電気通信大学 ASE II: Timelines of things from past to present & future・過去、現在、未来のタイムライン

Hello!

How are you? Today let's look at more ideas about the future, but from a different viewpoint - from timelines of things from the past to the present, and what we could imagine about the future. 

Look at the picture above. It comes from a magazine in the U.S. called Popular Science. It has been published for a long time, and this picture is from 1947. In one of their magazines from 1947, Popular Science had a report about the future. It imagined many things about it. From the picture, what do you see that it imagined about the future? Talk about it!

例えば：In the picture at the top, maybe they thought all our electricity (電気) would come from nuclear power plants (原子力発電所) in the future. 

Now look at this short video. It's the opening and closing credits to an animated cartoon from the early 1960s that was popular in the U.S. It was called The Jetsons and it was about an American family living in the future. What sorts of things do you notice in the video? 

What do you think of that? Every culture has its own ideas about what the future looks like. The Jetsons video clip plus the picture at the top are very some American ideas, especially after World War II and into the 1950s and 1960s, about what the future would look like. Would any of these ideas be the same as some Japanese ideas at that time about the future?  

Activity
Now how have some things developed and changed over time? Here are two (2) other short videos for all of you - one is about money, and the other, about cars. 

In a pair or group, choose one (1) video. Watch it and note how things have changed with the topic - either money or cars - over time. 

Then - get together with another pair or group who has watched a different video. With the other pair or group, compare and contrast (比較対照して) what you have seen in your video - and give each other some ideas about the future with the thing you watched about (either money, or cars). 

About money

About cars

Have fun! See you next time!

Image: Screenshot of illustration uploaded to Popular Science website. 

Uploaded for educational purposes only. I do not own the rights to this illustration. All rights reserved to the copyright holder(s). 
Videos uploaded from YouTube. I do not own the rights to the animation or other content within. All rights reserved to the copyright holders. Uploaded for educational purposes only.

東京理科大学 Listening & Speaking 1a: Totem poles・トーテムポール

Hello!

How are you? Look at the picture above. It's of a totem pole. What's a totem pole? 

Totem poles are unique to the Pacific coast native Americans and Canadian First Nations people in the U.S., in northern California, Oregon, Washington state, and southeast Alaska, and in Canada, in British Columbia. The totem poles tell stories, in picture carvings, about nature, events that happened, life, and other things important in the culture of the Pacific Coast people. 

Here are some more pictures and details of totem poles:

1.

2.

3.

4.

In the circle in pink on the map, here are the parts of the U.S. and Canada where the Pacific Coast indigenous people (先民族) are from: 

Discussion circles 
Here are the discussion circles questions and vocabulary about totem poles. 

Please remember that if there are only three (3) members in your group, the leader should also be the vocabulary master. The details master or summarizer should then ask the leader about vocabulary. 

Leader questions

For the summarizer

Are you ready to summarize the reading/CD talk? (Can you give us your summary of the reading/CD talk?) 

For the details master

1. What are totem poles?

2. Who made them, and where? 

3. What do totem poles show? 

4. What kind of characteristics are associated with bears? 

(Leaders - think of two (2) more questions of your own from the lecture or reading to ask the details master!)

For the vocabulary master

Who are First Nations people? 

What is a cedar? 

What does sneaky mean? 

What does determination mean? 

(Leaders - think of two (2) more words of your own from the lecture or reading to ask the vocabulary master!)

I hope this helps you with your understanding about this topic. 

Here are the board notes for our class today on 6/17:

See you next time!

Images: Top - by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:H - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Totem_Park_pole_1.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2405610/2. By Jerzy Strzelecki - http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3112590/3. By Mark Byzewski - 005 (2)a, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54628069/4. By User: Husky22 at wikivoyage shared, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23224106/Map - screenshot taken of photograph courtesy of the Harper College website.
I do not own the rights to the Harper College website image. All rights reserved to the original creator(s). Uploaded for classroom purposes only.

東京理科大学 Writing & Composition 1a: More on totem poles・トーテムポールの続く

Hello!

How are you? Today I will begin our new topic for all of you in Writing & Composition 1a - about totem poles. 

What are totem poles? They are the wood carvings made by the Pacific Coast native Americans and Canadian First Nations people in the U.S., in Northern California, the states of Oregon and Washington plus southeastern Alaska, and in Canada, in British Columbia. 

Activity/homework
Let's look at these totem poles pictures. What kinds of animals or other images do you see in them? Talk about these and make some guesses! 

1. 

2.

3.

4. 

5. 

I have posted some selected stories that students in my class last year all wrote on totem poles images. I was impressed with what they did on these and am sharing these to show their great work - and for you to compare your stories on totem poles to theirs. How do they compare?  

What do you think of these? Here's one: 

Once, there was a dog who was brave and fought against any difficulty. He always looked forward and wasn't terrified of anything. 

One day, he was walking along the river. He saw a cat who was teased by a lion. He tackled the lion and saved the cat from the lion. This story is told all over, and the pole for it symbolizes the dog's courage. 

