It is usually held on the third Sunday of every month starting at 10:00am
at the Room 3-318, bldg. 3 of Faculty of Education and Human Studies, Akita University
This website will be updated only by the end of 2019.
No meeting is scheduled between November 2010 and March 2020.
The 352nd Communication Session
Date: Sunday, October 20th, 2019
Place: Room 3-318 on the third floor, bldg. 3 of Faculty of Education and Human Studies, Akita University
Time: 10:00-12:00 Communication Session by Miss Xiaodan Wang from China
She's an international student studying at AIU for about a year.
Topic: Nonverbal Communication in Intercultural Context
Here's her message:
In this presentation, I will talk about different types of nonverbal communication, the function of it
and its relationship with culture. Nonverbal communication plays an important role in our daily lives
and sometimes it is more powerful than verbal communication. Due to its close relationship with culture,
it can cause miscommunication and confusion among people from different cultural backgrounds. By inviting
guests to sharing their opinions about nonverbal communication and their experience related with this,
I hope that this presentation can help them have a deeper understanding of nonverbal communication and
become a better "mind reader" through people's nonverbal behaviors.
15 people attended
The 351st Communication Session
Date: Sunday, September 22nd, 2019
Place: Room 3-318 on the third floor, bldg. 3 of Faculty of Education and Human Studies, Akita University
Time: 10:00-12:00 Communication Session by John Mock from America
Topic: Physical and Social Awareness in Modern Japan
18 people attended
The 350th Communication Session
Date: Sunday, August 18, 2019
Place: Room 3-318 on the third floor, bldg. 3 of Faculty of Education and Human Studies, Akita University
Time: 10:00-12:00 Communication Session by Tim Ernst
Summary:
Tim Ernst entertained us with another one of his unusual speeches this past Sunday.
He told us of how he was looking for a model to draw in an upcoming exhibition he held in June
and came across this photo. He fell in love with the image, the pose and the model. On further
research, he found that her name was Evelyn Nesbit. who lived from 1884 to1967.
Tim soon became enthralled with the haunting beauty of this woman and knew he wanted her as
his MUSE. Tim explained to us the power of what an artist’s muse has. He showed samples
of famous artist’s muses from history in art, in literature and poetry. How these women, an occasionally
men, influenced both the life and the work of these artists. From Shakespeare, to Picasso, to
Lewis Carol’s Alice in wonderland.
Tim went on to tell us the tragic story of Evelyn’s most unique life. From an artist’s model at age 14, to
a photographer’s model at 16, to a Broadway stage actress at 18. How she was the love attraction
of a very rich New York architect and married to an extremely jealous rich husband who murdered the architect
at a popular dinner. The trial that ensued became known as the “trial of the century” with Evelyn
in the middle of this tragic triangle.
Tim also showed us several photos of Evelyn and her haunting beauty and showed us the two drawings he has
done of her. He explained how he looked at these photos in a different way than ordinary people would. How an
artist really sees the subject he or she wishes to capture on canvas, paper, or sculpture. You would enjoy exploring
more about this fascinating woman by searching for her on the internet. Florence Evelyn Nesbit Thaw.
Topic: An Artist's Muse--Evelyn and Me
15 people attended
The 349th Communication Session
Date: Sunday, July 21, 2019
Place: Room 3-318 on the third floor, bldg. 3 of Faculty of Education and Human Studies, Akita University
Time: 10:00-12:00 Communication Session by Magnus Tait from Orkney, Scotland
He is Thorfinn Tait's brother and has just arrived in Akita for a month stay.
Topic: Video Game Monetisation and Loot Boxes
16 people attended.
The 348th Communication Session
Date: Sunday, June 16, 2019
Place: Room 3-318 on the third floor, bldg. 3 of Faculty of Education and Human Studies, Akita University
Time: 10:00-12:00 Communication Session by Anna Mikhaylova from Russia with her friends
Topic: The Differences between Russia and Japan
We will have three guests from Russia, Anna Mikhaylova, Alexandra Poljan, and Edward.
They'll talk about "The Differences between Russia and Japan" by using PowerPoint.
Two of them graduated from Moscow State University and Anna teaches Russian at Noshiro Shoyo High School.
