Introduction to the Japanese Language (TOK 1)
Voices
The course content is designed so well that we could apply what we've learnt in class to the daily life. Especially when ordering food, asking for direction and shopping. The teaching style is also great not only because the small class size but also the patience of every teacher. The class atmosphere is active composed with the interaction among the teacher and students, including the practice conversation, the mini interview and writing kanji in traditional way. It seems everyone enjoys participating in the class.
I think the teachers are all responsible, they are patient in class. During the 2-week study, I've made friends with all my classmates and we played together after class. In class, the atmosphere then became relaxing. Each class, the teachers gave lectures on different topic and the contents of the class could be used in our daily life.
The course content is designed so well that we could apply what we've learnt in class to the daily life. Especially when ordering food, asking for direction and shopping. The teaching style is also great not only because the small class size but also the patience of every teacher. The class atmosphere is active composed with the interaction among the teacher and students, including the practice conversation, the mini interview and writing kanji in traditional way. It seems everyone enjoys participating in the class.
I think the teachers are all responsible, they are patient in class. During the 2-week study, I've made friends with all my classmates and we played together after class. In class, the atmosphere then became relaxing. Each class, the teachers gave lectures on different topic and the contents of the class could be used in our daily life.
Sustainable Urban Management (TOK 2)
Mitsubishi Ichigokan Garden
Gyoko-dori Ave. in front of Tokyo Station
The Industry Club of Japan
Voices
For the course content, first, it’s pretty diversified, including some engineering part, urban planning part and science part. Actually I didn’t expect TOK2 to have much relevance with my major, geology, at the very beginning, but it turned to a surprise for me because it did include some geoscience content, for example, the earthquake hazard part, the remote sensing part and the hydrogeology-related lectures. Specially, some good ideas expressed by the teachers impress me a lot and also bring me a lot of inspirations. For example, the idea ‘everyone can be disabled in some way’ impressed me. And the idea ‘renovation of historical constructions’ renewed my understanding about the preservation of old buildings. Second, I found that the course content is closely related to Japan, a lot of case studies based on Japan’s famous constructions are the proof. They make a lot of sense for me, since it was exactly one of our aims to learn more about Japan in this course at the beginning. Third, in addition to those lectures, we also had some field visit, I believe that most students, including me, enjoyed that a lot.
I really enjoyed every lecture given by different instructors in UTokyo. It was not only consistent with the course topic of sustainable urban management, but also unique to the contemporary social and environmental context of Japan, which was what I expected to learn during this summer program. For instance, in one of the lectures about the potential earthquake hazards on timber houses currently existing in Japan was a huge topic to be dealt with and a concerning problem that needs immediate attention and solution-seeking. Also, with the increasing number of aging structures and infrastructures all around the world, how current Japanese society are working on such issue could be inspiring to other countries and global cities that have also been facing such potential hazard. Moreover, other course contents like sustainable water supply and universal design for people with disability are all closely associated with the main theme of sustainability, which satisfied my original purpose for taking this class.
For the course content, first, it’s pretty diversified, including some engineering part, urban planning part and science part. Actually I didn’t expect TOK2 to have much relevance with my major, geology, at the very beginning, but it turned to a surprise for me because it did include some geoscience content, for example, the earthquake hazard part, the remote sensing part and the hydrogeology-related lectures. Specially, some good ideas expressed by the teachers impress me a lot and also bring me a lot of inspirations. For example, the idea ‘everyone can be disabled in some way’ impressed me. And the idea ‘renovation of historical constructions’ renewed my understanding about the preservation of old buildings. Second, I found that the course content is closely related to Japan, a lot of case studies based on Japan’s famous constructions are the proof. They make a lot of sense for me, since it was exactly one of our aims to learn more about Japan in this course at the beginning. Third, in addition to those lectures, we also had some field visit, I believe that most students, including me, enjoyed that a lot.
I really enjoyed every lecture given by different instructors in UTokyo. It was not only consistent with the course topic of sustainable urban management, but also unique to the contemporary social and environmental context of Japan, which was what I expected to learn during this summer program. For instance, in one of the lectures about the potential earthquake hazards on timber houses currently existing in Japan was a huge topic to be dealt with and a concerning problem that needs immediate attention and solution-seeking. Also, with the increasing number of aging structures and infrastructures all around the world, how current Japanese society are working on such issue could be inspiring to other countries and global cities that have also been facing such potential hazard. Moreover, other course contents like sustainable water supply and universal design for people with disability are all closely associated with the main theme of sustainability, which satisfied my original purpose for taking this class.
