Reischauer Scholars Program by Jess K. '10

Don’t you hate it when your computer freezes and you lose a huge entry including the secrets of how to live your life, get into MIT and have fantastic-looking hair all the time?

Me too.

I have a real entry on back order (in my head, since it got DELETED), but I just wanted to let you guys know about a program that I participated in back in high school. I studied Japanese for three years in high school, so my junior year, I applied and was selected for a scholarship program that studied Japanese culture, with an emphasis on international relations between Japan and the United States. The format is pretty cool – you watch a video lecture, read a short article, answer a few questions, and then discuss the week’s topic in a virtual conference (you’re literally talking to about 20 other scholars from around the United States, and your professor, over the internet. It really freaks your mom out when she comes home and sees her kid talking to a computer). If you’re interested in Japan or international relations at all, you should definitely check it out.

REISCHAUER SCHOLARS PROGRAM 2007

I am pleased to announce that the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE) invites all interested high school juniors and seniors to apply to the Reischauer Scholars Program (RSP). Named after the former U.S. ambassador to Japan, Edwin Reischauer, the RSP will select approximately 25 exceptional high school juniors and seniors from throughout the United States to engage in an intensive study of Japan. Selected students will participate in an Internet-mediated course on Japan from February to June 2007.

Currently in its fourth year, this course provides students with a broad overview of Japanese history, literature, religion, art, politics, and economics, with a special focus on the U.S.-Japan relationship. Ambassadors, top scholars, and experts throughout the United States and Japan provide lectures via the Internet as well as engage students in online dialogue. These lectures and discussions are woven into an overall curriculum that will provide students with reading materials and assignments. Concurrent with the Internet-mediated course, students will develop individual research projects. Final research projects will be printed in journal format and students will be required to lead two presentations on Japan at their schools or in their communities. Students who successfully complete the course will earn Stanford Continuing Studies Program (CSP) credit and a Certificate of Completion from SPICE, Stanford University.

Selected students will participate in 10 “virtual classes” via the Internet between February and June 2007. Students should expect to allot 2-6 hours per week to complete the lectures, discussions, readings, and assignments. Since this is a distance-learning course, however, students will be able to structure most of their work around their individual schedules. Although intensive, the RSP will equip participants with a rare degree of expertise about Japan that may have a significant impact on their choice of study and future career.

Completed applications must be postmarked by October 27, 2006. For more information and to download the application, please visit www.reischauerscholars.org.

Best regards,
Naomi Funahashi
Reischauer Scholars Program Coordinator, SPICE