Japanese language students create Japanese Campus Map/Guide

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Karin Mackenzie, (808) 956-4051
College of Languages, Linguistics & Literature, Community and Alumni Relations
Posted: Mar 8, 2016

Chancellor Bley-Vroman and Justin Kanda.
Chancellor Bley-Vroman and Justin Kanda.

Students in Professor Yumiko Tateyama's English-Japanese translation class last semester produced a Japanese language version of UH Mānoa's campus map.  Kaili Ayers, Justin Kanda, Meiko Kuwako, Megan Martin, Destiny Norbrey and Shuhei Usami redesigned the existing map with the Japanese native speaker in mind.

Professor Tateyama and Kanda presented the map to UH Mānoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman, who expressed his gratitude for making the on-campus experience of the Japanese student and visitor a more hospitable one.  This single class project makes a world of difference, he noted, and Bley-Vroman said he believes there are more opportunities for creative student ideas such as this one.    

Kanda, a Roosevelt High graduate who holds a BA in Japanese from UH Mānoa, initiated the project while a student manager of the Ticket, Information and ID Office on campus (he now supervises office operations). He is currently a graduate assistant pursuing an MA in Japanese Linguistics from the Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures.   

Kanda knew the map would be very helpful to his English-speaking co-workers when Japanese speakers weren’t available to provide visitor tours.  He points out, “Each building on the map has at least one historical and one informational point.   With the increased demand for Japanese campus tours, this guide has eased our translating load per tour.”

Professor Tateyama couldn't be prouder of her students’ accomplishment. The work was a perfect blend of "project-based learning" and "service learning."  Both approaches employ student-initiated, student-facilitated and student-implemented projects:

  • Project-based learning involves students applying learned skills and knowledge to a project, extending their lessons beyond the classroom.
  • Service learning involves students earning academic credits while undertaking activities/projects that benefit the community in some way.

“I incorporated a project-based approach, along with service learning, so that students would have opportunities to translate materials that were actually needed in the community," said Tateyama.  "I also wanted students to learn about the target and source languages, as well as socio-cultural factors that affect language use through the translation process.”

With the help of Colin Macdonald, Director of Web Operations in the Chancellor's Office, the map is ready for use as a brochure and poster, and, of course, the web version:

“Printable Japanese Campus Map (Guide) キャンパスマップ(ガイド)” http://manoa.hawaii.edu/campusmap/

The College of Languages, Linguistics & Literature (one of the four Arts & Sciences colleges) of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa offers a broad curriculum in English, foreign and heritage languages and literatures, second language studies, and linguistics.  Its Asia and Pacific focused curricula is unique in the nation.  The faculty regularly teaches more than 25 languages, and has the capacity to teach many more.

If you would like to support the college, please visit www.uhfoundation.org/GivetoLLL.

For more information, visit: http://lll.hawaii.edu/