Service Learning
Course Description: This course gives students opportunity to deepen their knowledge of Japanese language and culture through their community service and to develop communication skills through discussions, reflection essays and presentations. Taught in Japanese. Students explore their professional aspirations and ethical values. They develop respect for multiple perspectives through community reflections. Students finalize individual learning plans. They integrate business concepts with Service Learning components. This learning takes place in the context of community development in the Monterey County area with a minimum of 30 service hours. (Offered every semester; sections may be offered as classroom-based, hybrid, or online.) (Prereq: Junior or Senior Standing)
Reflective Narrative
My service learning experience was exciting and fun. I did my community service hours at a school called Walter Colton Middle School in Seaside California. My Professor gave our class a great amount of information to think on as we began teaching and constructing lesson plans. A vast amount of perspectives were displayed to us through articles and class discussions. I realized that I wasn't just teaching the kids because it was required, or that I enjoyed it but that my students benefited from it.
Through Service Learning I realized that I was connecting to a community. I was no longer a student in a room of kids but we were connected. The students in the CPY at Walter Colton Middle School got to choose if they wanted to take Japanese class once a week as an elective. I learned about my students, why they were interested in Japanese language and cultures. Me and my fellow students worked to break down certain stereotypes or misconceptions about Japan and Japanese culture for the students. Many of our students thought that Japan was full of ninjas, or cars like Tokyo Drift. Many students confused other asian cultures with Japanese culture. Students were able to relate to Japanese culture from looking at their own culture and seeing the traditions that existed in their own culture.
CPY is the program that our class at CSUMB collaborated with in order to connect with their students. CPY is a program made for children that are in some form of need. Whether their parents work late and they have no where to go or need help with homework after school CPY provides services to help them. In collaboration with CPY we were able to bring them information, activities stories and even food from Japan with us.
Through this experience I learned that I enjoyed teaching. Learning about my students and their interests, asking them what parts of Japanese culture they would like to learn about and delivering that gave me a lot of joy. Both the students and I were able to benefit from that, students tend to act out if they aren't excited about the lesson so picking subject matter that got the students genuinely interested was important.
Bellow you can find an example of a lesson plan we did for our Service Learning
Reflective Narrative
My service learning experience was exciting and fun. I did my community service hours at a school called Walter Colton Middle School in Seaside California. My Professor gave our class a great amount of information to think on as we began teaching and constructing lesson plans. A vast amount of perspectives were displayed to us through articles and class discussions. I realized that I wasn't just teaching the kids because it was required, or that I enjoyed it but that my students benefited from it.
Through Service Learning I realized that I was connecting to a community. I was no longer a student in a room of kids but we were connected. The students in the CPY at Walter Colton Middle School got to choose if they wanted to take Japanese class once a week as an elective. I learned about my students, why they were interested in Japanese language and cultures. Me and my fellow students worked to break down certain stereotypes or misconceptions about Japan and Japanese culture for the students. Many of our students thought that Japan was full of ninjas, or cars like Tokyo Drift. Many students confused other asian cultures with Japanese culture. Students were able to relate to Japanese culture from looking at their own culture and seeing the traditions that existed in their own culture.
CPY is the program that our class at CSUMB collaborated with in order to connect with their students. CPY is a program made for children that are in some form of need. Whether their parents work late and they have no where to go or need help with homework after school CPY provides services to help them. In collaboration with CPY we were able to bring them information, activities stories and even food from Japan with us.
Through this experience I learned that I enjoyed teaching. Learning about my students and their interests, asking them what parts of Japanese culture they would like to learn about and delivering that gave me a lot of joy. Both the students and I were able to benefit from that, students tend to act out if they aren't excited about the lesson so picking subject matter that got the students genuinely interested was important.
Bellow you can find an example of a lesson plan we did for our Service Learning
lessonplan7.doc.pdf |