Monthly Programs

Index Programs after 2002 March 2002 2001 2000 1999

SIETAR JAPAN 2002

SIETAR JAPAN 2001

Dr. Vivek Pinto, Professor of Asian and Peace Studies at Bunkyo Women's College and author of the best selling book, Gandhi's Vision and Values, examined the dimensions of Gandhi's friendship with Englishman, Charles Freer Andrews (1871-1940). Dr. Pinto focused on the types of intercultural concepts, vision, and values these distinctly opposite persons forged to weld themselves together for a larger purpose. Dr. Pinto encouraged SIETAR members to learn from this friendship so as to understand the deep-rooted nature of how interculturalism transcends tenacious nationalism in very trying circumstances.

Ms. Eve Berry, Director of Special Projects for The Foundation for Community Encouragement (FCE), presented a half-day workshop for SIETAR Japan. Ms. Berry introduced FCE, a Seattle based, international non-profit teaching the community building methods developed M. Scott Peck, author of The Road Less Traveled. Including both information and experiential sessions, this workshop explored the relationship between communication and community, the stages of community building, community building guidelines, principles and practices, and how community building can be applied in organizational settings.

Ms. Margaret (Peggy) Pusch, Associate Director of the Intercultural Communication Institute and President of SIETAR USA, explored the issues that arise when co-trainers are from different cultures. She presented useful models for intercultural interaction that culturally different trainers can utilize to make training programs more vibrant and effective. Peggy stressed important considerations in selecting a co-trainer and how to best manage the relationship. SIETAR Japan members were able to share their co-training experiences and inquire about how to make a co-training arrangements work.

We were very pleased to welcome back this year, Drs. Milton & Janet Bennett, both into their eighth year as Co- Directors of the Intercultural Communication Institute in Portland, Oregon. Designed for those teaching English, preparing to travel to the U.S. or working with Americans, this year's presentation focused on some of the typical issues visitors may experience in the U.S., including the importance of cultural diversity, the American structure of cultural styles and values and current cultural concerns in the United States.

Karen Hill Anton, Director of the Intercultural Communication Center at Temple University Japan, and author of the book, Crossing Cultures, has been praised by many as a model of successful cross-cultural adaptation and is recognized for her common-sense approach to cross-cultural living. Ms. Hill Anton facilitated an interactive discussion on the daily challenges, frustration and loneliness of cross-cultural living. In this presentation, highlighted with slides documenting more than 20 years living in Japan, Karen shared the story of her personal cross-cultural journey.

May Shigenobu, lecturer on Middle Eastern Affairs, was born in Beirut to a Japanese mother and a Palestinian father. She lived in Beirut and the Arab world, graduated from the American University of Beirut in Political Studies and Public Administration. She emphasized that as a new generation we should seek information and knowledge by ourselves and not just be satisfied with those that are provided to us in simple classifications and generalizations. From this context, she gave explanation on why the war in the Middle East is going on for more than 50 years, why peace negotiation hasn't worked, why the Palestinians are fighting with stones...etc. Similarly, it is best to know why prejudices and stereotypes are created, how it serves peoples' understandings, where and how they are most likely to be created, and how we can start to overcome them.

Dr. Rebecca Chan Allen is President of Delta Learning Organization, adjunct faculty at the University of Calgary, and visiting lecturer at Keio University (1998, 2001). In this workshop, Dr. Chan Allen introduces five cultural styles in managing change, described in her new book, Guiding Change Journeys. Participants learn how change leaders and facilitators learn to develop their unique change style in confronting business volatility and organization diversity. In this full-day workshop, participants have hands-on experience in using timeless insights and techniques from new science, mythology, cross-cultural change perspectives and spiritual practices to transform impasse into innovation and conflict into creativity.

SIETAR JAPAN 2000

Nancy Yamada (TELL /Tokyo English Life Line)

Mr. Minoru Tada (Human Resources Director, Akzo Nobel K. K.)has 23 years experience in a Japanese company and 13 years in global companies. He has recently published a book "Seniority to Meritocracy" (Subaru Jinji Kenkyusho 1999). LANGUAGE: English (Japanese if necessary)

Regge Life completed a third documentary, AFTER AMERICA...AFTER JAPAN, a film that chronicles the saga of re-entry for Americans and Japanese. After watching the video, he lead a discussion that examines the similar and dissimilar issues that Americans and Japanese face returning home.

Milton Bennett Ph.D. & Janet Bennett Ph.D. (The Intercultural Communication Institute)

Dr.Jackie Wasilewski (International Christian University )

Dana Breitenstein, Director Intercultural Services - Asia Pacific of Cendant Intercultural, The Bennett Group

Mark Roth (Center for English Language Education, ASIA University) & Mary Fidler (Officer of International Affairs, Asia University)

Prof. Radmilla Nakarada & Prof. Miroslav Pecujlic (Visiting Professors on Peace Studies, International Christian University)

Dr. Kazuo Nishiyama, Visiting Professor of Intercultural Communication

SIETAR JAPAN 1999

Yuko Franklin, Ph.D. (Lecturer, California Institute of Integral Studies)

Ms. Nobue Maeda (Lecturer, Nagoya Meitoku Junior College)

Mr. Andy Hickson (Writer and Director)

Dr. Edward C. Stewart ( Visiting Professor of Nagoya Municipal University)

Dr. Margaret (Peggy) Pusch (Associate Director of the Intercultural Communication Institute/Former President of NAFSA)

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