Miyazaki International University Moodle

This is a place for students to get extensive listening in the form of podcasts on topics related to class textbooks and other relevant themes.

The ultimate objective of CE courses is to prepare students for upper division courses at MIC. Students must achieve minimum scores on standardized exams from outside bodies in order to proceed to their junior year. This typically requires successfully taking three CE courses. By the end of each course, students will have mastered the knowledge and skills specified in the prescribed textbook as well as any supplemental materials provided by individual professors.

Philosophy is an ancient subject and an important one. The great philosophers have shaped the way we think about ourselves and the world around us. Philosophers ask fundamental questions, and while in everyday life, we take their ‘obvious’ answers for granted, in philosophy, we stop to think about them and to carefully analyse answers. This course provides an introduction to philosophy and to the kinds of questions it asks and answers. Students will examine and reflect upon some of the most central questions in metaphysics, philosophy of mind, epistemology, and ethics, such as: What is space? What is time? What is consciousness? Can computers think? What is knowledge? Can we be certain of anything? What makes an action right or wrong? Can we get morally lucky?

The aim of this course is for students (1) to gain basic knowledge of some of the most central ideas and core problems in philosophy, (2) to develop analytic and critical thinking skills through gaining familiarity with philosophical method, and (3) to be able to utilise basic philosophical terms and concepts.

This is the moodle for LAS 105. You can find resources and upload assignments here.

This is the moodle for CE 3-3. You will find some assignments here and some extra resources for things that we do in class. Please ask if you have any questions.

Hello everyone! 

My name is Rebecca Schmidt and I will be your Academic English instructor.  Let's have a good time reading and writing, learning vocabulary, and discussing interesting stories. My goal is to help you learn to love reading and writing and see it as an endless adventure of knowledge and imagination.  Another goal is to help you develop good learning strategies and study skills that will further help you study English on your own for a lifetime. 

I look forward to getting to know all of you better. 

Please get used to using an English-English dictionary. Please avoid translators for learning new words. I recommend using Longman's Learner's Dictionary https://www.ldoceonline.com/

You may email me anytime at rschmidt@miu.ac.jp.  My office is room 1-401. My office hours are Mondays 2:00- 5:00.  If you want to meet at another time, please email me. It is very important that you read your emails!!

Although I try to answer emails as soon as I can, I cannot promise to respond immediately to emails sent after 5:15 and before 8:30 or on the weekends.  You may send them, but please be patient if the reply takes time.  

I am looking forward to getting to know you even better.

Let's make learning fun!

The course introduces students to basic features of the English language (listening, pronunciation, spoken fluency, vocabulary, grammar, discourse competence, politeness) and evaluates how different study methods can be used to make improvements in these areas.

The course will serve as an introduction to linguistic topics such as phonology, phonetics, and speech perception and their applications to the the teaching of pronunciation.

Topics of study include:

Academic English (AE) is a four-skills course focussing on Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP), or academic proficiency (see references below). The courses are offered every semester at different CEFR levels.

This second semester course continues to challenge students to develop their reading skills through the use of in-class timed readings and comprehension questions, intensive readings with comprehension and vocabulary building activities, and extensive reading conducted mostly outside of class time. Homework consists of reading for meaning, for pleasure, and for the purpose of vocabulary building. Students also engage with software to work on extensive reading, to develop critical reading skills, and to build and practice vocabulary.

This course introduces the literary genres – prose (short stories), poetry, and drama – with an emphasis on developing reading, speaking, and writing skills through the analysis, interpretation, and production of fictional texts. Our emphasis will be to experience literature using active, co-operative methods in order to learn how to respond to literature in ways that are both critically informed, expressive and creative.

Introduces initial basic proficiency in fluency and accuracy in spoken English. Develops fluency in basic oral expression. Develops reading skills through regular reading practice. Introduces writing skills form the paragraph level. Introduces vocabulary for academic purposes.

The course develops fluency in basic oral expression through various active learning methods such as pair-work, brainstorming, group discussions, games and activities, role-plays, presentations and active listening. Students are expected to record conversations focusing on a main functional objective with minimal planning and notes while utilizing conversation strategies.

Introduces basic theories of economics. Topics covered may include: economics as a science; production, specialization and exchange; demand and supply; elasticity; utility; output and costs; industry structure; factor markets; business cycles; national output and macro-economic policies; market failure; and international trade.

Surveys the masterpieces of Japanese Art from pre-history to the present, emphasizing the interplay between Japanese and Chinese cultural traditions.

Through comparing and contrasting Japanese and international/ traditional and contemporary art, JAC 204 encourages students to develop a critical awareness of the roots and evolution of some of the greatest works of Japanese art.

Students read texts that are related to the cultures of English-speaking countries around the world, especially the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The learning goals include increased reading comprehension of academic English texts, habitual use of a number of reading strategies, mastery of certain grammatical and lexical forms, increased reading fluency and the acquisition of dictionary skills.

Ethics is a field of study which concerns itself with the question of how one should act in a given situation: What is right and wrong? What is morally good and evil? In a wider sense, ethics seeks to answer the question first posed by Socrates: How may we live the morally good life? This course provides a comprehensive introduction to ethics. Students will examine and reflect upon some of the most central questions in moral philosophy, such as the following: What are the major ethical theories, and how do they relate to the varied kinds of moral problems that confront us in our lives? What reason is there for one to live a moral life? Is there one universal moral theory or are morals specific to particular cultures or even individuals? Is the rightness or wrongness of an action tied to its consequences? Is pleasure the only moral good or is virtue also central in determining morality?

The aim of this course is for studentss (1) to attain a basic understanding of a range of moral theories, (2) to gain a critical outlook regarding their approach to moral issues, (3) to be able to employ ethical concepts, (4) to be able to analyse the moral implications of real life issues, and (5) to gain a greater appreciation for the cultivation of basic human values such as personal responsibility, tolerance, and integrity.

Explore the dynamic relationship between tourism and information technology in this introductory course. Learn about tourist statistics, types of information technology shaping the industry, and the roles of online booking systems, mobile applications, social platforms, and review websites. Discover emerging trends in smart tourism and virtual tourism, gaining insights into their impact on destination management andtraveler experiences.

This is the course moodle for English Through Presentation and Debate. The aim is to improve your speaking skills and confidence. You will find assignments and links here.

This course examines various themes, approaches, and genres in American literature, and relates this literature to its historical, cultural, and social context. We will explore the literature of the early twentieth century.