ASIA 1104 - Introduction to Asian Cultures

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2024

How can Australian students begin to understand what happens when they go to China, Japan or other Asian countries? How can Asian students better understand the often unspoken differences between what they are used to at home and what often happens to them in Australia? This course can help. Introduction to Asian Cultures introduces first year students to some of key cultural features of China and Japan (and East Asia more generally) and provides explicit concepts and explanations about aspects of Asian culture they are likely to experience. This approach is about providing tools for understanding and adjustment as well as more effective communication. ASIA 1104 examines the ways in which these difference are reflected in language, social interactions, love & friendship etc. The nature of personal relations and business will also be explored while the ways that culture can influence government-to-government relations and diplomacy may also be discussed. Along the way, the course teaches the key differences between description and analysis. This course is also a great preparation for ASIA 2007 Cultures and Identities in second year.

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Course Details

Course Code	ASIA 1104
Course	Introduction to Asian Cultures
Coordinating Unit	Asian Studies
Term	Semester 1
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 3 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Assessment	Experience Description & Analysis 15%, Film Scene Description & Analysis 25%, Research Essay 40%, Homework Exercises & Notebook 20%

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Gerry Groot

Dr Gerry Groot
Department of Asian Studies
School of Social Sciences
Room 638A Kenneth Wills Blgd
Ph 83134312

Dr Shoko Yoneyama
Department of Asian Studies
School of Social SciencesRoom
638 Kenneth Wills Blgd
Ph 83135187

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

1 x 1 hour - Lecture + 1 x 2 hours - workshops

Course Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1	Obtain knowledge and understanding of Chinese, Japanese and other Asian societies and cultures
2	Integrate theoretical knowledge with empirical evidence
3	Learn to engage with the ideas and perspectives of other learners
4	Learn to analyse issues in Asian societies and culture critically and creatively
5	Come to understand how culture can influence social, economic and diplomatic activity
6	Learn analytic skills for developing and defending an argument
7	Develop skills in synthesising and contextualising new information
8	Develop academic writing skills
9	Develop visual analysis and interpretation skills

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1,5
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	2,3,6, 7
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	3
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	5
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	1
Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.	.
Attribute 7: Digital capabilities Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.	.
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	6

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Students must have an A4 Notebook or relevant digital equivalent for noting all lectures, workshops and readings. (See Notebook and Participation in Assessment)

Recommended Resources

MyUni and Turnitin will be used extensively with additional materials and sources supplied as developed by the coordinators. Course readings will be online on MyUni

Online Learning

MyUni/Canvas will be used extensively in this course but your ability to use video resources from the Barr-Smith Library and find others online using Youtube, Youku and others.
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

Lectures will provide students with the background necessary to understand and respond to the Workshops. These will involve case studies and video materials explaining the history, theories and concepts behind cultural attitudes and their manifestations.

When possible, the experience of international students will be used to personalise, dramatise and make salient the behaviours and customs under discussion.

The assessments stress the use of concepts learned in lectures and derived from the Course Reader and applying these to explain examples of common behaviours. In many cases this means analysing film and video clips. On occaision, field trips will be used to the same effect.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

TOTAL HOURS = 1 x 1 - hour lectures per week = 12 hours per semester
1 x 2 - hour Workshop per week = 24 hours per semester +

Extracurricular - App. 6 hours reading per week = 72 hours per semester + 2 hours research per week 24 hours per semester
2 hours assignment preparation per week - 24 hours per semester

TOTAL = App 156 hours per semester

Learning Activities Summary

1 - Introduction: about Introduction to Asian Cultures
2 - Knowing yourself - culture, identity and Culture Shock
3 - Communicating - language and learning
4 - Friendships
5 - Knowing ones' place - heirarchy and authority
6 - Hierarchy and Authority (Confucianism etc.)
7 - Business, Work & Money (China)
8 - Business, Work & Money (Japan)
9 - Love and Sex (Gender relations, foreign vs local, marriage, attitudes to sex, LGBT issues)
10 - Religion and Spirituality (Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Shinto inc. death & ghosts)
11 - Culture & International Relations – The Use of History, Humiliation, Apologies and Pride
12 -Summary

Subject to change depending on circumstances.

Specific Course Requirements

Field trips may be scheduled instead of lectures if deemed suitable and/or practical.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

ASSESSMENT TASKS

Assessment Task	Task Type	Due	Weighting	Learning Outcome
Participation & Notebook	Formative & Summative		20%
Homework Exercises	Formative & Summative		40%
Take-home Exam which may include film/video clip analysis.	Formative & Summative		40% App 2000 words

Assessment Detail

No information currently available.

Submission

All Assignments except the Notebook, will be submitted online via MyUni.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

Negotiating Asia was first offered in 2016.
It received outstanding evaluations from students for its use of blogs and film analysis, the effectiveness of its workshops and the nature of its assignments. The key weakness which became apparent towards the end of the course was the lack of emphasis on adequate frameworks which resulted in too many students failing to develop observations to the extent that they could be used to undertake deeper analysis. The fact that both an expert on China and Japan took the lectures and the workshops was especially well received though as in 2017, this not always possible but depends on staff availability. In 2017 Dr Yoneyama is on leave.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
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Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator