New publication: "English Education and Bilingual Education in Japan." Bilingual Japan, 33(1), 9-13. JALT (Japan Association for Language Teaching) Bilingualism SIG (Special Interest Group).
The Japan Times quoted the author extensively in a recent article on bilingual education. The reporter agreed to share the full interview. Asked why the level of English in Japan remains low, the author goes well beyond the standard explanations to diagnose deep cultural barriers. Then the author defines bilingual education, cites a successful example in Japan, and suggests balancing the input and opportunities for communication in Japanese and English. Next, the author touches upon current trends stemming from parental and societal recognition of the value of becoming bilingual. Finally, the author tackles the populist slogan that the Japanese do not need foreign languages, presenting individuals with a choice of lesser or greater freedom.
My new article "English Education and Bilingual Education in Japan" is now a Research Spotlight article at ResearchGate, such that members may add comments or questions -- after reading the article -- at https://www.researchgate.net/spotlight/66797ca826fd1df03709c0d1
Shorter ABSTRACT: The Japan Times quoted the author extensively in a recent article on bilingual education. This full interview with references briefly defines bilingual education, cites a successful example in Japan, and gives deep insights into the changing society as well as cultural barriers to English education.
Another exciting opportunity to join our department: Incoming Prof. Dr. Jing Zeng is looking for a #PhD student with a background in #computational#communication science 👩🏻💻
What does AI have to do with bratwurst and how do you interview a blob? A look behind the scenes of my podcast and why I interview the more-than-human world. But how the hell and why do you interview a bat and a cactus? https://www.cronenburg.net/scicomm/@writers
The learning curve was steep but exciting. It brought me back to what I’ve been preaching for umpteen years: make your own web space the anchor of your actions!
I'm back with blogging and new plans believing in decentralised networking: https://www.cronenburg.net/blogging/@writers
"Dark MAGA: The Latest Cycle in the Far-Right Aesthetics Laundromat" by Tim Squirrell (2022).
"Many people reading about the latest development in right-wing extremist aesthetics might think little of it or find it laughable – after all, Dark MAGA attempts to make a septuagenarian former President look cool and edgy. The problem with this reaction is that it both writes off the movement as fundamentally unserious – which it is not – and allows for further amplification by journalists and others who cover Dark MAGA as light news."
Did you know that before they were making razors, @PhilipsNorelco
made intercom systems? Neither did we! The image of the day shows the Norelco S1 (left and the Norelco S2 (right), ca. 1960s.
Distance works in time as well as space. Frequency of contact indicates closeness, so contacting someone often can be a transgression. Rather than 'getting to know you better,' they can maintain the same distance as the circumstances when you first met. Thus, many foreigners say they can't make friends with Japanese.
Much use of silence. Large private self vs. small public self. The same act, such as posting one's photo & real name online, falls into the public #self of Westerners but the private self of Japanese.
Most Japanese are undemonstrative of emotions & affection. Standing close or touching them can easily be taken as a sexual or presumptuous invasion of their private realm.
Japanese feel personal space palpably. They make a cutting #gesture when passing someone closely.
Mastering Communication: Fourth Edition
This book is for anyone wanting to improve their communication skills and knowledge of how communication works in organizations. It provides guidance on telephoning and text messaging, interviewing, meetings, giving presentations, speaking in public, letter and report writing, emailing and netiquette, visual and non-verbal communication.
🎓 Webinar: Video Games as a Violence Prevention Tool
In this webinar, the founder and executive director of the ngo Jennifer Ann's Group will discuss how video games can be utilized to teach consent, healthy relationships, and resilience.
Join us to hear about this organization’s mission and work, and how these strategies can be used for violence prevention work with youth.
📆 Oct 19th 10:30AM-12PMPST / 1:30-3PM EST
Free and open to everyone! ASL interpreters will be present.
"U.S. Culture and Multiculturalism": A longtime professor in Japan looks back at the U.S. in terms of culture. See this self-explanatory slideshow for Thai and Japanese university participants on what culture is, world cultures and values, and comparative culture. For example, you can see intercultural communication research findings on where the U.S., Japan, and Thailand stand on the cultural dimension of individualism vs. collectivism. The presentation aims for objectivity, so you can draw your own conclusions: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374143089_US_Culture_and_Multiculturalism
CBI Image of the Day: A West Germany radio telescope at Effelsberg, measuring at 300 ft across, was built in the 1970s to monitor telemetry from Germany’s first deep space probe satellite, Helios. Data collected was decoded by a dual-processor minicomputer system from Interdata.
People wrongly assume that Autistic people are asocial or anti-social. In my book "The New Normal" I make the case that we are AuSocial with our own cultural and social practices.
“Mass #propaganda discovered that its audience was ready at all times to believe the worst, no matter how absurd, and did not particularly object to being deceived because it held every statement to be a lie anyhow. The totalitarian mass leaders based their propaganda on the correct psychological assumption that, under such conditions, one could make people believe the most fantastic statements one day, and trust that if the next day they were given irrefutable proof of their falsehood, they would take refuge in #cynicism; instead of deserting the leaders who had lied to them, they would protest that they had known all along that the statement was a lie and would admire the leaders for their superior tactical cleverness.”
― Hannah Arendt, "The Origins of Totalitarianism" #quotes#mediaStudies#commOdon#truth#agnotology#history