International Christian University

This course introduces the key issues underlying the interaction of states and transnational actors in the international system, particularly the problems of international peace and cooperation, regionalism, democratization, nationalism and cultural conflict.  Unlike conventional foundation courses in International Relations (IR), this course approaches the field from a student-centered approach. The course begins with an introduction to the main theories of International Relations, then an introduction to critical perspectives in IR. After students' understanding of the theories covered are examined through the midterm, the course discusses a series of empirical case studies and global issues. The goal is to integrate theory and practice, by presenting theoretical ideas and concepts in conjunction with a global range of historical and contemporary case studies.

This course is for students learning Japanese as a mother tongue, first language, or heritage language. Through this course, students will expand such skills as kanji, vocabulary building, reading comprehension, writing passages, and oral expression expected for university students. Prerequisite: “SPECIAL JAPANESE 1” or equivalent. Six class hours/week. 

By the end of this course, students will be able to: 

• Read a variety of texts from various genres and understand the writer's intentions and arguments.
• Express one's own opinions about what (s)he has read and heard accurately using appropriate expressions.
• Make oral presentations and book reports using figures and tables.

This course considers in-depth current issues and topics in second language acquisition and learning such as the role of age; learner differences; theoretical perspectives, and the role of instruction. Current views of second language acquisition and learning are considered critically relative to findings of empirical research.  LED102 Principles of Language Learning and Teaching is a prerequisite for this course.

The Japanese post-war political system is somewhat unique and difficult to explain. Between 1955 and 2009, one political party was in power (with only one brief interruption). On the other hand, Japan was the first working democracy in East Asia and a model for many countries in the region. Japan established a democratic system but also developed into the second-largest economy in the world, the largest donor country; and a country with a quasi-European welfare system, a low unemployment rate, and a low crime rate. In the late 1980s, the journalist Karel van Wolferen wondered how this could happen in a country where no one seems to be in charge, the least the prime minister. Others have questioned whether Japan is indeed a democracy or a whether it is a free market economy. This course examines these puzzles; the successes and failures of postwar Japan; why it took such a long time until the first real change of government in 2009; why it failed after only 3 years in power, and what the recent developments mean for Japan. Finally, the course assesses where Japan stands in 2023 and where it might go from here.

The course covers simple phrases and expressions used in everyday practical situations. This includes the use of expressions with the context of others, in expressing sequential actions; exchanging ideas and information, and asking questions.
 

The course analyzes contemporary Chinese politics and international relations, focusing on historical background, economic and socio-cultural dynamics.  

China's return to regional and global prominence has profound implications for understanding the future evolution of the international system but also how states engage with a non-Western superpower. This course examines the international relations of China from 1949 to present. It highlights the changing and enduring characteristics of China's foreign policy through investigating the role the Party (CCP), the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Red aristocrats have on foreign policy in the region and globally. This course also looks at China's newer initiatives such as the Belt Road Initiative (BRI) to glean a better understanding of China's vision of itself on the world stage. 

This course aims to help students gain a foundation in spoken and written Japanese for academic purposes through topics on society and culture. The target level is CEFR B1.2. Prerequisite: “J4:Japanese” or equivalent. Ten class hours/week. 

By the end of the course, students will be able to:
express, understand, or interact with others on a variety of familiar social subjects or slightly abstract contents if the argument is not delivered in complex structure and the development of the argument is clear, and
speak and write appropriately according to the situation.

This course explores how the current global framework of sustainable development, particularly within the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russian Aggression in Ukraine as well as other conflicts in the world, play on the implementation of SDGs. It also studies how sustainable development has evolved in the global development discussion. The course aims to instruct students on various aspects of sustainable development and key global environmental issues, including how to work towards a more sustainable society.