Summary:
Short review of Russian geography and history. Image of Russia is "cold", but there are very hot regions too! The biggest country in the world.
Russian Empire, Revolutions, Soviet Union, Russian Federation. Russian sceneries of different places.
Some information on the Russian society, low male life expectancy, gender problems and stereotypes about Russian character.
Religion is sometimes associated with corruption and politics.
.
20 people attended.
The 347th Communication Session
Date: Sunday, May 26th, 2019
Place: Room 3-318 on the third floor, bldg. 3 of Faculty of Education and Human Studies, Akita University
Time: 10:00-12:00 Communication Session by Ewa Nakahashi from Poland
Topic: 'Krako' (Poland's old city)
Summary:
Kraków 「クラクフ」or Cracow in English, is the second largest city in Poland and a former capital. It is located in the South
of Poland on Vistula river and received its city rights in 1228. For centuries it has been one of the most important cities in
Poland economically, academically, and culturally.
The history of Kraków starts with the Wawel 「ヴァヴェル」hill, on which first settlements were found. The remains of an early
Romanesque stone building from mid-11th century, called palatium, can be found in the northern wing of today’s Royal castle.
The castle expanded over centuries and now includes a complex of buildings, such as armory and churches. Kraków royal residence,
among other artifacts, holds an impressive collection of tapestries woven in the Netherlands and Flanders. The Jagiellonian collection
originally included 365 tapestries commissioned by a line of Polish kings, the Jagiellonians, to decorate the castle’s chambers.
To this day it’s the largest collection of tapestries ever commissioned by one ruler. Tapestry is called arras in Poland, from the French
city of Arras, which was most famous for producing these large wall hangings.
Wawel hill, formed 25 million years ago, is a limestone formation hiding porous caves in its bowels. Legend has it that the caves
where once inhabited by Smok Wawelski, or the Wawel Dragon. To this day visitors can take an elevator down to explore the spacious
grottoes underneath. Another remnant of the legend can be found over a church door, where bones of what is now known to be a
prehistoric animal have been hanging since the Middle Ages. Superstition says the day they fall down, the end of times will come.
Kraków cherishes its history and preserves its traditions in annual events and festivals. One example is Lajkonik festival - a 700-year
old tradition that takes place every June. It is believed to commemorate Mongol invasion, however it is a peaceful, colorful parade of
Kraków citizens dressed in traditional costumes following Lajkonik - a bearded man dressed as a mythical warrior from the east
and riding a hobbyhorse throughout the Old Town. Another tradition is szopka krakowska, a hand-made nativity scene that uses famous
Kraków churches as the backdrop. Szopkas are multicolored and elaborate and can be as high as 2 or 3 meters. The annual competition
of szopkas takes place in Krakow’s Old Town. It became UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2018.
References:
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szopki_krakowskie
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lajkonik https://wawel.krakow.pl/en
16 people attended.
The 346th Communication Session
Date: Sunday, April 21st, 2019
Place: Room 3-318 on the third floor, bldg. 3 of Faculty of Education and Human Studies, Akita University
Time: 10:00-12:00 Communication Session by Thorfinn Tait from U.K.
Topic: "This time, I'm going to try to explain the complicated mess that is Brexit."
His message follows: For those of you who attended my last talk on this subject, I will bring you up to date on
the latest developments. I will also be happy to answer any questions you may have, and explain background
topics that are essential to understanding what's going on in the U.K. right now.
17 people attended.
The 345th Communication Session
Date: Sunday, March 17th, 2019
Place: Room 3-318 on the third floor, bldg. 3 of Faculty of Education and Human Studies, Akita University
Time: 10:00-12:00 Communication Session by Mr. Ian Johnstown Slaney from Britain
Topic: Getting to know you and do I know you?
14 people attended.
The 344th Communication Session
Date: Sunday, February 17th, 2019
Place: Room 3-318 on the third floor, bldg. 3 of Faculty of Education and Human Studies, Akita University
Time: 10:00-12:00 Communication Session by Jason Yasutake Tacker from America
Topic: A Murder Game
11 people attended.
more pictures of AES past meetings to photo album 53
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