Japan in Today’s World (TOK 3)
Voices
The content have been very interesting and well structured. I came with a minimum of understanding about Asia and Japan. The discussions and group presentation helps me gain confidence that I have learnt a lot and I am ready to take my knowledge and arguments with me further out in the world to get the debate going. Also I am now better prepared for media coverage in Asia. I can be more critical, and also my baseline of understanding is much better making it easier and more interesting for me to keep eye on Japan in media.
Lecturers - I found the lecturers we had to be one of the most amazing aspect of the course due to various different reasons. Firstly, their engagement with the material and all students was evident. The topics were very well thought out and each lecturer brought a different aspect of the course to life, forming a holistic image of Japan's position within current affairs at the end of the week. The lecturers were amazing at engaging with the different nationalities in the classroom and relating each different point of view to the material studied, thus making this a truly global programme rather than a one-sided representation of events and theories. And secondly, all the lecturers had very unique styles of presenting the material and discussing it. This made the four to six hours that were spent in the lecture room very enjoyable rather than a chore.
The content have been very interesting and well structured. I came with a minimum of understanding about Asia and Japan. The discussions and group presentation helps me gain confidence that I have learnt a lot and I am ready to take my knowledge and arguments with me further out in the world to get the debate going. Also I am now better prepared for media coverage in Asia. I can be more critical, and also my baseline of understanding is much better making it easier and more interesting for me to keep eye on Japan in media.
Lecturers - I found the lecturers we had to be one of the most amazing aspect of the course due to various different reasons. Firstly, their engagement with the material and all students was evident. The topics were very well thought out and each lecturer brought a different aspect of the course to life, forming a holistic image of Japan's position within current affairs at the end of the week. The lecturers were amazing at engaging with the different nationalities in the classroom and relating each different point of view to the material studied, thus making this a truly global programme rather than a one-sided representation of events and theories. And secondly, all the lecturers had very unique styles of presenting the material and discussing it. This made the four to six hours that were spent in the lecture room very enjoyable rather than a chore.
Nanoscience (TOK 4)
Voices
Course content - Overall covered an excellent breadth of topics, though there was clearly more of a focus on the biochemical side of nanoscience. It was very interesting to hear from some many subject matter experts regarding their field. I also really liked how some of the lectures followed on quite tightly from the context provided in the initial pre-learning material. Course content was also quite engaging, though there were definitely times when it was harder to focus on certain topics because they were not in my area of interest. This is not a bad thing though! Because it exposed me to fields that I never would have otherwise thought about.
Lab tour is my favorite part in the program. Although for some reasons, some of the labs have not moved their equipment to current campus. I still find other labs interesting, especially the cleanroom. There are many differences between Tokyo University's cleanroom and ours in Peking University so it really attracts me a lot. I am interested in the different equipment and management method. Furthermore, I find many interesting posters on the way we move from one lab to another. I take it as an amazing windfall.
Course content - Overall covered an excellent breadth of topics, though there was clearly more of a focus on the biochemical side of nanoscience. It was very interesting to hear from some many subject matter experts regarding their field. I also really liked how some of the lectures followed on quite tightly from the context provided in the initial pre-learning material. Course content was also quite engaging, though there were definitely times when it was harder to focus on certain topics because they were not in my area of interest. This is not a bad thing though! Because it exposed me to fields that I never would have otherwise thought about.
Lab tour is my favorite part in the program. Although for some reasons, some of the labs have not moved their equipment to current campus. I still find other labs interesting, especially the cleanroom. There are many differences between Tokyo University's cleanroom and ours in Peking University so it really attracts me a lot. I am interested in the different equipment and management method. Furthermore, I find many interesting posters on the way we move from one lab to another. I take it as an amazing windfall.
Japanese culture experience (Day trip)
Hoto Noodle Lunch
Mt. Fuji 5th Station
Japanese Sake Brewery
Asakurayama Sengen Shrine
