UCO Sociology Concludes Transformative Study Tour to Japan
Liberal Arts News and Events
July 8, 2024
UCO Sociology students during study tour to Kyoto, Japan
UCO Sociology faculty during study tour to Kyoto, Japan
The UCO Sociology program recently concluded a transformative study tour to Japan as part of the Applied Intercultural Competencey course. From May 23 to June 1, 2024, Nicole Warehime, Ph.D., professor of sociology, and Jared Scism, M.Ed., director of the Center for Global Competency/Global Learning, guided 30 students through an immersive educational experience designed to deepen their understanding of intercultural competence. The instructors guided students through the bustling cities of Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo. Students explored key cultural and historical sites, including the Ryoan-ji Temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Fushima Inari-aisha Shrine, Kiyomizudera, Meiji Shrine and participated in a Samurai Experience.
Objectives
The primary objective of the Applied Intercultural Competencey course is to provide students with a profound understanding of Japanese culture, history, and art while developing intercultural competency skills. The course aims to:
- Experience contemporary metropolitan culture in Japan, blending historical preservation with modern life and tourism;
- Acquire basic knowledge about Japan’s transformation from pre- and post-World War II;
- Reflect critically on experiences of interacting with a diverse, intercultural world;
- Combine formal classroom learning with experiential learning through doing and seeing;
- Gain new perspectives on city layouts and everyday public life by navigating Japanese cities via public transportation independently;
- Provide Japanese language learners with opportunities to use their skills and expose students with no world language experience to a new linguistic environment; and
- Build confidence for future international travel and adventures.
Preparation and Cultural Immersion
To prepare for the cultural and academic aspects of the tour, students participated in four pre-departure meetings to discuss expectations. Additionally, they completed the CulturaGo Japan online program, which focuses on themes such as staying curious, connecting with oneself, celebrating identities, embracing worldviews, communicating with others, and honoring mistakes.
Enhancing Intercultural Competence
The tour significantly enhanced students’ understanding of intercultural competence. Based on the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI)®, the majority of students increased their intercultural competency scores on the continuum. The IDI is a widely used and effective cross-culturally valid assessment for building cultural competence.
Student Experiences and Testimonials
Students shared memorable experiences from the tour, with many highlighting visits to cultural sites and interactions with Japanese “buddies” from the Japan College of Foreign Languages. These experiences fostered life-long friendships and a deeper appreciation for Japanese culture. One notable anecdote includes a student experiencing their first hotel stay, and for several, it was their first time leaving Oklahoma, flying on an airplane or traveling outside the United States.
Learn more about the UCO Department of Sociology, Gerontology and Substance Abuse Studies at uco.edu/soc.