Integrative Narrative
After the Spring 2012 term, my second semester at California State University of Monterey Bay, I decide to change my major from archaeology to Japanese Language and Culture. There were a number of factors that contributed to this decision, but simply put, I wanted to deepen my understanding of Japan by applying what I had learned as an archaeology student to Japan’s culture and history.
I already had a headstart on the major learning outcomes (MLO’s), in that I had fulfilled MLO 3 by taking SBS 324S: Archaeology/Map to Museum. In this course I learned how to efficiently study another group of people with limited information, as well as received hands-on experience of how the Native Americans lived their lives through creating obsidian tools. Also, I had already fulfilled MLO 2 by taking JAPN 305 and JAPN 315. In former I studied Japanese culture through a historical perspective, and in the former I learned about Japanese anime and manga, and how they reflect Japanese culture and society. These classes all helped me towards my original goal as a Japanese major.
Originally, my goal was to study Japan’s culture and history by applying my knowledge of archaeology to my studies of Japanese history and culture, perhaps even one day finding work in Japan as an archaeologist. After my study abroad experience, however, I began to change my mind. During my year in Japan, I had begun to develop a stronger interest in modern Japan, and how it differs from the U.S. While I was developing my proficiency with the Japanese language by taking classes at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, working my way towards fulfilling MLO 1, I was trying to immerse myself in the Japanese culture during my free time, interacting with the people of Japan in Japanese as best I could. This experience was not only about fulfilling MLO 5, it was also about developing a better understanding myself and my goals as a Japanese major student.
Upon my return to CSUMB, I took JAPN 301 to further develop my Japanese language skills and fulfill MLO 1. I also took a service learning class in which I volunteered with other Japanese major students at a local elementary school and taught the children about Japanese language and culture. This experience helped me build confidence in my ability to convey what I know about Japan to others, and also gave me the confidence that I could become a teacher, if I so chose. Possibly the most important class I took that semester, however, was JAPN 400, in which we began our work on our Capstone research projects. Having been fresh back from Japan, my head was buzzing with ideas of what to conduct research on. After much brainstorming, I finally decided to study gender roles among university students in Japan and the U.S.
My last semester at CSUMB has been focused on completing MLO’s 1, 2, and 4. I completed MLO’s 1 and 2 by taking Japanese literature. By reading Japanese literature in Japanese and analyzing the stories and poems, this course concurrently furthered my understanding of the Japanese language and Japanese culture. MLO 4, the Capstone research project, was completed by taking JAPN 404 and WLC 400, in which I developed background research on my topic as well as my own research, through online surveys. After collecting, analyzing, summarizing, and presenting my findings, I successfully completed all of the MLO’s, I finished my graduation project, and I learned how to effectively conduct my own research.
All of these courses and experiences have accumulated to help further myself in terms of my understanding of the world as well as myself. My goals as a Japanese major have changed from that of studying history to studying modern societies. I can now graduate from CSUMB with confidence that I have something to contribute to the world, and that I can find the way to best do so.
I already had a headstart on the major learning outcomes (MLO’s), in that I had fulfilled MLO 3 by taking SBS 324S: Archaeology/Map to Museum. In this course I learned how to efficiently study another group of people with limited information, as well as received hands-on experience of how the Native Americans lived their lives through creating obsidian tools. Also, I had already fulfilled MLO 2 by taking JAPN 305 and JAPN 315. In former I studied Japanese culture through a historical perspective, and in the former I learned about Japanese anime and manga, and how they reflect Japanese culture and society. These classes all helped me towards my original goal as a Japanese major.
Originally, my goal was to study Japan’s culture and history by applying my knowledge of archaeology to my studies of Japanese history and culture, perhaps even one day finding work in Japan as an archaeologist. After my study abroad experience, however, I began to change my mind. During my year in Japan, I had begun to develop a stronger interest in modern Japan, and how it differs from the U.S. While I was developing my proficiency with the Japanese language by taking classes at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, working my way towards fulfilling MLO 1, I was trying to immerse myself in the Japanese culture during my free time, interacting with the people of Japan in Japanese as best I could. This experience was not only about fulfilling MLO 5, it was also about developing a better understanding myself and my goals as a Japanese major student.
Upon my return to CSUMB, I took JAPN 301 to further develop my Japanese language skills and fulfill MLO 1. I also took a service learning class in which I volunteered with other Japanese major students at a local elementary school and taught the children about Japanese language and culture. This experience helped me build confidence in my ability to convey what I know about Japan to others, and also gave me the confidence that I could become a teacher, if I so chose. Possibly the most important class I took that semester, however, was JAPN 400, in which we began our work on our Capstone research projects. Having been fresh back from Japan, my head was buzzing with ideas of what to conduct research on. After much brainstorming, I finally decided to study gender roles among university students in Japan and the U.S.
My last semester at CSUMB has been focused on completing MLO’s 1, 2, and 4. I completed MLO’s 1 and 2 by taking Japanese literature. By reading Japanese literature in Japanese and analyzing the stories and poems, this course concurrently furthered my understanding of the Japanese language and Japanese culture. MLO 4, the Capstone research project, was completed by taking JAPN 404 and WLC 400, in which I developed background research on my topic as well as my own research, through online surveys. After collecting, analyzing, summarizing, and presenting my findings, I successfully completed all of the MLO’s, I finished my graduation project, and I learned how to effectively conduct my own research.
All of these courses and experiences have accumulated to help further myself in terms of my understanding of the world as well as myself. My goals as a Japanese major have changed from that of studying history to studying modern societies. I can now graduate from CSUMB with confidence that I have something to contribute to the world, and that I can find the way to best do so.