2007年9月21日金曜日

“Beyond Barna: What’s the Seventh Stumbling Block?”

Kota Funakawa
Professor Mark CHRISTIANSON
ARW Section AI
17 September 2007
“Beyond Barna: What’s the Seventh Stumbling Block?”
Summary
   Barna claims intercultural communication inherently has six stumbling blocks. They cause our irritations and misunderstanding. First, “Assumption of Similarities” causes the misunderstanding that there is the universal method of communication, however, there is nothing (Barna 61). Next, “Language Difference” is caused by people persisting with one meaning or different usage of language (66, 67). Third, “Nonverbal Misinterpretation” is caused by not knowing much about other cultural body movement usually among the people have same culture, so this is hard to understand for foreigners (67). In addition, the fourth, “Preconceptions and Stereotypes” causes one-sided misunderstanding. At first they seem to decrease our fear for the unknown in the world, however, they are sometimes wrong and just assumptions because of overgeneralizing (68). Moreover to assess other culture is fifth one, “Tendency to Evaluation”. People can’t accept other culture because of natural assuming their own culture is the most natural (68). Finally, “High Anxiety” is a kind of stress caused by intercultural encounters. As the result, people feel culture shock or physiological reactions (70). In the end, Barna suggests the solution to be conscious of these blocks is required as the first step to avoid and everyone can and should prepare for them.

Discussion
   In addition to Barna’s six blocks, the 7th stumbling block in intercultural communication is abandonment. The reason why it is stumbling block is when people talk with foreigners, people seem to abandon to talk because of some reasons such as language difference or culture shock. In fact, however, they just give because of no reason as a result people feel irritations. There are two examples. First, when many Japanese people are spoken to by foreigners, they can’t communicate nonetheless they have a minimum standard of English ability which taught by compulsory education. They unconsciously assume that they can’t communicate because of language difference to escape from the reality they gave up. In other words, many Japanese desire to communicate however they jump to a conclusion that they can’t speak fluently so they can’t. This is typical example of abandonment. Secondly, if they could communicate with foreigners, they would feel cultural difference. When it is felt, they begin to think that they won’t understand each other so they give up. In my experience, I met the teacher who has lived half of life abroad. His behavior made me irritate then I gave up communicating. To tell the truth, I’m not irritated with not only his behavior but also my abandonment and really desire to make good relationship with him. Therefore I asked for advices. All of my advisers said “Keep trying to communicate, and then it’ll be all right.” So far, I have been trying to communicate without abandonment and believing I can make good relationship. Finally, the way to avoid the abandonment is to make an effort to understand. This is most important because the feeling of abandonment naturally comes from inside of you so to keep trying prevents it from occurring.
 
Works Cited
Barna, LaRay M. “Stumbling Blocks inIntercultual Communication”
Intercultural Communication A Reader. Ed. Larry A Samaovar and Rochard E Porter. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publising Company, 1994. (In The ELP Reader, 2007, 59-76)

2007年6月24日日曜日

My summer vacation

How are you, every one?
I 'm writing this journal while watching Yabecchi FC.
My first week end is passed just like an arrow.
I couldn't do anything. orz
So I would like to express my plan for summer.
 
  
 1.Aquire driver's license
This is most important for me because my hometown is really by place.
What is worse, there is no station.
Don't you think it's terrible?
So I have to aquire the license to make my life more comfortable.
Oh, by the way I want to explain my hometown.
My hometown is Kisai-town, Saitama.
Kisai is really small and by place.
But it has some good point.
 
1.Japanese wisteria
My town's wisteria is rather old.
It is guessed 400 years old.
 
2.Taniyama Toyo
Taniyama Toyo is great mathematician.
He contributed for the work of the theory of complex multiplication.
Moreover, his conjecture helped Andrew John Wiles to testify the Fermat's last theorem.
 
and so on...
 
In concludion, my hometown is really comfortable.
 
 
2. improve my English skills 
I want to go sophomore SEA program.
So I have to improve my skills.
In order to do so, I will read books, watch movies and listen to CDs.
 