That was great! Now here's another one:

There was a raven which flew over a village. One of the villagers carried some food, and was called over by another villager to talk a little. But he soon noticed that his baggage was a little lighter. The raven had robbed it! 

The leaders of the village decided to watch out for the raven, but at any moment it could steal it, it didn't miss it. 

Here's another!

Once there was a bird who was a liar. He sometimes deceived everyone, so he was disliked. One day, when he was flying around in the sky, his wings got damaged and he fell into the forest. He cried for help as loudly as possible, but no-one believed his words. 

Here's one more: 

Once there was a dog who was hungry. He didn't eat anything for a long time. 

One day, he walked especially heavily. Then, there was a big tree which had a lot of fruit. He wanted to eat it, but the tree was high, so he couldn't reach it. He tried to jump, but finally, he ran out of energy. 

The king of the trees, who watched the scene, felt sorry for the dog, so he thought of a good idea. The idea was for the dog to become a high tree which was situated next to the big tree with the fruit. 

So now, he became a totem pole which could reach for the fruit, and is enjoying a lot of fruit in heaven. 

So how did you like these stories? How would they compare with yours?

Take care!

Images: Top - by Jerzy Strzelecki - (Top) Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3112589/1. By Joshua Murdough - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28076326/2. By Jerzy Strzelecki - http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3112590/3. By Mark Byzewski - 005 (2)a, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54628069/4. By User: Husky22 at wikivoyage shared, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23224106/5. By Leonard Kaplan - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21638335

電気通信大学 ASE I: Accidents of science - the case of LSD・理科、研究の過失「LSDについて」

Hello!

How are you? To go with our reading today about the accidental discovery of LSD, here is a video of a song that many people felt was about the kind of drug experience that LSD creates. 

In the U.S., Britain, and Europe in the 1960s and 1970s, LSD became a popular drug amongst hippies and many other young people, and it influenced the popular music of the time. 

The rock concert poster above was typical of the time for its psychedelic imagery - the kind many people connected with LSD use.

While many believed that LSD was not harmful, the experiences of many young people at the time showed that it could be very harmful - especially in young people who might already have had delicate mental health. 

LSD became an example of a discovery in science that later became important in the cultural history of the late 20th century in many Western countries - often for the wrong reasons. 

Activity/homework
Listen to this song as many times as you want or need. You do not have to understand what it means - because the lyrics really do not make a logical story at all. But what do you think of it? What imagery do you get from the song that you find fantastic or impactful? How do you think it might fit with what Albert Hoffman's experience with LSD was? 

Make some notes about this and bring them in next week to share. 

Here are the board notes for our class on 6/4:

See you then!

Image: Screenshot of original image from https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57e1a12837c58156a98ba36d/t/57f5698e2e69cfd39f9ab989/1475701158908/pae-insiders-report.pdf 
I do not own the rights to the original image. not copyright infringement intended. All rights reserved to the copyright holder(s). Screenshot taken and uploaded for classroom use only. 
Board notes - personal photograph. All rights reserved.

Video uploaded from YouTube. I do not own the rights to the musical composition or the video. Uploaded for classroom purposes only. 

東京理科大学 Writing & Composition 1a: Totem poles・トーテムポール

Hello!

How are you? You might wonder what this picture is! It's of a totem pole (トーテムポール) taken in British Columbia in Canada in 1901. 

Totem poles are unique to the Pacific coast native Americans and Canadian First Nations people in the U.S., in northern California, Oregon, Washington state, and southeast Alaska, and in Canada, in British Columbia. The totem poles tell stories, in picture carvings, about nature, events that happened, life, and other things that impacted the Pacific Coast people. 

In the circle in pink on the map, here are the parts of the U.S. and Canada where the Pacific Coast indigenous people (先民族) are from: 

Activity/homework

Look at these pictures of parts of totem poles, with a whole totem pole at the bottom. What kinds of animals do you notice? What kinds of stories do you imagine they might tell? 

Here is an activity, or a piece of homework for you - write out a short account of what you believe one of these totem poles might be telling a story about. 

For example: Once there was an eagle who never rested. He was always flying around in the sky, and was always looking to test how strong he was. One day, when he was coming in low to some trees to pick at some nuts to eat, he saw a raven on a branch...

Share your stories with your classmates in the next class! 

Here are the board notes for our class on 6/3:

Have fun! See you next time!

Image: Top - by Philip Timms - http://www3.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca/spe/histphotos/histPhotoAdvancedSearch.html, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=842792/Map - screenshot taken of photograph courtesy of the Harper College website/First section of totem pole - by Jerzy Strzelecki - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3112590/Detailed section of totem pole - by Jerzy Strzelecki - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3112589/Full totem pole - by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:H - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Totem_Park_pole_1.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2405610
Board notes - personal photographs. All rights reserved. 
All rights reserved on Harper College map screenshot. I do not own the rights to the original photograph. Uploaded for educational purposes only.

電気通信大学 ASE II: The future・未来

Hello!

How are you? Today let's look at some ideas about the future (未来). 

