Jesenya Lowman
B.A. Modern Languages Japanese Emphasis & Psychology Minor
Japanese Courses
Japanese Contemporary Society
We learned and discussed several aspects of modern Japanese society including the education system, exchange theory, gambling culture, and military.
Japanese Intensive 4A/3B
I acquired N2/N1 vocabulary and grammar through written reports, readings, and presentations. The only common language most students shared in the class was Japanese, so great emphasis was placed on expressing our thoughts and opinions in each class. This class helped me learn to output Japanese through speech and have more meaningful interactions with the language.
Advanced Practical Japanese Speech Emphasis
In this course, I learned various attributes of speech in the Japanese language through completing different projects primarily done in groups including, but not limited to, voice-acting, story-telling, and an informational video.
Japanese Conversation and Composition
JAPN 3050
Built vocabulary and conversation skills by engaging in everyday topics in casual and semi-professional environments, for example, how to properly interact with professors and schedule appointments.
Japanese Society 5
We watched three Japanese films during class. We were given dictation and comprehension checks to complete while viewing films. This class was especially useful for my speaking ability because we had to pair with a Japanese student to discuss scenes, ask questions about difficult grammar and vocab I heard, and cultural elements presented in each film.
Japanese Popular Culture A
We discussed what constitutes popular culture and various elements of Japanese popular culture dating as far as the Heian period to the present. However, the purpose of this class was not to address "trends" that existed throughout Japan's history, but more so to challenge misconceptions we have about Japanese culture, and consequently, Japanese people. Overall, the class truly served its purpose and has changed the way I engage with both Japanese media and friends.
Psychology Courses
Psychology of Group and Team Dynamics
PSYC 3770
Studied and discussed decision-making, effective communication, and phase development of teams and groups, along with setting goals, norms, and roles. I acquired team-building and communication skills through exercises and projects completed in this course.
Forensic Psychology
PSYC 3890
Studied psychology of criminal behavior including environmental, cognitive, and biological risk factors. We discussed other topics such as theories of crime, criminal profiling, and decision-making within the jury.
Abnormal Psychology
PSYC 3830
An introductory course into mental illness, their symptoms, diagnostic methods, and treatments. This course provided a foundation for being able to recognize signs of mental illness in individuals.
Cognitive Psychology
PSYC 3330
Studied mental processes such as memory, decision-making, and language processing and acquisition.
Physiological Psychology
PSYC 3240
Studied biological processes, especially processes in the nervous and endocrine systems, behind various human behaviors such as emotions, feelings, and thought.
Other Courses
Language and Culture
LANG 3710
We Studied language as an interactive tool within a culture and community. Read and discussed case studies on topics such as bilingualism, discourse, language acquisition, and socialization in relation to speaking. I presented anthropological research on a topic of my choice, which was expressing disagreement in Japanese.
Introduction to Political Science
POSC 1020
We studied the international system and various paradigms for understanding it, how conflicts develop, international policy, and international institutions including governmental and non-governmental institutions, and their roles in international politics.
Introduction to Linguistics
LANG 3000
I studied morphology, phonetics, phonology, and various other components of language. This class has been highly beneficial to my Japanese studies since I can now break down my understanding of the language into smaller components. Overall, my language learning abilities have greatly improved now that I have a more detailed understanding of the physical aspects of sound and social nuances in meaning, and construction of language.
Philosophy in Modern China
CHIN 3130
Studies many schools of philosophy pivotal to Chinese philosophy including Daoism, Legalism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Neo-Confucianism. I was able to gain insight into how Chinese scholars viewed human relations, ethics, morality, humanity, and self-cultivation.