Category: Meeting

July 2018 SIETAR Kansai

A Workshop for Media Literacy:
Deciphering the Term, “Foreigners” as Reported by the Media

Presenter: ​Tomoyuki Tajima (Educator)
​​
Date: ​Sunday, July 29, 2018 (2:00pm~5:00pm)

Place: ​Takatsuki Shiritsu Shogai Gakushu Center, 3rd floor, Room 1
​​(10 minutes walk from JR Takatsuki station or Hankyu Takatsuki-shi Station. ​​​https://www.google.com/maps/place/Takatsuki+City+Lifelong+Learning+Center/@34.8471,135.6208698,1 ​​6z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xc87f56cef9be930!8m2!3d34.8465365!4d135.6174151
​​​​Tel. 072-674-7700

Fee: ​Free for members and students; 500 yen for non-members

Language: ​Japanese

Social event: There will be a dinner at a nearby restaurant afterwards. Reservations for dinner are required by Wednesday, July 25. Contact fujimotodonna@gmail.com

Description of the Presentation
We are surrounded by a wide variety of media such as TV, internet, mobile phones, newspapers, etc. How does the Japanese media portray messages about “foreigners” or “foreign countries”? To create a society that values diversity, it is vital to look critically at how the media portrays them. In the first half of this workshop, the speaker will explain how we can develop critical and creative perspectives about today’s media. In the latter half of the workshop, the participants will have the opportunity to engage in discussion to analyze “foreigners” in the media and to examine the relationship between us and the media.

Profile of the Presenter
Tomoyuki Tajima currently teaches at several universities, such as Kyoto Prefectural University and Kwansei Gakuin University. He is a board member of the NPO FTC Study Group of Media Literacy, and he is also involved in the activities of young people from multicultural backgrounds. Tajima is the co-author of Introduction to the New Study Guide of Media Literacy (Liberta Shuppan), and the co-translator of the book entitled, Curriculum for Media and Information Literacy for Teachers (UNESCO/AMILEC).

Jumy 2018 SIETAR Kansai

A Workshop for Media Literacy:
Deciphering the Term, “Foreigners” as Reported by the Media

Presenter: ​Tomoyuki Tajima (Educator)
​​

June 2018 SIETAR Kansai, JALT Osaka, & JALT Kyoto Joint Program

From Adversity to Advocacy: the power of sharing your stories

 

 

Presenters:      Tomomi Kumai (Intercultural Trainer & Transformative Education Coach)

                            Tyler/Takaya Kumai (7^th grade student currently living in Seoul, S. Korea)

Date:            Sunday, June 24, 2018  (2:00pm~5:00pm)

Place:            Takatsuki Shiritsu Shogai Gakushu Center, 3^rd floor, Room 1

                            (10 minutes walk from JR Takatsuki station or Hankyu Takatsuki-shi Station.                                   https://www.google.com/maps/place/Takatsuki+City+Lifelong+Learning+Center/@34.8471,135.6208698,1                                            6z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xc87f56cef9be930!8m2!3d34.8465365!4d135.6174151

                                           Tel. 072-674-7700

Fee:            Free for members and students; 500 yen for non-members.

Language:      Japanese / English

 

Social event:  There will be a dinner at a nearby restaurant afterwards.  Reservations for dinner required by Wednesday, June 20.  Contact fujimotodonna@gmail.com

 

 

Description of the Presentation

Universities in the U.S. are required to include a statement in their materials claiming that the institution is committed to the inclusion of students with disabilities and that it will make reasonable accommodations for them. This increasing awareness of students with challenges can certainly have an effect on schools and other institutions in other parts of the world. With this in mind, we have invited Tomomi Kumai and her son, Ty, to share their experiences of their family’s challenges.

Tomomi: “In January 2016, my son Ty’s life as a person with a disability began. Ty was diagnosed with a pediatric malignant brain tumor–medulloblastoma–and had to undergo brain surgery. The surgery left him in a wheelchair. After experiencing social challenges such as being discriminated when using public transportation, Ty and I decided to educate elementary school students by volunteering to read a book on special needs in their classrooms. We will introduce our story of grappling with illness and disability but also discuss the social challenges we faced being ill and later with a disability.”