Look at this short video. It's the opening and closing credits to an animated cartoon from the early 1960s that was popular in the U.S. It was called The Jetsons and it was about an American family living in the future. What sorts of things do you notice in the video? 

What do you think of that?

Now look at the picture above. It comes from a magazine in the U.S. called Popular Science. It has been published for a long time, and this picture is from 1947. 

In one of their magazines from 1947, Popular Science had a report about the future. It imagined many things about it. How many of these things have become real? 

Every culture has its own ideas about what the future looks like. The Jetsons video clip plus the picture at the top are very some American ideas, especially after World War II, about what the future would look like. Would any of these ideas be the same as some Japanese ideas at that time about the future?  

Activity

Let's look at these other pictures from the 1947 Popular Science article. What do you think they imagined in these pictures? 

例えば：In the picture at the top, maybe they thought all our electricity (電気) would come from nuclear power plants (原子力発電所) in the future. 

1. First - let's try to imagine what they thought in these pictures!

2. Next - let's see where these pictures came from with a report about them. Go to the Popular Science website here to find out!

Have fun! See you next time!

Images: Screenshots of illustrations uploaded to Popular Science website. 

Uploaded for educational purposes only. I do not own the rights to these illustrations. All rights reserved to the copyright holder(s). 
Video uploaded from YouTube. I do not own the rights to the animation within. All rights reserved to the copyright holder(s). Uploaded for educational purposes only.

特別ポスト: 東京理科大学 A英1 Totem pole short stories・トーテムポールの物語

Hello!

How are you? Today I have posted some selected stories that you all wrote on totem poles. I was impressed with what you did on these and am sharing these to show your great work! So let's start! 

Once, there was a dog who was brave and fought against any difficulty. He always looked forward and wasn't terrified of anything. 

One day, he was walking along the river. He saw a cat who was teased by a lion. He tackled the lion and saved the cat from the lion. This story is told all over, and the pole for it symbolizes the dog's courage. 

That was great! Now here's another one:

There was a raven which flew over a village. One of the villagers carried some food, and was called over by another villager to talk a little. But he soon noticed that his baggage was a little lighter. The raven had robbed it! 

The leaders of the village decided to watch out for the raven, but at any moment it could steal it, it didn't miss it. 

Here's another!

Once there was a bird who was a liar. He sometimes deceived everyone, so he was disliked. One day, when he was flying around in the sky, his wings got damaged and he fell into the forest. He cried for help as loudly as possible, but no-one believed his words. 

Here's one more:

Once there was a dog who was hungry. He didn't eat anything for a long time. 

One day, he walked especially heavily. Then, there was a big tree which had a lot of fruit. He wanted to eat it, but the tree was high, so he couldn't reach it. He tried to jump, but finally, he ran out of energy. 

The king of the trees, who watched the scene, felt sorry for the dog, so he thought of a good idea. The idea was for the dog to become a high tree which was situated next to the big tree with the fruit. 

So now, he became a totem pole which could reach for the fruit, and is enjoying a lot of fruit in heaven. 

I hope you could enjoy these and be proud of your work. Take care!

Images: Top & bottom - by Jerzy Strzelecki - (Top) Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3112589/(Bottom) - http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3112590   

東京理科大学 A英1: Totem poles・トーテムポール

Hello!

How are you? You might wonder about this long picture here! It's a totem pole (トーテムポール) brought to Seattle, in the U.S., in 1907. This old picture comes from that time. 

Totem poles are unique to the Pacific coast native Americans and Canadian First Nations people in the U.S., in northern California, Oregon, Washington state, and southeast Alaska, and in Canada, in British Columbia. The totem poles tell stories, in picture carvings, about nature, events that happened, life, and other things that impacted the Pacific Coast people. 

In the circle in pink on the map, here are the parts of the U.S. and Canada where the Pacific Coast indigenous people (先民族) are from: 

Activity/homework

Look at these pictures of parts of totem poles, with a whole totem pole at the bottom. What kinds of animals do you notice? What kinds of stories do you imagine they might tell? 

Here is a piece of homework for you - write out a short account of what you believe one of these totem poles might be telling a story about. 

For example: Once there was an eagle who never rested. He was always flying around in the sky, and  was always looking to test how strong he was. One day, when he was coming in low to some trees to pick at some nuts to eat, he saw a raven on a branch...

Share your stories with your classmates in the next class!

Have fun! See you next time!

Image: Top - By Photo not clearly credited. (Expired) copyright was W. D. Harney. - Artwork of Seattle and Alaska, 1907, W. D. Harney Photogravure Publisher, Racine, Wisconsin. Copied by taking a photograph of a page in a copy of the book at Seattle Public Library (Seattle Room of the Central Library); Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3762941/Map - screenshot taken of photograph courtesy of the Harper College website/First section of totem pole - By Jerzy Strzelecki - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3112590/Detailed section of totem pole - By Jerzy Strzelecki - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3112589/Full totem pole - By http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:H - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Totem_Park_pole_1.jpg, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2405610
All rights reserved on Harper College map screenshot. I do not own the rights to the original photograph. Uploaded for educational purposes only.