December, 2016 Pursue your cultural/academic interests and develop your career at K-STEP Kokugakuin Short-Term Exchange Program Kokugakuin University, Tokyo, Japan Six-Month / One-Year Special Program in Japanese Language and Culture/Society To respond the needs for better understanding of Japan, its language, people, and culture, Kokugakuin University in Tokyo sponsors the Kokugakuin Short-Term Exchange Program (K-STEP). This program allows a selected group of international exchange students to receive an enhanced experience of Japan while studying in a Japanese university environment, just fifteen minutes' walk distance from the core of Shibuya, which has achieved great popularity among today's youth culture of Tokyo. • September, 2017– August, 2018 (Two Semesters, One-Year Program) K-STEP 2017-2018: or • September, 2017– February, 2018 (One Semester, Six-Month Program) Overview of Kokugakuin University Established: 1882 With a history of 134 years, Kokugakuin Faculties: Faculties of Letters, Law, Economics, University has been one of Japan's best-known Shinto Studies, and Human Development traditional private universities. The university Academic Degrees: B.A., M.A, Ph.D. features academic schools and programs in Campuses: Shibuya (Tokyo), Tama-Plaza areas ranging from Japanese history, literature, (Yokohama) culture and folklore to Shinto studies, regional Student body: Approximately 10,500 http://www.kokugakuin.ac.jp studies, economics, and law. URL: Overview of K-STEP 1. MISSION STATEMENT courses taught in English. Students may be The mission of the Kokugakuin Short-Term required to join activities, fieldtrips and excursions Exchange Program (K-STEP), is to provide the for better understanding of Japan and Japanese highest quality of Japanese language instruction to culture. students of higher levels of Japanese proficiency. Completion of this program is designed to endure the This pre-packaged program also offers students to meet cultural expectations of Japanese credit-bearing coursework that integrates society. international students into regular undergraduate 1 K-STEP / Kokugakuin University, Japan 2. PERIOD OF STUDY withdrawing a class(es) will be an option only with our consultation. Students may elect to study for one semester (six months) or two successive semesters (one year). Each The courses noted below are offered during the Fall semester is composed of classes lasting a total of and Spring semesters. Although the general titles of fifteen weeks, interspersed with holidays and subjects remain the same for each semester, actual extra-curricular activities over the six-month contents are different. The level of Japanese language semester period. classes in Spring semester will be more advanced than that for Fall semester. For more details, see K-STEP course syllabus. Academic Calendar lthough the level of the K-STEP Japanese Fall Semester, 2017（Subject to Change） A Language classes will be adjusted depending on the Suggested Arrival Day※ September 14 or 15 abilities of students attending each semester, knowledge of the Japanese hiragana and katakana Orientation September 19 and 20 syllabizes, and ability at basic short–sentence Class Starts September 21 conversation are assumed of all entering K-STEP students. Lack of any knowledge of Japanese may New Year’s Holidays December 26 to January 5 also severely inhibit successful adjustment to Classes Resume January 6, 2017 everyday life in Japan. Semester Ends January 22 NOTE: Commencement January 26 Numerals in parentheses ( ) refer to the number of 90-minutes class meetings held per a week during semester. ‘E’ indicates that the class is taught in English. Other classes ※ Set the arrival date on Thursday, 14th of are taught using a combination of Japanese and English, or September, 2017 (second preferable date is Friday, Japanese only depending on students’ proficiency level. 15th). Arrival time must be between 8:00a.m. - ‘★’ indicates that the class may include regular matriculated 4:00p.m. Otherwise, we cannot guarantee for picking students. you up at the International Airport. Fall Semester Spring Semester, 2018（Subject to Change） （Subject to Change） Classes: Orientation March 29 and 30 ◦ Japanese Language (8) Class Starts April 5 ◦ Japanese Religion and Culture I (1) E ◦ History of Modern Japan I (1) E ★ Golden Recess May 2– May 6 ◦ Intro. to Japanese Culture & Society I (1) E ★ Classes Resume May 7 ◦ Japanese Economy & Society (1) E ★ Semester Ends July 24 Activities: ◦ Japanese Traditional Sports Commencement July 27 ◦ Understanding of Japanese Culture 3. COURSEWORK Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Japanese K-STEP is a pre-packaged program that has three Language (3) different elements; Japanese Japanese Japanese Japanese 1) Intensive Japanese language