Austyn Barjona
バルジョナ・オースティン
Documentation of Coursework
Below is a recollection of the major courses I took at Clemson University and abroad at Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies in Nagasaki, Japan. Navigate to the bottom of this page to find the coursework samples.
Language-Oriented Courses
JAPN 1010/1020 – Elementary Japanese
For beginners to the Japanese language. The two alphabets Hiragana and Katakana were introduced as well as basic grammar and vocabulary. Basic level kanji were studied.
JAPN 2010/2020 – Intermediate Japanese
Quick review of elementary Japanese and introduction to conversation and composition. More serious readings of Japanese were implemented.
JAPN 3050/3060 – Japanese Conversation and Composition
Japanese skills were further practiced with emphasis on four language skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking). Vocabulary, kanji, pronunciation, and comprehension in various topics were also further studied.
Japanese Language Core Classes (Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies)
The Japanese Language Core Classes were eight levels of classes at the Japanese university that taught the Japanese language. Starting from Level 4 and beyond, four separate classes of the same name focused individually on each of the four language skills. Classes were instructed entirely in Japanese.
Kanji and Vocabulary 4 (Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies)
The upper advanced level of kanji and vocabulary, meant to prepare students for the JLPT N2. An average of 30 kanji was learned per week, with written and reading tests held weekly to test acquisition of kanji and vocabulary from the previous class. Instructed entirely in Japanese.
Culture and Literature Courses
Japanese Culture (Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies)
Key concepts of Japanese culture were covered such as religious beliefs, social forms, cuisine, and pottery. Translated texts were read and discussed in groups and a presentation of any topic covered in class was required. A field trip to the historical museum was also a part of class participation. Instructed in English while abroad in Japan.
Introduction to Japanese Society (Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies)
A basic understanding of Japanese identity, social organization, work, education, politics, and entertainment was covered. Readings were done outside of class and heavily discussed during class as well as weekly quizzes to test acquisition. Instructed in English while abroad in Japan.
JAPN 4060 – Introduction to Japanese Literature
Japanese short stories, light novels, and manga were covered in class. The grammatical uses andhistorical/social contexts within the stories were very heavily analyzed.
Other Required Courses
JAPN 4560 – Japanese Film
Literary and cultural aspects/styles of Japanese film were heavily analyzed. The class was not limited to films, while anime and light novels were also covered. It was also not limited to Japanese film, but also compared and contrasted with Western film. Written analyses were required for each literary work.
Japanese Linguistics (Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies)
A lecture-based course where the linguistics behind Japanese grammar was heavily studied. An in-depth understanding of the core meanings and usages of basic and intermediate Japanese grammar was developed that heavily aided in oral and written communication. Taught in English while abroad in Japan.
Modern Japanese History (Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies)
A broad introduction to Japanese history from the Edo Period to present day Japan. The class was instructed in
short lectures while aided with documentaries, news clips, readings, and class discussions. Taught in English while abroad in Japan.
Teaching Foreign Languages (Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies)
A crash course in teaching a class, specifically a foreign language. Composing and teaching a total of two hours to a non-native speaker of a language and writing an official learner profile of the speaker was required to complete the course.
Other Major (Chemistry) Required Courses
CH 1010/1020 – General Chemistry
The elementary concepts of chemistry were introduced. These concepts include becoming familiar with the Periodic Table of Elements, chemical equations, the concept of the mole, molecular theory, and chemical equilibria. A weekly corequisite lab was required for this class.
CH 2230/2240 – Organic Chemistry
Principles of organic chemistry were heavily studied and practiced inside and outside of class. The study of chemical properties, shape, and classes of organic compounds were heavily covered to be able to predict and craft chemical reactions. A weekly corequisite lab was required for this class.
CH 3130 – Quantitative Analysis
Principles of volumetric, gravimetric, and instrumental chemical analyses were studied in depth. Topics focused heavily on uncertainties in chemical instruments and mathematical preparation of solutions.A corequisite lab was required for this class that was held twice a week for Bachelor of Science majors.
CH 3310/3320 – Physical Chemistry
Topics such as the gaseous state, thermodynamics, chemical equilibria, and atomic and molecular structure were studied more critically compared to general chemistry classes. Experimental and theoretical points of view were considered in the applications given in class. A biweekly corequisite lab was required for this class.
CH 4020 – Inorganic Chemistry
Basic principles of inorganic chemistry are discussed with special emphasis on atomic structure, chemical bonding, solid state, coordination chemistry, organometallic chemistry, and acid-base theories. The chemistry of certain selected elements is treated.
CH 4110 – Instrumental Analysis
Principles of operation and application of modern chemical instrumentation in the field of analytical chemistry. Topics include basic electronics, statistics, magnetic resonance, electron and x-ray spectroscopies, radiochemistry, and separation science.