I will do my best and enjoy my summer!
Plaese enjoy your summer, AI section mates!

2007年6月10日日曜日

The Usefulness of College Education-Meiland Essay Final Draft

Kota Funakawa
Professor Owen JAMES
ARW section AI
10 June 2007
Meiland Essay Final Draft

The Usefulness of College Education
 
   What are you studying for? Some people may answer “for my future’s job” or others may answer “just for my curiosity” but “Shift Happens” written by Karl Fisch denies these answers. It suggests “The top ten jobs in 2017 do not exist yet.” and “The half-life of knowledge is about two years and getting shorter. Can you accept these claims? Most of you maybe say “No” and my opinion is same as you, therefore, this essay argues the usefulness of college.
   The first reason why disagree with the claim of “Shift Happens” is that the true purpose of college is to learn something radical what won’t be useless, like how to think or the foundation of the topic. This point is suggested by Meiland “the content is not the main point. Much of the content that you are taught in college will be outmoded or discarded anyway in ten or twenty years. Learning intellectual skills and attitudes is far more important,” (Meiland 5). This Meiland’s argument is complete answer for this essay’s topic because the main affirmative claim for the topic is the information which we are studying now becomes out-of-date soon but Meiland says the content of study is less important(5). For example, in ICU, the professors always say “Think critical. Don’t believe the information without considering by you yourself. Have your own opinion,” so ICU students must learn how to think critical. When they are learning it, they use particular topic. After acquired, however, the way of thinking is employed not only when think about particular topic but also anytime. The importance of intellectual skills and attitudes will not be out-of-date. In addition, here is another example, think about legal science. The number of laws is increasing day by day but appearing of new laws does not automatically mean the old laws became useless. At first it looks like that the old laws became out-of-date, but it isn’t because the new law is made to cover just new extent and existing laws keep their effect for their own fields, they didn’t become useless but became foundation. The foundation also won’t become useless. All of these reasons proved the necessity of college.
   Secondly, the college allows students exchange opinions. This point is similar to Meiland’s argument that students should ask questions in class (19). College is made for pursuing the truth so their opinions require to be examined by others’ sceptical suspending view(14). For example when students are asked question, they have to answer. If they don’t know specific or have the idea with no evidence, they can’t answer so they have to study details harder and search the evidence. As a result, you get deeper understanding. At the same, time questioner is getting new information from answerer. Taking examination also leads getting the new perspective. As you see, when they are asked, they might be unable to answer because of the questioner’s new perspective. It is important, however, for them because the new perspective allows they rethink their own opinions. If they could accept it, they can correct their idea or make it more reliable. For those reasons, exchanging your own idea is important and the opportunity for bartering ideas is mainly given in college study.
   There is an objection against my opinion which argues the fact students are studying now become useless at the latest our graduation, in addition, it extinguishes students’ motivations. Consequently, a college education seems to be fairly useless. This point is described in “Shift Happens”. If it is true, for what we are studying. This fact is cause of students’ losing motivation. Furthermore it also degrades the quality of the education because the student who has no motivation makes no effort and don’t has responsibility for his/her education. As a result the quality of the education becomes lower, the education loses the meaning still more. There is no reason to enter college if students have no motivation, therefore, a college education will be useless.
   In conclusion, this point is emphasized that the college is really useful. This is because college allows students to learn fundamental things and to exchange their claims. Some people, however, challenge on this point because college education seems like waste of time but it’s not. The reason why it’s wrong is the acquisition of something radical and others’ opinion is one of the most important things for living and if you don’t do those, then it is waste of time, therefore, college education is useful.
 
