Humanities Area / Communication Studies Program

We face environmental problems, conflicts, and various other difficulties. Solving these problems requires communication with people from different cultures from a global perspective. This course will cover essential concepts for intercultural understanding, including differences in linguistic and nonverbal communication across cultures, cultural values, discrimination and prejudice, and cross-cultural adaptation. Simultaneously, active learning activities such as group discussions and presentations will encourage skill acquisition.

In modern society, the knowledge and practical skills necessary for people of different backgrounds to reach consensus through communication are essential. This seminar aims to cultivate "dialogue facilitators." To this end, students engage in thorough reading of literature to acquire fundamental knowledge and develop team-building activities, which they then practice in the classroom. Both activities are student-led, providing a time for collaborative learning with classmates.

I chose to double major, specializing in Asian Area Studies and Cultural Anthropology. My reason for choosing this program is that I had been interested in Asian international relations, history, and culture since before entering university, and wanted to study them at university. Therefore, I had decided to major in Asian Area Studies from the start of my studies. However, after taking a course called "History and Methods of Cultural Anthropology" in the spring semester of my second year, I became interested in the concepts of cultural anthropology, and decided to specialize in cultural anthropology as well. Through this program, I hope to understand Asian international relations and how Japan is involved, and to work in a field that connects Asia and Japan.

I have never lived abroad, but I was surprised to learn in a year of classes that "ways of thinking differ depending on the country's culture," and I wanted to learn more about the differences in communication across cultures. I am interested in overseas countries, so in the future I would like to communicate with people from many different nationalities. I don't think there is a right or wrong combination of major and minor. Even if they don't seem connected on the surface, I think they are connected somewhere if you study them in depth. Even if you can't see it now, you will be able to find it as you learn. I believe that my choice is not wrong and that I will be able to enjoy learning until the end.