AY2014 UoA short-term Overseas Study Programs Report 18

AY2014 UoA short-term Overseas Study Programs Report
18 students of the University of Aizu (UoA) had short-term Overseas Study Programs.
Participants
U.S.A. / Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 3 weeks
Ms. Maiko Arakawa (a first-year student)
Mr. Mikio Endo (a first-year student)
Mr. Yuta Sugii (a first-year student)
Mr. Kazutoshi Sugita (a first-year student)
Mr. Shumpei Tosa (a first-year student)
Ms. Kagome Naya (a first-year student)
Ms. Saori Nemoto (a second-year student)
Ms. Mami Yokokawa (a third-year student)
Mr. Rikuto Watanabe (a first-year student)
New Zealand / University of Waikato
3 weeks
Mr. T. A. (a first-year student) T.A.
Mr. Yuji Ishizuka (a third-year student)
Mr. Ryota Kanai (a second-year student)
Ms. Ai Sakuma (a first-year student)
Ms. Akari Harada (a second-year student)
Mr. Yuta Watanabe (a fourth-year student)
China / DNA Program
2 weeks
Mr. Yuki Iguro (a third-year student)
Ms. Misato Morino (a third-year student)
Ms. Kaori Yatsu (a first-year student)
* Grade during the program
< Study Report >
U.S.A. / Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 3 weeks
Maiko Arakawa (a first-year student)
I went to the America during the spring vacation. Some people feel three weeks are long. Some people feel
three weeks are short. I felt three weeks passed quickly. I have understood my English ability or American
life because I had been to America once. I had understood that three weeks are passed quickly and I
couldn't get anything without my active action. I wanted to study abroad to improve my English skills and to
make Aizu better. I want to know the good points of Aizu, good points of University of Aizu, not good points
of Aizu and not good points of University of Aizu and make Aizu or University of Aizu better places.
First week, I thought I wanted to go back home many times because it was difficult for me to talk with
university students. I couldn't find the chance to talk to university students. I was worried why I couldn't talk
to someone. I heard people who had been to Rose-Hulman before had spent with their buddies but we
didn't have always same classes with our buddies. Unfortunately, I didn't often see my roommates. I didn't
do anything without greeting. My roommates used a computer or did her homework so I couldn't talk to her.
I'm disappointed that. A week later, I thought “First, I should talk with buddies”. That make my mind light
and I enjoyed the conversation with them.
My purpose of this studying is to make Aizu better and I want to know the good point of America. To be
honest, I was troubled about communicating with other people so it was difficult for me to find the good
points. I found the some good points.
First, in America, there are many kinds of restaurants. In Aizu, there are only Italian restaurants or
Japanese restaurants. My buddy said that. In America, I ate hamburgers, pie, pizza and Californian pizza
nevertheless I stayed there only three weeks. I heard there were many kinds of national restaurants like
stake or Italian. We couldn't go because price was high or there was no time. We could go to Asian shop to
buy Asian materials when we made Japanese dishes.
Second, I found the exterior of American buildings and monuments were very beautiful. For example,
houses, city hall or courthouse. I'm sure you can enjoy seeing such buildings. Road is wide and orderly.
The rows of houses are like art work. That design is like “Seishun-street” in Aizu. There are many
monuments in the town, so we enjoyed wandering.
Last, I'd like to introduce University. I was impressed with free spaces for students. There were some free
places and tables and chairs were set there. There is coffee cafe “Java City”. We could study or
communicate with others with coffee or meal. In the University of Aizu, we aren't allowed to eat anything in
classrooms so I wonder where I should spend in my free time. If there are spaces we can relaxed, students
will communicate with others of course with exchange-students, or study more.
I regret not to have communicated with others well. When I went to the America before, I found my English
ability is low. But this time, I could understand what my friends said and I could make them understand
what I meant. I thought about topic. I asked about them, shop or building. I don't think that is daily
conversation. I want to touch the culture of America like music, TV-show or movie from now on.
Making the most of what I learned, I want to grow more.
________________________________________
Mikio Endo (a first-year student)
The best I could learn is doing proactive approach. When I went to the RHIT, I could not talk to other
people because I did not have confidence. However after I talked with person who lived in my dormitory
room I thought talking to other people without fear is the best the way to speak English. RHIT students
were very kind and they listened to what I spoke carefully. When I did not understand what they said, they
told me again very kindly.
Immediately I arrived in America, I felt the first week is very long. After that the second and third weeks are
very quickly, and that week, I experienced different culture.
Looking back at this period, I found what not enough in my study was. And it was very short term but very
nice experience, so I suggest going to RHIT.
________________________________________
Yuta Sugii (a first-year student)
I went to study abroad for the first time. I enjoyed the life to speak only English at Rose-Hulman Institute of
Technology, US.
