc.ritsumei.ac.jp) before registering.

1. Students are expected to conduct all the classes using ICT tools.

2. All are expected to collaborate in all group works with both domestic and overseas peers (other students). You are expected to work with peers outside of the classes. Taking this course is very difficult and not recommended if you need to work on job hunting or internship program during the fall semester because group work is very demanding. You should be responsible for your group and should not expect that other members make up for your part.

3, In December (around 12/26-29, three nights and four days), students are expected to take part in Asian Students Exchange Program (ASEP) in Taiwan.(Please refer to URL specified at the end of this syllabus for the general information about ASEP. The detail of ASEP 2024 will be announced in the first class.)

4. Travel expenses are basically self-paying. Estimated overall expenses referring to the examples of the past cases are about 80,000 - 100,000 Japanese yen including air tickets, accommodation, meals, etc. This is not a guided group tour trip, and you are expected to reserve and buy air tickets by yourself. However, we will stay together at the same place prepared by ASEP during the program. (The lecturer is considering applying for subsidies to reduce self-burden costs. The self-payment amount may be reduced depending on the grant acquisition situation, however, applicable only for regularly registered students in Ritsumeikan University). Also, please note that, the estimated expenses may change upon circumstances.

5. To travel to Taiwan, you need a valid passport.

6. To those who will not attend ASEP in Taiwan, alternative assignments will be given to reflect the project work and write the final paper.

Textbooks

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

No textbook

Reference Books

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Web Pages for Reference

You can learn about "The Asian Student Exchange Program" at the following sites.

https://sites.google.com/go.edu.tw/2023asep-eng/home

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Talk with Students

Other Comments

【科目ナンバリング・カリキュラムマップはこちらから/Click here to see the Curriculum-Map and Course-Numbering】
URL:http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp//students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html