Destination Japan - Language and CultureLaajuus (3 cr)

Objective

The objective of the course is to give the students some basic Japanese language and cultural readiness. By the end of the course, the students have learned some useful phrases in Japanese. The cultural topics include group orientation, time concepts, hierarchy, politeness, food culture etc.

Content

- Introduction: What is culture?
- Verbal and Non-verbal communication
- Indirect communication: the Japanese never say “no”?
- Concept of time
- Group orientation vs. Individual orientation
- Hierarchy & Formality
- Politeness
- Gender role
- Food culture
- Language

For the cultural module students are given two written assignments, one individual and one group task.