Things are finally starting to happen with the new visiting Japanese teacher position for next year. It felt like we should have been moving on this a long time ago, but I've finally been allowed to post an announcement about the new position in all the relevant places. Apparently the position still hasn't been officially approved (I have no idea how these things are supposed to work) but our department chair doesn't seem to be in doubt that we'll be able to do it so I'm bowing to her experience on this one. We'll start looking at candidates right away and interview them at the Association for Asian Studies conference (the major annual Asian studies venue) at the end of March. If all goes well, I'm hoping to have someone committed to the position by the end of the semester. Officially, it's only a one-year position, but it can be renewed for up to three years and the last two people who have taken a position like this (including Emoto sensei) were in the position for the full three years.
So what does this mean? Well, basically, it means we'll have a bit more stability in the program. The visiting person will be teaching all three sections of first-year Japanese over the next few years (hopefully), which leaves me free to expand our current offerings a bit. The courses for next year are already on the books of course: I'll be teaching two sections of second-year and one of third-year (yay!) in the fall. In the winter, second-year usually drops to one section, so I'll be teaching second-year, third-year, and a Japanese culture/civ course. But if JPN 202 enrollments start getting stronger (as I'm hoping they will), there will be an impetus to expand that out to two sections in the winter semester... meaning we will need yet another teacher... meaning we may be able to add still more courses.
The game is all about proving to the college that there is a need for courses before they are allowed to be officially put on the books. Right now both sections of third-year Japanese and the culture/civ course are all listed as JPN 380, since they are all "test courses." Once we establish that such a course can draw students (that's where you all come in), then we can put them in the catalog... and then we'll NEED someone to teach them regularly. Hopefully within a couple of years we can establish not only the need to replace the visitor with a permanent position but also expand enrollments enough to warrant another visitor (or at least a one- or two-class affiliate). It's a slow process, but it seems to be heading in the right direction.
In other news, I'm thinking about changing textbooks. As you all know, I have issues with the Genki series, and a textbook I like far more just came out with a new edition that corrects many of the problems in the previous version. I think it is a better textbook and it includes access to many online resources, including audio and video files. In the meantime, I've found that the Genki series will no longer be updated... which means it will just keep getting less and less relevant to modern Japan as time goes on. There are only two things stopping me from taking the plunge: 1) the fact that several of our study abroad partners use Genki, making for easy transition from study here to study abroad; and 2) the fact that Genki is so much cheaper than the alternatives. I don't know what the bookstore charges, but you can buy the Genki textbook on Amazon for around $35 and the workbook for about $25... and that's for the whole year! Compare that to Nakama (the series I'm considering), which runs for $70 plus another $40 for the workbook... and that's just for one semester. That's actually comparable with what many language textbooks go for, but it's so much more expensive than what we're currently using that I feel the need to think it through before committing to the change. There is a substantially greater value in terms of both textbook and additional materials... but I need to decide whether it is significant enough to warrant the higher cost to the students.
If I do make a change, it will start with just JPN 101-102. JPN 201-202 next year will continue with the Genki series, then the following year we'd transition the second year students to the new series as well. That means none of you current students have a financial stake in this... so you can tell me honestly what you think. Does that textbook price seem excessive? Or worse yet, would it have made you reconsider taking Japanese altogether? As you can see above, I've got to fill these classes!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Upcoming Japan-Related Events
There are a number of Japan-related events coming up in the next several months, and I’ll post reminders and additional information as the time for each draws close, but for now I’ll just post all the information I have.
First, the next film in our Japanese film series will be this coming Thursday, Febuary 5th. Because many people have class until 2:15, I’ll be starting a bit later than last time, at around 2:30... and because the film is a bit shorter than the last one, we should still finish up by 4. The film will be Tokyo Godfathers, an animated feature by Satoshi Kon. And yes, I am still trying to find a room in order to allow us to alternate between Wednesdays and Thursdays for those who are unable to attend.
On February 7th, the Grand Rapids Public Museum will be hosting the DTE Ethnic Heritage Festival to celebrate the various ethnicities living here in western Michigan. I’m not sure how much of a role Japan plays in this, but I know it does include a showcase of costumes from various cultures, including Japan.
