“  Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think   ” -Albert Einstein.

Critical Thinking

I have designed my courses to promote 'critical thinking' because I view critical thinking as a way of life. Through critical thinking we become aware of and question the common-sense notions that govern our thinking and communication. As a result, we discover how our society is part of a more powerful system that feeds on the easy manipulation of ignorant masses. The system needs people to believe in and adhere to the common-sense notions that bind them together because that helps the power structure stay in place. Critical thinking helps us identify the power structure and realize that things are not as they seem to be. This realization helps fuel change and growth. 
​Japanese school education has a reputation of steering students' thinking in one direction, often emphasizing 'what' to think rather than 'how' to think. This makes it easier for students to accept common sense notions rather than question them, hence reducing their willingness to change, which can hamper the growth of the individual and ultimately the society. ​

COURSES

This bilingual (English/Japanese) course aims to promote critical thinking through popular culture, mainly films, music, news media, and social networking. This course will help create in-depth awareness about the role of popular culture in society with discussions on how popular culture influences our communication and behavior. ​

Student output

Language: English
In this specialized English course, students learn about different concepts related to their major in English. I teach history, political science, and economics students. Students discuss about political, economic and topics related to history and make presentations based on those topics in English.
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STUDENT OUTPUT

Language: English
This class is designed to help students learn "critical thinking" in English, which is important for communication in daily life. By learning a variety of critical thinking skills in a practical way, students will be able to question the common sense they have unconsciously acquired.​​

STUDENT OUTPUT

​This bilingual (English/Japanese)course is designed to inculcate awareness about problems related to intercultural communication, often overlooked, because we tend to accept things the way they are. By developing a critical insight, students will be able to discover the politics and power relations that are subtly embedded in many cross-cultural communication situations.​

STUDENT OUTPUT