BCHM 3050 – Essential Elements of Biochemistry
Chemical and biological structure, synthesis, metabolism, and function of biomolecules were studied in this course. The twenty essential amino acids were expected to be memorized in full name, symbol, and properties while also being applied in various applications in class.
PHYS 1220/2210 – Physics with Calculus
The laws of motion, gravitation, conversation principles, rotational motion, oscillation, gas theory, thermodynamics, and electric and magnetic fields/currents were introduced in class. Several applications were practiced, including in a weekly corequisite lab.
MATH 1060/1080/2060 - Calculus
These three classes summarize calculus (1060 and 1080 being Calculus of One Variable and 2060 being Calculus of Several Variables). The concept of limits, derivative and integral techniques, polar coordinates, and series were covered in the single variable calculus classes, while vectors, vector functions, and multiple integral applications were examined in calculus with several variables.
Minor (Food Science) Required Courses
FDSC 2140 – Food Resources and Society
The basics of food science from food chemistry to food processing principles were covered as well as how it relates to advancements in society. A major group project was assigned to thoroughly research a topic in the class.
FDSC 3010 – Food Regulations
The practice of food laws and regulations worldwide were heavily studied. Food agencies such as the FDA, EPA, and USDA were covered in detail as well as the impacts of food acts in place when dealing with the imports and exports of food. A research topic of the student’s choice was crafted into a presentation at the end of class.
FDSC 4010/4020 – Food Chemistry
Quantitative and qualitative analysis of food ingredients and products were practiced and studied in detail. Applications of foods such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and vitamins were experienced firsthand by the instructor and taught to the class as opposed of through textbooks.
FDSC 4230 – Food Safety Certifications
The materials needed to be certified in food safety programs were covered in the class. These programs include ServSafe, HACCP, and FSMA. Topics such as food handling, sanitation, hazard analysis, and preventative measures were studied through lectures, videos, and practice tests.
Samples of Coursework
Below are samples of coursework reflecting my linguistic proficiency, culture competency, and literature & humanities competency in Japanese as well as in Chemistry and Food Science. Click the buttons below to navigate through each type of sample.
Linguistic Proficiency
Speech Script: Japanese Conversation and Composition
For JAPN 2010, JAPN 2020, and JAPN 3060, we were required to make a speech in order to vote classmates to participate in the annual Japanese Speech Contest for Clemson University. The top three placers of the contest were then nominated to participate in the regional Japanese Speech Contest at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. My speech from my JAPN 3060 class made second place in the February 2022 Speech Contest at Clemson University and was nominated to participate in the regional Japanese Speech Contest. The script is shown below.
Letter to the Editor: Japanese Conversation and Composition
For our final project in JAPN 3060, we were required to write a "Letter-to-the-Editor" about an ongoing issue in Japan. The issue I chose to address was about smoking tobacco, something that is more commonly accepted and more openly performed in Japan compared to America. Below is the full letter addressing this topic.
Culture Competency
Jodo Report: Overview of Japanese History
For my final project in the Overview of Japanese History class at Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies, we were given the options of crafting a project out of a topic in class, or participating in the professor's weekly Jodo Club (the way of the stick) and write a report about it. Naturally, I engaged in the weekly Jodo Club and wrote a report about it in English, which is featured below.
Final Impression: Introduction to Japanese Society
For the final exam in the Introduction to Japanese Society at Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies, we were required to write a final impression of the class. We were supposed to provide what topics we found productive about the course and what topics we didn't. In my final impression, I extended upon how the class influenced my way of thinking in the society I was living in when I was abroad. Below is my final impression of this class in English.
Literature and Humanities Competency
Short Story Analysis - Introduction to Japanese Literature
In JAPN 4060, we were expected to read short stories in class and choose a short story from class to compose an argument out of, using evidence from the text. Out of the texts we read in the class, I chose to write about the short story「天井裏」(Tenjouura) by Haruki Murakami. Below is the full analysis of this short story in Japanese.
Final Report - Japanese Film
For my final report in JAPN 4560, we were required to write a ten page paper about any topic relating to Japanese media. My paper was based on the topic of the Magical Girl anime genre, specifically arguing how the genre may not limited to young audiences as one might originally think. Below is the full written report in English.
Chemistry & Food Science
Research Paper - Creative Inquiry in Chemistry IV
In CH 4990, a creative inquiry class for chemistry, I closely studied metal-mediated damage in calf-thymus DNA under Dr. Julia Brumaghim and was assigned graduate Jacob Alewine as a mentor, whom I assisted in the lab. Through him, was given my own project to study and work on. At the end of each semester, we were expected to write a thorough research paper of our work as well as to present a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation to the Chemistry Department. Shown below is the full research paper.
Food and Cancer Risk Report - Food Regulations
At the end of this course, we were expected to write a report alongside a presentation on any topic relating to food regulations. My topic focused on cancer risk and prevention within certain types of food. Shown below is the full report on this topic.