A new student group, the Japanese Culture Association, has been formed, and the first official meeting will be held on Monday, February 9th at 5pm. The first meeting will be in Kirkhof Center room 1104 and it will basically be for introductions and thinking about the direction of the club. Anyone interested in joining should log into Stuey, watch the brief video about student groups, and take the quiz to become an official member. But even if you haven’t yet become official, feel free to attend the official first meeting. Anyone interested in Japanese culture (and hey, who isn’t?) is welcome.
On February 10th, there will be an Asian New Year celebration from 6-9pm in the Grand River Room of the Kirkhof Center. While Japan now observes only the Western solar calendar rather than the Lunar New Year, much of the cosmology associated with it still informs the Japanese conception of the new year. The celebration will feature food samples and performances from various Asian cultures. The celebration is a part of the Asian Pacific American Heritage Celebration which will be going on throughout the semester.
The Japanese Language Group (J-Chat) meets once a month, every third Monday at 7pm at Schuler’s Books on Alpine. Each meeting features a presentation on some aspect of Japanese culture followed by conversation practice. Anyone interested in Japan is welcome, regardless of ability level and the next meeting will be on February 16th.
On March 11th the Omihachiman Committee will be hosting “Konbanwa GR,” a silent auction, raffle, and Japanese dinner accompanied by traditional music at the Tokyo Grill. As many of you know, The town of Omihachiman in Shiga prefecture is one of Grand Rapids’ five sister cities, and the Omihachiman Committee is involved in quite a few Japan-related events in the area, including J-Chat and Ethnic Heritage costumes mentioned above. “Konbanwa GR” is a fundraiser that will help them to continue to host such events.
On April 14th, the Japanese composer Uematsu Nobuo will be coming to the DeVos Performance Hall, where his music will be performed by the Grand Rapids Symphony. Uematsu is best known as the composer of the music from the Final Fantasy series. And for an additional fee, it is also possible to meet Uematsu in person after the performance. See here for additional information.
First, the next film in our Japanese film series will be this coming Thursday, Febuary 5th. Because many people have class until 2:15, I’ll be starting a bit later than last time, at around 2:30... and because the film is a bit shorter than the last one, we should still finish up by 4. The film will be Tokyo Godfathers, an animated feature by Satoshi Kon. And yes, I am still trying to find a room in order to allow us to alternate between Wednesdays and Thursdays for those who are unable to attend.
On February 7th, the Grand Rapids Public Museum will be hosting the DTE Ethnic Heritage Festival to celebrate the various ethnicities living here in western Michigan. I’m not sure how much of a role Japan plays in this, but I know it does include a showcase of costumes from various cultures, including Japan.
A new student group, the Japanese Culture Association, has been formed, and the first official meeting will be held on Monday, February 9th at 5pm. The first meeting will be in Kirkhof Center room 1104 and it will basically be for introductions and thinking about the direction of the club. Anyone interested in joining should log into Stuey, watch the brief video about student groups, and take the quiz to become an official member. But even if you haven’t yet become official, feel free to attend the official first meeting. Anyone interested in Japanese culture (and hey, who isn’t?) is welcome.
On February 10th, there will be an Asian New Year celebration from 6-9pm in the Grand River Room of the Kirkhof Center. While Japan now observes only the Western solar calendar rather than the Lunar New Year, much of the cosmology associated with it still informs the Japanese conception of the new year. The celebration will feature food samples and performances from various Asian cultures. The celebration is a part of the Asian Pacific American Heritage Celebration which will be going on throughout the semester.
The Japanese Language Group (J-Chat) meets once a month, every third Monday at 7pm at Schuler’s Books on Alpine. Each meeting features a presentation on some aspect of Japanese culture followed by conversation practice. Anyone interested in Japan is welcome, regardless of ability level and the next meeting will be on February 16th.
On March 11th the Omihachiman Committee will be hosting “Konbanwa GR,” a silent auction, raffle, and Japanese dinner accompanied by traditional music at the Tokyo Grill. As many of you know, The town of Omihachiman in Shiga prefecture is one of Grand Rapids’ five sister cities, and the Omihachiman Committee is involved in quite a few Japan-related events in the area, including J-Chat and Ethnic Heritage costumes mentioned above. “Konbanwa GR” is a fundraiser that will help them to continue to host such events.
On April 14th, the Japanese composer Uematsu Nobuo will be coming to the DeVos Performance Hall, where his music will be performed by the Grand Rapids Symphony. Uematsu is best known as the composer of the music from the Final Fantasy series. And for an additional fee, it is also possible to meet Uematsu in person after the performance. See here for additional information.
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