In their third year, Eicomi students take two required courses – Culture Today and Society Today – that focus on the integration of language and culture-related content. These courses allow students to build on the English skills and cultural knowledge they have gained in their second-year study abroad programs, whether at Showa Boston or at one of Showa’s partner universities around the world.
Each course focuses on a particular set of topics. Culture Today topics include art, media and family, while Society Today covers topics such as education, gender, and the environment. Both courses are taught completely in English and use a variety of authentic materials, including news articles, academic articles, TED Talks, and recorded interviews.
In Culture Today and Society Today, students have the opportunity to practice and develop all four skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) through class discussions, independent research, and group presentations. Activities often focus on comparing and contrasting cultures, which deepens students’ understanding of societies in various countries as well as Japanese society.