Service Learning
I performed my service learning in JAPN 320s in which I spent my time learning about service, especially in regards to education. I spent each week building a plan to guide my group to teach a group of elementary school children about Japanese language and culture.
For service learning requirement, I attended the JAPN 320s class, where I studied about social issues, social awareness, being self aware, identity and especially how to impress upon others the concept of being self aware. It was very heavily anchored in ethics and the way we conduct ourselves being ethically aware of our own culture and the cultures around us, and where the balance comes in between the self and the community as a focus of one's life (see sample paper). We also reflected on language learning, and why it is important to education. In this reflection, I gained a deeper understanding of the main reason secondary language and culture learning is so important (see sample paper).
The class also focused heavily on understanding students and reflecting on what happens within the classroom, after every meeting. We started out by scanning the area and getting an idea of what the community and school are like so that we could understand our students better (see sample scan presentation). I worked with a group called the "Conquistadores" who were assigned to a small class at Highland Elementary School. Following each meeting with the students, we reflected on what happened, why it happened and how we could make these things better, by writing in Japanese (see sample reflection paper). By doing this, we cataloged what we had done already, and we moved forward with new ideas from our reflections.
The class also focused heavily on understanding students and reflecting on what happens within the classroom, after every meeting. We started out by scanning the area and getting an idea of what the community and school are like so that we could understand our students better (see sample scan presentation). I worked with a group called the "Conquistadores" who were assigned to a small class at Highland Elementary School. Following each meeting with the students, we reflected on what happened, why it happened and how we could make these things better, by writing in Japanese (see sample reflection paper). By doing this, we cataloged what we had done already, and we moved forward with new ideas from our reflections.
Learning Objectives:
I hope to examine issues of social justice and service relating to language and culture. I hope to participate and work with members of communities beyond my own community, especially in communities that are of multicultural/multilingual nature. I would like to become able to see my own culture and another’s culture in a new perspective. I wish to utilize my skills in Japanese/English in my work with others. I want to take from this class a new perspective on multiculturalism and multilingualism by working in the local community.
Service Activities:
To educate others in Japanese language and culture, so that the students may form a new perspective on a foreign and unfamiliar culture. To help the students gain a basic understanding of Japanese as an Asian language. My work is to create and apply activities that will stimulate the minds of these students, so that they might find a new way of viewing the world, and especially Japanese culture.
I hope to examine issues of social justice and service relating to language and culture. I hope to participate and work with members of communities beyond my own community, especially in communities that are of multicultural/multilingual nature. I would like to become able to see my own culture and another’s culture in a new perspective. I wish to utilize my skills in Japanese/English in my work with others. I want to take from this class a new perspective on multiculturalism and multilingualism by working in the local community.
Service Activities:
To educate others in Japanese language and culture, so that the students may form a new perspective on a foreign and unfamiliar culture. To help the students gain a basic understanding of Japanese as an Asian language. My work is to create and apply activities that will stimulate the minds of these students, so that they might find a new way of viewing the world, and especially Japanese culture.