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Kobe Women's University

Academic Program and Program Dates

FIRST SEMESTER: ADVANCED ENGLISH FOR GLOBAL- LOCAL STUDIES

  • 1. Introduction to College Speech and Rhetoric (3 hours/week).
    The course helps students develop the confidence and ability to speak fluently about a variety of topics in American culture. As part of the course, students will be introduced to American discussion leaders, who will work with them in groups of 1 leader to 4 students for 4 hours/week, including one in-class hour.
  • 2. Critical Analysis through Literature (3 hours/week)
    The course focuses on developing advanced reading, vocabulary, and analytical skills through American literature that explores major social issues.
  • 3. Seminar in Academic and Professional Writing (3 hours/week)
    The courses focuses on developing fluency in written English and research skills.
  • 4. Sports courses (2 hours/week)
  • 5. Service Learning: Volunteer Activity (2 hours/week minimum)

POST SEMESTER SERVICE LEARNING: (10 weeks)

Following their first semester, students will select from a list of available organizations. They will be responsible for working 15-20 hours/week at the organization, maintaining a daily log of activities and observations, and meeting regularly with a Pitzer English Language faculty member who will supervise their activity and assign students assignments to generate critical reflection on the social issues related to their site. Students will prepare a PowerPoint presentation on their organization and a key global-local issue to bring back to Kobe Women’s University.

Housing and Meal Plan

Housing and Transportation
Kobe Women’s students will be accommodated with local host families during the duration of their stay. This will facilitate the greatest degree of cultural and linguistic immersion into American culture. A Pitzer International Programs staff member is responsible for selecting the families and guiding the homestay to successful completion for both the families and the students. Host families will provide transportation to and from the College on weekdays.

Meal Plan
Homestay families will provide breakfast and dinner on weekdays and three meals on the weekends. Students will eat five lunches per week on campus.

Opportunities for Learning through Experience

A hallmark of Pitzer’s programs for international students has been the high level of integration with regular students at the College. This has been achieved through orientation programs, the infrastructure for international student support at the Claremont Colleges, community service opportunities, and the naturally integrative nature of a small, private, liberal arts college.

Integrative Events and Opportunities
A variety of events designed to highlight the cultural, linguistic, and personal assets of our students in international programs are held each semester. They include:

  • • A Welcome-Welcome Back Dinner which brings together Pitzer students returning from study abroad and new international students at the College, along with faculty and staff for an evening of good food and conversation.
  • • An International Potluck for the PACE faculty and staff, discussion leaders, roommates, and international students to share food from around the world.
  • • In the fall, an International Banquet for the community featuring music, dance, and other performances by international students at the Claremont Colleges.
  • In the spring, an International Festival for the community featuring food, music, dance, and games organized by the international students at the Claremont Colleges.
  • • Weekly International Place Lunch and Conversations, featuring faculty from Claremont and visiting faculty speaking to prominent themes of international interest. The lunches are attended by about 150 students and faculty--- half international, half American.
  • • Student Clubs: Students may join one of the more than 50 clubs operating at the Claremont Colleges. They may also participate in credit or non-credit activities in the arts, such as concert choir, chamber orchestra, voice lessons, painting, sculpture, drawing, corporeal mime, ballet, salsa dancing, and jazz and modern dance. Golf, tennis, swimming, aikido, body building, yoga, horseback riding, scuba diving and a wide range of other physical sports are included in the on-line course listing of the five colleges and open to enrollment by students.
    www.pitzer.edu/student_affairs/clubs.asp

Advising

Kobe Women’s Student Specific Advising
Each student will be assigned two advisers. The first is a faculty member of our English as a Second Language Department, who will serve as their academic adviser and guide them in the selection of courses. The adviser will provide ongoing support as the student moves through the study abroad experience. The second adviser is our Program Coordinator, who will provide co-curricular and personal support for matters related to immigration, student life, and medical care.

Credits

Kobe Women’s will issue final credits for study done abroad based on a transcript provided by Pitzer College.

Fall Program 2010-2011

Tuesday, August 24, 2010 Student arrival in Claremont for orientation and welcome period
Tuesday, August 31, 2010 Classes begin
Monday, October 18 to
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Fall Break (no classes)
Thursday, November 25 to
Friday, November 26, 2010
Thanksgiving Break (no classes)
Friday, December 17, 2010 Last day of courses and exams
Saturday, December 18, 2010 to Sunday, January 2, 2011 Winter Break
Monday, January 3, 2011 to
Friday, March 11, 2011 (10 weeks)
Service learning in Claremont
Monday, March 14, 2011 Return to Japan