Why did I go there? I had 3 reasons. First, I joined classes at RHIT. Second, I made friends on US.
Third, skill up of English. When I went there, it was different from what I had thought. It was so good
experience for me that I cannot write down all of things in this sentence. I got the best things. It’s a
motivation to learn English. I couldn’t get it when I live in Japan because I often talk in Japanese and
almost foreign people who live in Japan have skills to talk Japanese very well, so I try hardly to talk in
English on US for three weeks. Of course, it was different how to learn English on school. If I can’t talk in
English, I can’t live in US. I mean I need to talk on common days, so I studied all of a day.
Now, I can notice the huge world exists in this world, and understand other culture. I act anything on
University of Aizu with those things. Those activity’s motivations were included all things for this 3 weeks.
As a result, I love my friends who taught me motivations on US. I’d like to talk about the good old days and
show how far I have come on the future, so I’ll try hard to learn English more and more
________________________________________
Kazutoshi Sugita (a first-year student)
I joined study abroad program at Rose Hulman institute of technology by using spring vacation. It
was only three weeks but it was valuable memory.
I have three big reasons why I joined this program. First, I was not satisfied in this University. It was
possible to use English in daily life here, but I’m not that kind of person. The reason why I don’t use
English is the environment around me. When I first came in to the University of Aizu, I was thinking
this University is global school which uses English in classes. But in the fact, it wasn’t. In the
freshman year, we had only few classes which use English and the most of students around me was
not enthusiastic in studying English. What I was hoping at this university was totally different so I was
very dissatisfied. So I choose to use my spring vacation to join study abroad program.
This time was not first time for me to go abroad so it was not fresh, but it was first time for me to go
out of Japan after I became University student so it was new experience.
I think the University of Aizu has a big chance for students who have enthusiastic or have interests
in study. If you have any interest in English even a bit, I recommend you to join study abroad program.
You can get different values of different countries by joining this program so please join!
______________________________________
Shumpei Tosa (a first-year student)
This is the first time for me to go abroad. In Japan, it is said that Japan is a safe place, so if you are in
abroad, you must be careful. But in Rose-Hulman, I don't have to worry about it. For example, when we
have a lunch, we go to cafeteria. And we have to put a baggage into a locker out of the cafeteria. But
there is no one who steals it.
RHIT students are very friendly. For example, when we were playing some sports or games, other student
came and said “Let me join.” It was a good opportunity to be a friend. In class, as we've heard, most
students were raising their hands up or asking a question. It was impressing for me.
We ate American food at RHIT. For example, pizza, hamburger, cake, cookie, and so on. If you keep
eating them, you will gain weight. But we didn't. Because we exercised at Gym. Some of my friends lost
weight in USA. Moreover, we have billiards and the game looks like curling, we played it with friends and
buddies. The students in RHIT are good at switching their mind. When they are playing, they are really
excited playing. But, if they have to study, just they do. While I was at RHIT, I could learn so many
things.
________________________________________
Kagome Naya (a first-year student)
It was my second time to go study abroad. I’ve been to Rose Hulman Institute of Technology for 3 weeks.
It was really short time, but we were able to experience American life style, the university and also to
make lots of friends. I miss them all the time when I read or listen English, and I’ll never forget everything
that I’ve done there.
I haven’t told people this story, but when I came back home after the first time study abroad, I thought I
would never go to study abroad. Now, I really need to say thank you to my parents, the professors who
interviewed me, and everybody who related to this study abroad. For the first one, I decided to go study
abroad because I hate studying English. I don’t want to study it, so I just put myself to the place where I
must study English. That’s the reason and that’s why I couldn’t enjoy well. And when my friends asked me
about the study abroad, always I just told them “Do not do study abroad”, and just go to trip. This time, I
say, “Do it! Go to RHIT! This is the thing that you must do in this university”. People who like English, want
to study it but don’t know how to do it, know you will need it later but don’t want to study because don’t like
it… everybody who don’t like English like me, I’ll recommend to go there, RHIT. You will find every answer
for those pretexts.
________________________________________
Saori Nemoto (a second-year student)
This time, I stayed in the Rose Hulman institute of technology for 3 weeks using the short-term program
that supported by university of Aizu. I was interested in foreign culture because I like to listen to foreign
movie and music. Furthermore, I wanted to tell the good point of the foreign culture to more my friends,
because there are many foreign students and foreign professors in the University of Aizu. However, I had
not been abroad. So I decided to go abroad to understand the good point of the foreign culture. And I
decided that I applied for this program.
