In the First Year Japanese course, students are required to work in groups to complete a video podcast on a topic of their interest. Through this project, I hope to apply the Japanese language skills and cultural contexts learned thus far in the year in the visual presentation of content. This project is particularly meaningful because it encourages students to combine our creative, planning, and presentation skills in constructing a short video. We will be able to use and interact with the Japanese language to exchange our views, thoughts, and opinions with larger Japanese audiences. This will provide a solid foundation for improving our future Japanese oral and written communication.
In its common sense, communication involves the process of sharing ideas and messages with others in a particular time and place. In addition to writing and talking, communication can also include nonverbal forms such as facial expressions, body language, or gestures and visual expressions like images or pictures, art, photography, and video. In the past century, improvements in technology has permitted society to engage in communication in more electronic and digital forms, such as via the telephone, electronic mail, and television broadcasts. Communication is a vital part of personal life and is also important in business, education, and many social situations. I eagerly look forward to taking advantage of this podcast assignment opportunity to not only have fun but also further my understanding of Japanese language and culture.