Work Cited
Meiland, Jack W. College Thinking
: How to Get the Best Out of College, 1981. (The ELP Reader, 2007 7-10)
Karl Fisch. Shift Happens
(http://arwicu.wetpaint.com/page/AI+Meiland+Essay+Preparation)

2007年6月8日金曜日

Meiland Essay Second Draft

Kota Funakawa
Professor Owen JAMES
ARW section AI
8 June 2007
Meiland Essay Second Draft
 
   What are you studying for? Some one may answer for my future’s job but “Shift Happens” made by Karl Fisch denies the answer. It suggests “The top ten jobs in 2017 do not exist yet.” and “The half-life of knowledge is about 2 years and getting shorter. Can you accept these claims? Most of you maybe say “No” and my opinion is same as you. So I argue the usefulness of college through this essay.
   The first reason why disagree with the claim of “Shift Happens” is that the true purpose of college is to learn something radical what won’t be useless, like how to think or the foundation of the topic. This point is suggested by Meiland “the content is not the main point. Much of the content that you are taught in college will be outmoded or discarded anyway in ten or twenty years. Learning intellectual skills and attitudes is far more important.” (Meiland 5).This Meiland’s argument is complete answer for this essay’s topic because the main affirmative claim for the topic is the information which we are studying now becomes out-of-date soon but Meiland says the content of study is less important. And there is an example. In ICU, the professors always say “Think critical. Don’t believe the information without considering by you yourself. Have your own opinion.” so ICU students must learn how to think critical. When you are learning it, you use particular topic. But after acquired, the way of thinking are employed not only when think about particular topic but also anytime. The importance of intellectual skills and attitudes will not be out-of-date. And here is another example, think about legal science. The number of laws is increasing day by day but appearing of new laws does not automatically mean the old laws became useless. At first it looks like that the old laws became out-of-date, but it isn’t because the new law is made to cover just new extent and existing laws keep their effect for their own fields, they didn’t become useless but became foundation. The foundation also won’t become useless.
   Secondly, the college allows you exchange opinions. This point is similar to Meiland’s argument that students should ask questions in class (Meiland 19). College is made for pursuing the truth so their opinions require to be examined by others’ sceptical suspending view. For example when you asked question, you have to answer. If you don’t know specific or have the idea with no evidence, you can’t answer so you have to study details harder and search the evidence. As a result, you get deeper understanding. At the same time questioner is getting new information from you. Taking examination also leads getting the new perspective. When you asked, you might be unable to answer because of the questioner’s new perspective. But it is important for you because the new perspective allows you rethink your own opinion. If you could accept it, you can correct your idea or make it more reliable. For those reasons, exchanging your own idea is important and the opportunity for bartering ideas is mainly given in college study.
   I know some people argue the objection against my opinion. The main claim is the information which you are studying now becomes useless at the latest our graduation. So a college education seems to be fairly useless. This point is described in “Shift Happens”. If it is true, for what we are studying. This fact decreases students’ motivation. And it also degrades the quality of the education because the student who has no motivation makes no effort and don’t has responsibility for his/her education. As a result the quality of the education becomes lower, the education loses the meaning still more. There is no reason to enter college if students have no motivation, therefore, a college education will be useless.
   In conclusion, I put emphasis on that point, college is really useful. This is because college allows you to learn fundamental things and to exchange your claims. Some people, however, challenge on this point because college education has not good aspect, it seems like waste of time. But It’s not. The acquisition of something radical and others’ opinion is one of the most important things for living and if you don’t do that, then it is waste of time. College education, therefore, is useful.

Meiland Essay First Draft

Kota Funakawa
Professor Owen JAMES
ARW section AI
6 June 2007
Meiland Essay First Draft

