...another farewell (20/365, 20 Jan 2022)
Thursday, two classes each week, two seminar groups. Today, in the midst of a renewed call for a return to online classes tomorrow, was the last class (ever) for our fourth year students. They all succeeded in submitting their graduation dissertations yesterday so today was set aside for a last get-together, in class, as students. All have secured a job when the graduate in March, all ready to start in April.
The seminar system in Japanese unis is great and it is an innovation I'd like to see introduced in Australia. In recent years at home there has been a focus on 'first-year experience' but I was always concerned it then left first years a bit more vulnerable in their following years when the attention faded. I first experienced the system as an exchange student and again in graduate school, where the same seminar system was a feature of the teaching program.
Seminar classes here, given a typical Japanese degree is four years full-time, generally start in the second semester of second year and continue through until, like today, the students reach fourth year. For most, it culminates in the submission of a dissertation that in theory, they have been studying and researching for two or so years. Most seminars have a theme based on the lecturer's research interests, and given mine encompass Japanese politics very broadly defined, students usually find something they are interested in.
Typically, we meet once a week, sometimes students will present their research or their findings, we might read books with a common theme of interest, share news analysis and so on. For many students it is the key group of their uni experience besides their club activities.
Typically, also, over two years, we would normally go on a 'gasshuku', a trip somewhere to the mountains or to the sea, to spend a little time studying, a little time bonding. Perhaps an occasional evening out after class. Unfortunately due to Covid restrictions, we weren't able to do any of those things. Indeed, this group have spent half of their university experience under Covid restrictions, a lot of time learning online and that was a common theme today in their final comments. It is a bit sad, it would have been a great group to spend a few days away with. On the other hand, they have come out of the experience with a lot of maturity.
So as our last class today, there was a lot of reminiscing, a lot of laughter, and gifts shared. Today's pics are the flowers and the wonderful card they made, the reverse side with all their personal messages.
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| How interesting are these ones? |
It is my fourth seminar group to graduate since I started teaching here. It is a happy-sad day. Every time.
Today's pics snapped with the iPhone 12 mini, in my office, after a few tears were wiped away, perhaps.
Normal transmission should resume tomorrow, actually, I don't know really, for tomorrow we go back to a quasi-restriction period. Back to online classes for the remaining two weeks.