classes, Language Language Language Language 2) Coursework on Japanese culture and society Japanese Japanese Japanese Understandi Japanese taught in English that may be integrated into Economy & Language Language ng of Language regular undergraduate course Society Japanese 3) Activities, such as Japanese traditional sports and History of Introduction to fieldtrips for better understanding of Japan and Culture Modern Japanese Culture Coffee Hour Japanese culture. (Fieldtrips) Japan I* and Society I* Students are expected to take ALL the courses that Traditional Introduction Sports in to Japanese are pre-packaged for K-STEP. Because K-STEP is your eligibility guarantor as an international student, Japan Religion I 2 December, 2016 Typical excursions and field trips scheduled for Spring Semester every year. Classes: *Subject to Change* ◦ Japanese Language (8) Fall Semester ◦ Japanese Religion and Culture II (1) E ★ ◦ History of Modern Japan II (1) E ★ Oct. Tea Ceremony Nov. Experience Tori-no-Ichi ★ ◦ Intro. to Japanese Culture & Society II (1) E Visit Open-Air Folk Class with Public Junior Oct. Dec. Houses Museum High School Activities: ◦ Japanese Traditional Sports Japanese Pottery Nov. Dec. Visit Ukiyoe Museum ◦ Understanding of Japanese Culture Workshop Visit Edo Tokyo Nov. Jan. Experience Sumo Match Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Thu. Museum Japanese Japanese Japanese Japanese Language Language Language Language Spring Semester Japanese Japanese Japanese Japanese Soba Noodle making Class with Public Language Language Understan Language Language April June Workshop Elementary School ding of Introduction History of Enjoy Japanese Japanese to Japanese Coffee April Visit Tatami Shop June Modern Flowers Culture Culture and Hour Japan II* (Fieldtrips) Experience Kabuki Society I* May Kimono Experience July Performance Traditional Introduction Sports in to Japanese Visit Life-Safety May Tea Ceremony (2) July Japan Religion II* Learning Center In the case of these excursions and field trips, 4. ACTIVITIES students are responsible for the cost of transportation. Admission fees will be covered by Kokugakuin University. Depending on the nature of the event, eginning from 2014, to expand its flexibilities of B excursions may be guided by international exchange scheduling and the range of participants, both staff members and/or faculty instructors. ‘Japanese Traditional Sports’ and ‘Understanding of Japanese Culture’ has been placed as ‘Activities.’ These activities are still the core of K-STEP, and students are all expected to participate. Japanese Traditional Sports This activity will provide students basic knowledge Excursions and Field Trips and practice of traditional martial arts in Japan, such as Kendo, Kyudo, and Karate. General features of activities, ‘Understanding of Insurance Policy Japanese Culture’, are the various opportunities for field trips to off-campus cultural and educational sites for direct, ‘hands-on’ experience of Japan. Field trips For your safety, additional insurance for sports are often arranged by individual instructors in activity will be required for all students regardless of conjunction with class room lectures. his/her participation in activities. Insurance fee will be around JPY 3,000 for each semester, and will be corrected at the beginning of each semester. 3 K-STEP / Kokugakuin University, Japan Exams (2 per semester) 50 % 5. OTHER ACTIVITIES Presentation Session 20 % Performance /Attendance 30 % Numerous campus activities are available each year Students’ class performance and completion of that allow international exchange students to interact assignments are evaluated within “Performance.” with Japanese Kokugakuin students. Many campus Class attendance is also used to evaluate final grades. clubs welcome international students and provide an excellent means of making long lasting friendships as well as gaining insights to the atmosphere and culture Transfer Credits of Japanese university life. Kokugakuin suggests a number of credits for each course, but students must consult with their own Japanese Conversation Partners university regarding policies for the conversion and transfer of credits if they wish to apply work done at Kokugakuin to their home university’s graduation In addition to the individual relationship you build requirements. up by yourself, Kokugakuin arranges a Japanese Conversation Partners and Friendship Family for K-STEP students. Japanese conversation partner will be typically a Kokugakuin undergraduate student who meets the exchange student for regular non-curricular sessions that allow the exchange student to practice Japanese conversation. Friendship Family A friendship family is a volunteer Japanese family who welcomes exchange students for occasional home visits or