Asian American Studies 355 is like no other. Walk in and you may see a group of students performing the rap hit, “Hey Yeah” by Outkast, or you may hear someone spilling the beans about their most embarrassing sexual episode.

These activities may seem out of place for a college academic environment, but they have an important purpose which is emphasized in the class.

“The reason why I do this is that whether young or old and no matter what race you are, you build a connection through activity, that’s the benefit of this class,” said Professor Daniel Begonia.

Labeled as “Psyche and Behavior of Filipinos,” the university bulletin describes it as, “The relationship between 'traditional' values and problems of ethno-cultural identity, marginality in the American environment.”

The class can be used to fulfill the life long development or a Behavior Social Science requirement. But the class is much more than that, and Professor Daniel Begonia, who has been teaching the class since 1973, makes it known.

While the class mainly teaches about different aspects and experiences of Filipino culture, the lessons can apply to anyone from any background. Made up of mainly Filipino students, their is also an array of non-Filipino Asian, caucasian and African-American students.

“The things that I teach about Filipino culture can apply to any race, because we all have common similarities that we in someway can relate to,” said Begonia.

Patrick Conrad, 22, who is caucasian, took the class to learn more about the Filipino culture. "I grew up in Berkeley and had a lot of exposure to Asian culture, except Filipino and I thought taking this class would be an experience to educate myself," said the sophomore Spanish major.

On the first day of instruction the class sits in typical fashion with all students sitting in rows and facing the blackboard. But this safe haven is abruptly disrupted when the class is told to line up against the classroom walls and are placed into groups in random fashion. The eight different teacher’s assistants make sure that no group member is familiar with each other and try so that they have little in common with their group members.

For the rest of the semester the group members spend an immense amount of time together, in and out of class.

As a class requirment, anyone who takes the class must memorize everyone else's name and which group they belong to. If any individual fails to do so then his/her entire group is docked points which count against their final grade.

That’s the point of this class, said Begonia. “My way of teaching students and getting them engaged is to make material apply to their actual lives. In a job if you mess up then your co-workers often suffer the consequences also,” said Begonia.

And Begonia does exactly that. If you are late for class or if your group fails an assignment then you may be forced to bring food and drinks for the entire class for the next session.

“By doing this you grow not just as an individual but also as a class,” said Christian Esmas, 32, who took the class once and loved it so much he has been a teacher’s assistant for three years.

The senior and psychology major said the point of all these rigorous demands is to make people come together, as individuals, as a group, as a class, and afterwards.

Despite the constant activities, the class is also the setting of a serious academic environment.

“The work in this class is very taxing, and with all the outside activities we must do, it can get pretty hectic,” said senior Dennis Mallillin, 25, who took the class to learn more about his own Filipino culture. "Being a foreign born Filipino, I see differences in my ways and traditions from Filipinos born in the United States. But taking this class I also see that we have lots of similarities, and we are unique in our own way."

On this particular day, Professor Begonia is lecturing about swear words and how they relate in different cultures.

“In American culture we use swear words that relate to bodily functions because those are things that are considered taboo. In the Philippines if you called someone an asshole they would look at you as if they didn’t know what you’re talking about,” said Begonia, who often uses jokes to get the class in a lively attitude.

After a short lecture, each group performed the “class Oscars,” in which each group must come up with a two-minute performance to perform in front of another group. The "class Oscars" go on for two weeks until all groups have performed for one another. The preformances can be any type of act ranging from a song and dance routine to a short play.

This day, one group performed a less than impressive rendition of the song, “My Girl” with paper cloud cutouts and fake flowers, and another group performs a nursery rhyme.

“That’s what happens here,” said freshman Pamela Grotts. “The class gets imtimidating at times, but Begonia is just trying to get the best out of us.” The 18-year-old business major said that she would much rather be doing bad performances than sitting in a lecture next to someone she does not know.

Because he is adamant that each group do its best, Begonia berates the class, telling them it was one of the worst performances he had ever seen.

Begonia displays immense confidence in his teachings and is often so forthcoming that he often comes off as being rude. But most students take this as a serious dose of reality.

“He has lots of knowledge, and the way he talks to you is straight, and he keeps it real. He shows how the world really is,” said 19-year-old sophomore Arcel Cunanan.

After another short discourse on the values of American culture as compared to Filipino culture, Begonia announced that the class must go outside for an activity involving the entire class crossing jump rope at once. The class debated and argued with each other on how to preform this experiment. The class tried different methods, but were just met with a glare and sigh from Begonia.

Finally, after trying to get fifty students across the jump rope at once, the class figured it out. They must cross the swinging jump rope continuously, one at a time. The class is estatic, but Begonia gives them no congratulations and tells them to get back to class.

It is just another typical day in Asian American Studies 355.