This presentation will invite audience members to reflect on adversity in their own lives and consider what they can do for some populations who might have similar experiences. This process will also help educators think about various ways to include diversity in a learning environment and provide a safe place for all learners. The presentation will help children, parents, and educators identify issues and understand the importance of accepting and including differences and adversity, transforming them into opportunities to be proactive in advocating for advancement.

Profile of the Presenter

Tomomi Kumai is an intercultural trainer and transformative coach in South Korea, serving expatriates and international students in the US, Korea, and Japan. She was born as a Korean Japanese bicultural citizen in Hiroshima and earned a BA (San Diego State University) and MA (the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign) in Linguistics. Tomomi has lived, studied and worked for over 15 years outside Japan. Her mission: Connect, learn, and empower.

 

Tyler/Takaya Kumai is Tomomi’s 12-year-old son. Born in the USA, Ty spent 7 years in Japan and moved to Korea when he was eight. In 2016, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent brain surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. He is currently cancer-free and receiving physical therapy.

 

SIETAR Kansai May 2018

– Annual Field Trip – Bahá’í Faith

 

Sunday, May 13 – from 13:45 to 17:00

 

May is the month for our annual field trip. In the past we have visited the Kobe mosque, the Cathedral of St. Maria of Tamatsukuri of Osaka, the Buddhist community of Shinnyoen in Settsu-Tonda, Osaka, the Quaker community of Kansai and the Jewish synagogue in Kobe. This year our plan is to learn more about the Bahá’í faith.

The Bahá’í Faith is a religion which initially started in Persia (present day Iran) and parts of the Middle East. This faith addresses such essential themes as the worth of all religions and the oneness of humanity. It believes in freedom from prejudice, the fundamental equality of the sexes, the harmony between religion and science, and the importance of education. Racism and nationalism are openly rejected, and there is a strong belief in the goodness of community. Presently there are approximately 5-7 million adherents around the world.

We are fortunate to learn more about Bahá’í from severalpeople, among them, Mr. Bijan Dadfar and Mr. Amin Ghadimi, and we will meet in Amagasaki. You are invited to join our field trip. This is open to all who are interested, both SIETAR members and non-members alike.

 

We will meet at

13:45 noon

at the north exit of Hankyu Mukonoso Station.

(Language: English)

 

To sign up,

please contact Donna Fujimoto at fujimotodonna@@gmail.com

(the deadline is May 10)

In your email, write your full name, and cell phone. If you are interested in having dinner with us after our visit, be sure to write this in your email so we can make reservations.

The purpose of life and the development of spiritual qualities

(Japanese translation is in the below.)

 

SIETAR 関西　　　2018年度５月例会

フィールドトリップ：「バハイ信教」

5月13日（日）　－　13：45～17：00

毎年5月はフィールドトリップの開催月です。これまでに、神戸ムスリムモスク、大阪玉造聖マリア大聖堂、大阪府摂津富田の真如苑、関西のクエーカー集会、神戸のユダヤ教の会堂を訪問してきました。今年のフィードトリップでは、バハイ信教について深く学ぶことを計画しています。

バハイ信教は、ペルシャ（今のイラン）ほか、中東地域の一部で創始された宗教で、全ての宗教の価値を重んじることや人類の統一といった、本質的なテーマを取り扱っています。また、偏見からの解放、男女の基本的な平等、宗教と科学との調和、教育の重要性を教義としています。そして、人種主義や国家主義に対しては公然と反発し、共同体の良さというものを強く信じています。現在、世界全体で約500万から700万人の信者がいるとされています。

幸運にもこの度、Bijan Dadfar氏やAmin Ghadimi氏といった方々から、バハイ信教についてさらに詳しいお話を伺う機会に恵まれました。皆さんも尼崎でのフィールドトリップに参加してみませんか。SIETARの会員でも、非会員の方でも、関心のある方なら大歓迎です。当日は午後1時45分に、阪急電鉄「武庫之荘」駅北口にてお会いしましょう。(言語：英語)

参加ご希望の方は、氏名と携帯電話番号をご記載の上、Donna Fujimoto（fujimotodonna@@gmail.com）宛にメールにてお申し込みください。締め切りは5月10日です。また、訪問後の夕食にも参加を希望される方は、予約を致しますので、その旨をメールにお書き添えください。

人生の目的と精神の向上