   What are you studying for? Some one may answer for my future’s job but “Shift Happens” denies the answer. Can you accept the claim “Shift Happens” does? Most of you will say “No” and My opinion is same as you. So I argue the usefulness of college through this essay.
   The first reason why disagree with the claim of “Shift Happens” is that the true purpose of college is to learn something radical what won’t be useless, like how to think or the foundation of the topic. This point is suggested by Meiland “the content is not the main point. Much of the content that you are taught in college will be outmoded or discarded anyway in ten or twenty years. Learning intellectual skills and attitudes is far more important.” (Meiland 5).This Meiland’s argument is complete answer for this essay’s topic because the main affirmative claim for the topic is the information which we are studying now becomes out-of-date soon but Meiland says the content of study is less important. And there is an example. In ICU, the professors always say “Think critical. Don’t believe the information without considering by you yourself. Have your own opinion.” so ICU students must learn how to think critical. When you are learning it, you use particular topic. But after acquired, the way of thinking are employed not only when think about particular topic but also anytime. The importance of intellectual skills and attitudes will not be out-of-date. And here is another example, think about legal science. The number of laws is increasing day by day but appearing of new laws does not automatically mean the old laws became useless. At first it looks like that the old laws became out-of-date, but it isn’t because the new law is made to cover just new extent and existing laws keep their effect for their own fields, they didn’t become useless but became foundation. The foundation also won’t become useless.
   Secondly, the college allows you exchange opinions. This point is similar to Meiland’s argument that students should ask questions in class (Meiland 19). College is made for pursuing the truth so their opinions require to be examined by others’ sceptical suspending view. For example when you asked question, you have to answer. If you don’t know specific or have the idea with no evidence, you can’t answer so you have to study details harder and search the evidence. As a result, you get deeper understanding. At the same time questioner is getting new information from you. Taking examination also leads getting the new perspective. When you asked, you might be unable to answer because of the questioner’s new perspective. But it is important for you because the new perspective allows you rethink your own opinion. If you could accept it, you can correct your idea or make it more reliable. For those reasons, exchanging your own idea is important and the opportunity for bartering ideas is mainly given in college study.
   I know some people argue the objection against my opinion. The main claim is the information which you are studying now becomes useless at the latest our graduation. So a college education seems to be fairly useless. This point is described in “Shift Happens”. If it is true, for what we are studying. This fact decreases students’ motivation. And it also degrades the quality of the education because the student who has no motivation makes no effort and don’t has responsibility for his/her education. As a result the quality of the education becomes lower, the education loses the meaning still more. There is no reason to enter college if students have no motivation, therefore, a college education will be useless.
   In conclusion, I put emphasis on that point, college is really useful. This is because college allows you to learn fundamental things and to exchange your claims. Some people, however, challenge on this point because college education has not good aspect, it seems like waste of time. But It’s not. The acquisition of something radical and others’ opinion is one of the most important things for living and if you don’t do that, then it is waste of time. College education, therefore, is useful.

2007年6月1日金曜日

Meiland Essay Paragraph 3 as the Objection

Kota Funakawa
Professor Owen JAMES
ARW Section AI
1 June 2007

Meiland Essay Paragraph 3 as the Objection
 
  I know some people argue the objection against my opinion. The main claim is your future job does not exist yet. In addition, the information which you are studying now will become useless at the latest our graduation. So a college education seems to be fairly useless. This point is described in “Shift Happens”. It suggests that “The amount of new technical information is doubling every 2 years. For students starting a four-year technical or college degree, this means that half of what they learn in their first year of study will be outdated by their third year of study.” If it is true, for what we are studying. This fact decreases students’ motivation. And it also degrades the quality of the education because the student who has no motivation makes no effort and don’t has responsibility for his/her education. As a resuil the quality of the education becomes lower, the education lose the meaning still more. There is no reason to enter college if students have no motivation, therefore, a college education will be useless.

2007年5月31日木曜日

Meiland Essay Paragraph 2

Kota Funakawa
Professor Owen JAMES
ARW Section AI
31 May 2007

Meiland Essay Paragraph 2
 
  Secondly, the college allows you exchange opinions. This point is similar to Meiland’s argument that students should ask questions in class (Meiland 19). College is made for pursuing the truth so their opinions require to be examined by others’ sceptical suspending view. For example when you asked question, you have to answer. If you don’t know specific or have the idea with no evidence, you can’t answer so you have to study details harder and search the evidence. As a result, you get deeper understanding. At the same time questioner is getting new information from you. Taking examination also leads getting the new perspective. When you asked, you might be unable to answer because of the questioner’s new perspective. But it is important for you because the new perspective allows you rethink your own opinion. If you could accept it, you can correct your idea or make it more reliable. For those reasons, exchanging your own idea is important and the opportunity for bartering ideas is mainly given in college study so college study is not useless.