著者

橋本 操 林 日佳理 佐賀 達矢 野中 健一 Donnavan KRUGER

出版者

一般社団法人 日本環境教育学会

雑誌

環境教育 (ISSN:09172866)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.32, no.1, pp.1_23-32, 2023-03-31 (Released:2023-04-29)

参考文献数

22

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This paper explores how the original landscape map can be useful in a Japanese high-school class for teaching environmental and social diversity as an opportunity for cross-cultural communication. We conducted a collaborative class at Tajimi High School in Gifu Prefecture, which was attended by several foreign visitors (i.e., from South Africa, Namibia, and France) as an interdisciplinary activity of biology, geography, and English. Using original landscape maps, participants could compare differences in their biological, cultural, and geographical environments and communicate their thoughts in English. In particular, most of the Japanese high-school students, who had rarely talked to foreigners, found the original landscape maps useful for communication. On the other hand, the students’ original landscape maps suggested a correspondence with the typical images of “traditional Japanese landscape,” and also with the topographical environment and landscape structure of the basin in which they lived. Nevertheless, this classroom practice illustrates that comparing original landscape maps encourages the participants to learn the differences in their natural environments and the life experiences of the people in them. Moreover, the original landscape maps help participants to understand environmental changes over time, and thus changes in their lifestyles, as the original landscape maps are suitable for describing one’s memories, thoughts, and personal experiences. They also help the participants’ English communication by providing a visual description of one’s memory, which motivates them to learn more and become efficient in English. Therefore, the authors conclude that original landscape maps can be recommended to promote an interdisciplinary understanding of environmental, geographical, and cultural diversity.