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Overview

Learning MethodsMajor FocusThe AC DifferenceCareer Outlook

Learning Methods

Instructors use a wide variety of active learning methods including film, class discussions and projects, multi-media presentations and exploring local Asian cultural/historical sites.

Major Focus

A major focus of our Asian studies courses is to develop cultural awareness and deeper appreciation for the cultures one of the largest immigrant groups in the Greater Vancouver region.

The AC Difference

Like our students, our excellent faculty hail from different parts of the globe and bring their “lived” experiences in Asian cultures to their classes.

Career Outlook

Asian Studies students can use their knowledge to work in settings requiring cultural awareness of Asian communities as well as with Pacific Rim businesses and organizations.

Course Descriptions

Select a course below to see full descriptions. (#) Indicates amount of credits per course

ASIA 100 Contemporary China (3)

China’s drive for modernization is explored with reference to the role of the Communist Party, the government and the individual. A survey of domestic policy and international relations. Students will draw upon a variety of sources: text readings, scholarly journals, popular literature, film/video assignments, and internet (www) sources in this interdisciplinary study of Chinese society.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 098

Transfers to:

UBC ASIA 1st (3)
SFU HIST 2XX (3), B-Hum/Soc
UVIC HSTR 265B (1.5)
UNBC INTS 204 (3)
TRU SSEL 1XXX (3)

ASIA 101 Contemporary Japan (3)

Japan’s place in the world is explored with reference to the government, the Imperial family, society and the individual. A survey of domestic policy and international relations. Students will draw upon a variety of sources: text readings, scholarly journals, popular literature, film/video assignments, and internet (www) sources in this interdisciplinary study of Japanese society.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 098

Transfers to:

UBC ASIA 1st (3)
SFU ASC 201 (3), B-Hum. Transfer credit granted once for ALEX ASIA 101 or ALEX ASIA 201
UVIC HSTR 2XX (1.5)
UNBC INTS 203 (3)
TRU SSEL 1XXX (3)

ASIA 200 Chinese Civilization and Society (3)

This course covers selected aspects of Chinese history with an emphasis on cultural factors which have shaped Chinese viewpoints and perspectives. Modern themes will be placed in geographical and historical context. Students will draw upon a variety of sources: text readings, traditional art and literature, film/video assignments, and internet (www) sources in this interdisciplinary study of Chinese society.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 099

Transfers to:

UBC ASIA 2nd (3)
SFU ASC 200 (3), B-Hum
UVIC HSTR 265B (1.5)
UNBC INTS 2XX (3)
TRU HUEL 1XXX (3)

ASIA 201 Japanese Civilization and Society (3)

This course covers selected aspects of Japanese history with an emphasis on cultural factors which have shaped Japanese viewpoints and perspectives. Modern themes will be placed in geographical and historical context. Students will draw upon a variety of sources: text readings, traditional art and literature, film/video assignments, and internet (www) sources in this interdisciplinary study of Japanese society.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 099

Transfers to:

UBC ASIA 2nd (3)
SFU ASC 201 (3), B-Hum. Transfer credit granted once for ALEX ASIA 101 or ALEX ASIA 201
UVIC HSTR 2XX (1.5)
UNBC INTS 2XX (3)
TRU JAPA 2XXX (3)

ASIA 202 Japanese Popular Culture (3)

This course introduces Japanese popular culture as seen in manga, anime, TV dramas, cinema, advertising, literature, music, food, and fashion. The themes focus on the representation of gender and sexuality, cultural/national identity and ethnicity, and the impact of globalization.

Prerequisite(s):

ENGL 099

Transfers to:

UBC ASIA 2nd (3)
SFU ASC 202 (3)
UVIC PAAS 2XX (1.5)
UNBC INTS 2XX (3)
TRU SSEL 2XXX (3)

Faculty

Simon Nantais (PhD, MA, BA)

Instructor

Simon Nantais (PhD, MA, BA)

Instructor

After completing his B.A. in History at the University of Ottawa, Dr. Nantais taught English and French in Japan on the JET Programme.

After four years in Japan, he returned to complete a M.A. in History at the University of Ottawa and a Ph.D. in modern Japanese history at the University of Victoria.

His research on Canada’s relations with Japan and on Japanese nationality law has been published in academic journals. He is presently working on a manuscript that examines the history of Koreans residing in Japan during the American Occupation of Japan (1945-1952).

Since 2011, he has been teaching a variety of courses at SFU, KPU, UFV, and the University of Victoria on Japanese, Chinese, East Asian, and world history, as well as thematic courses on World War II in Asia, the environment, food and drink, and foreign relations. Dr. Nantais has been teaching at Alexander College since 2015.

Lewis Cheng (PhD, BA)

Instructor

Lewis Cheng (PhD, BA)

Instructor

Dr. Cheng received his PhD of History at Peking University. He has also taught at the University of South Carolina, Columbia College, and other post-secondary institutions, and was a full professor at Beijing Normal University. Dr. Cheng has been invited to give speeches at many universities and conferences in Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America.

Irene Iwasaki (MA, MEd, BEd, BA, TESL)

Instructor

Irene Iwasaki (MA, MEd, BEd, BA, TESL)

Instructor

Irene was born in Vancouver and completed a BA (English Literature) and BEd (Secondary English; Secondary Japanese) at SFU. She also has an MA (Japanese Studies) from the University of Sheffield, and an MEd (Educational Technology) from UBC.

Having a great need to explore outside of Burnaby, she travelled to as many places around the world that her wallet would allow her to, and settled in Japan to live, work and study. She taught EFL and Japanese Studies at university in Japan and is also a published author of ESL textbooks and academic articles.

At Alexander College, Irene has worked in the Writing Centre, taught EAP, and is currently teaching Japan-related courses in the ASIA department.

Zoudan Ma (MA, BA)

Instructor

Zoudan Ma (MA, BA)

Instructor

Zoudan Ma completed his undergraduate studies at Peking University. He received a MA in History at UBC. He is currently a PhD candidate in Asian Studies,UBC.

He studies the histories of China, Korean, and Japan. His scholarly interest is about daily lives. In his current project, he seeks to understand how people survived and thrived during wartime seventeenth-century Northeast Asia.

At Alexander College, he teaches survey courses about China.

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