University Daily Kansan / Monday, December 10, 1990
9
Professor stretches stay in U.S.
One year turns to 20 to study languages of American Indians
By Tatsuya Shimizu
Kansan staff writer
Akira Yamamoto came to the United States to study English. He originally planned to stay one year, but he has extended for more than 20 years.
He decided to extend his stay to study more linguistics after he took an English class at the university.
Yanamoto first studied at California State University in Long Beach, Calif. in Spring 1966
Yamamoto, professor of anthropology and linguistics, taught English in a Japanese high school for three years before he came to the United States.
"That opened up my eyes to not just English, but more about the relationships between languages, cultures and societies. Yamamoto said."
He transferred to Indiana University in Bloomington and pursued his interest in languages and cultures. He went on to go back to Japan to teach English.
In his third year at Indiana, he took a linguistics course taught by an American Indian language specialist. The instructor used American Indian languages as examples in his class, and Yamamoto was attracted to the languages, in which he found similarities with his native Japanese language.
"It was a kind of beginning of getting into American Indian languages," Yamamoto said.
Since then, his interest in American Indian languages has kept him in the United States for more than 20 years.
For about 10 years, Yamamoto has
Akira Yamamoto
Indian languages, she said.
Brown has been working with Yamatto to develop teaching materials of Kickapoo, one of the aboriginal languages common in Oklahoma.
"He is well-accepted among Indian people," she said. "Kickapo Indians just loved him. They jokingly call him 'Ram' and feel like he is a part of their family."
Yamamoto has been active in trying to protect American Indian languages with legislation, she said. He was one of the trustees of the language institute who drafted the resolution that supported the legislation of the Native American Languages Act, which became law Oct. 30.
"It gives us rights for the first time in the history to use our own languages, to exercise rights to preserve them and to protect their use." Brown said.
Yamamoto said he would stay in the United States because of his interest in American Indian language.
expanded to include Japanese culture in general.
"Until I came to the United States, I didn't pay too much attention to who I was and what Japanese culture might be. "Yamamoto said. "When you are here, you should while you begin to appreciate what you have, your own heritage."
Stephen Addiss, professor of art history, worked with Yamamoto to prepare exhibitions of Japanese art in 1890 and 1985. Next semester, he and Addiss will prepare for another Japanese art exhibition, "Humor in Japanese Arts," which they plan to display in 1993.
"He has a wide knowledge of different cultures around the world." Addiss said of Yamamoto. "He is able to combine the best parts of Japanese culture and the best parts of Western culture together."
Yamamoto has been observing Japanese economic success from the United States. He is glad about its recent aggressiveness, he said.
"In general, Japanese people still work with concentrating energy toward one goal," he said. "I think they are too aggressive."
Yamamoto becomes uncomfortable when Japanese companies become too aggressive to do their jobs. Japan criticizes Japan too much, he said.
"We don't know each other very well." he said.
Yamamoto hopes that he can foster mutual understanding between the United States and Japan by teaching them how to know about both countries, he said.
Another thing that keeps Yamamoto in the United States is the atmosphere at U.S. universities, he said. Compared with Japanese universities, American students are between professors and students in the United States, Yamamoto said.
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FALL FINALE
Finals stress may be reduced with study strategies
ocabulary quiz, astronomy homework, Spanish composition, 20-page history paper, oral presentation, design project, read five books, write senior thesis . . . FINALS ALREADY?!
Time has run out. The last days of class have sneaked past.
Tomorrow is Stop Day Yikes!
by Marijo Newton
Unfortunately, the next step before winter break is everyone's favorite time of the year - finals. This icon of education is not only a test of everyone's ability to collectively gather the notes from all the classes missed throughout the semester and then begin to memorize them word for word. It is also a time of incredible strife and anxietyness otherwise known as stress.
Linda Marshall, assistant director of the Student Assistance Center, 123 Strong Hall, said some stress was good for students in order "to be at one's best and take everything seriously."
This positive stress is known as "eustress," according to a pamphlet from Watkins Memorial Health Center. Its bad twin is appropriately called "distress," which is what one has when there are 10 chapters to read before tomorrow's comprehensive final.
While stress can be a positive motivator, it can also contribute to some very negative feelings that can easily become manifested both psychologically and physically.
According to the Watkins pamphlet, some behavioral symptoms of stress include irritability, insomnia, absenteeism, drinking and smoking too much, poor eating habits, reduced concentration and bad time management.
Marshall and Arthur Thomas, acting director of the University Counseling Center, 116 Bailey Hall, agree that stress can be relieved with a little relaxation.
"Most illness is related to unrelieved stress," according to "Stress Management," published by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.
Physical symptoms can appear, such as headaches, extreme fatigue, nausea, gas, tension and chest or stomach pain.
Thomas suggested seeing a movie, listening to music or exercising.
said.
"It's really important to keep these things up," said Marshall about exercising, including shooting baskets or doing aerobics.
Some other good practices include trying to stay healthy by eating right, avoiding caffeine and getting plenty of sleep - at least four to six hours a night.
"Students try to get extra study time out of their sleep time," Marshall said.
Academically, Thomas and Marshall suggested ways to ease tension, such as planning ahead throughout the semester, managing time carefully, going to class, making a "to do" list and sticking to it and understanding when, where and how to study best. In addition, find out as much as possible about the actual exam in order to understand what to emphasize in one's review.
"That's very predictable," Thomas said. "That's not abnormal."
Marshall said a good practice was to study the most difficult subjects right before going to sleep because the brain processes the events of the day during sleep and starts with the most recent information. Another bit of information - for early finals, don't roll out of bed at 8:30 to catch the 8:45 bus. It takes at least two hours for sleep hormones to exit the brain after awakening, so plan ahead and get up early enough to have a clear head.
When at the test, Marshall suggested students sit away from distractors, including people, do some deep breathing and "think positive messages about your ability and remind one's self of past successes," she said.
Don't overplay the importance of the grade; it's not a reflection of your self worth, nor does it predict your future success. It's only a test and there will be others, advises another University of Illinois pamphlet called "Test Anxiety."
"There's no magic answer," Thomas said. "It is important to recognize that there are going to be stressful times during college."
Besides, as soon as the test is over, students can sell their books back for some cash to use for a celebration.
WATKINS
STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES
CLINIC HOURS
December 24, 1990 - January 13, 1991
Regular Hours (through 12/23):
HEALTH CENTER CLOSED:
December 24 and 25
Clinic Hours (12/26/90 - 12/30/90):
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Pharmacy Hours
Monday - Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Clinic Hours (1/2/91 - 1/13/91):
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
If the Health Center is closed, medical care can be obtained at: Lawrence Memorial Hospital, 4th and Maine Stats. 749-6162
HEALTH CENTER CLOSED:
December 31, 1990 and January 1, 1991
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
8 a.m. - 12 noon
see Clinic Nurse
Health Education 864-9570 Health Center 864-9500
Serving Only Lawrence Campus Students
Regular Hours Resume 1/14/91
Pharmacy Hours:
We Care for KU.
December 10, 1990
FALL FINALE
Things to do during finals:
3. Meet Thurs.at Pup's for lunch.
1. Study Western Civ.
4. Study Biology
2. Sell back books
6. Study break at Pup's
6. Pack
Located at 9th & Indiana 749-1397
A gambler trusted no one.
A woman risked everything.
And a passion brought them together in the most dangerous city in the world.