The first week that I went to the United States, I get bewildered in unfamiliar environments and I had
language barrier. So I was full of anxious feelings. But one week later, I came to understand what people
said and I got be able to convey my thoughts in English and gestures. Then every day was really fun and I
think I want to be there more when three weeks were over.
I took classes at RHIT, I realized that aggressiveness of the students. They speak actively and a tempo of
the class was very good. So I felt it was fun. At after school, we played some video games or sports with
some foreign friends. They were always kind and understood my poor English. And we made many
memories. I will never forget those memories.
I experienced this short-term program and it greatly changed my attitude to the rest of my life. And I
become to take an active part in some projects. I’ll practice to speak English more and I will try to use this
experience into something positive.
________________________________________
Mami Yokokawa (a third-year student)
I went to Rose-Hulman for short term study abroad for three weeks on spring vacation. The time of
staying at Rose-Hulman was a great experience and felt too short.
In Rose-Hulman, I took three classes. My classes were a using Python class, an algorithms class and a
Japanese class. First, in a using Python class, I had never used Python. But it was easy to understand
Python because our teacher taught well and gave us some sample code. Second, an algorithms class
was easy to study because this class was similar to algorithms class in Aizu. Finally, in Japanese class,
we could communicate with some students in Rose-Hulman in Japanese. Many of students in Japanese
class like Japanese Anime and Manga.
I compared food that is sold in America and Japan, American food is much bigger. For example,
Haagen-Dazs ice cream in America is about five times bigger than one in Japan. It tasted good. I
recommend it when you go to Wal-Mart. We often ate meals in Rose-Hulman cafeteria. We can eat some
American foods. For example, pancakes, pizza and hamburger. They were delicious. And you can make
own waffle in the cafeteria. It is easy and fun to make waffles.
I often became negative at staying in Rose-Hulman. I regretted it strongly. I will try to be active from now
on. Studying abroad will be a chance that inspire you and consider yourself. If you cannot decide to apply
studying abroad, you should apply. You will be inspired by studying abroad.
________________________________________
Rikuto Wakanabe (a first-year student)
I went to study abroad at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in the United States in Indianapolis during
this spring break. University of Aizu has three study abroad programs. I chose Rose Hulman Institute of
Technology from them. I thought that I experienced a lot of fresh things at Rose Hulman. I could know
clearly about the difference of university of Japan between American one. Only professor speaks at
Lecture in Japan. However American one is a debate style. Students and professor are talk and learn
each other. I felt that everyone of Rose Hulman is earnestly and they have a high consciousness and
spend their life in RHIT.
I want to improve my English skills and I want to break my prejudice by spending times at overseas. And I
want to get large sight and think about everything than old me. That is why I joined this study abroad
program. At first it was difficult for me to hear their English. And I couldn’t say what I want to say. That was
very sad. However after I spent 3 weeks at Rose Hulman, I could tell things that I want to say and I
became able to hear their English better than that time when I came to RHIT. So I enjoyed time at Rose
Hulman. I could broke my prejudice and change it. And I can see clearly many good points of Japan within
3 weeks. Now I think that I want to learn at graduate school in America and I want to apply to midterm
study abroad program of Aizu University. Then I thought that I want to know a lot of things. It was
important experience for me to spend time at Rose Hulman. I really think that it was good to participate in
short term study abroad program.
________________________________________
New Zealand / University of Waikato 3 weeks
T. A. (a first-year student)
I went to the University of Waikato in New Zealand and study English for three weeks. It was end of
summer and usually top temperature was 28 degree. So it was very comfortable.
I could see a sheep, horses and cattle grazing in the pasture. I picnicked at the sea with my host mother.
New Zealand has plenty of very beautiful nature and I refreshed myself. I enjoyed sheep show and Maori
culture. Kiwi bird hatched from his egg just 3 weeks ago was so lovely.
Overseas students get together and take classes in University of Waikato. That time was spring
vacation, so a lot of Japanese students came to Waikato like me. Therefor all classmates were Japanese.
I felt sad a little. Accordingly every day I talked to a person from other countries at lunch break or after
school. I was able to make friends with some people and have exchanged e-mail.
The food was good. Mainly I had a potato and beef. I ate chicken and pork either once or twice. My
favorite food is Maori potato which was red and quite sweet. There were a large number of Sushi shops.
However it seemed that sushi roll is popular than hand-shaped that. As I expected, original sushi was
sold.
________________________________________
Yuji Ishizuka (a third-year student)
I joined in the short term study abroad program because I had wanted to know my English skill at that time
and different culture with my eyes. In my case, it was good opportunity to stay at University of Waikato
three weeks. It changed my thought about various things.
I experienced homestay for the first time in this study abroad. There was a Chinese student and he had
already stayed at my host family. I could get familiar with the host family thanks to him. I had got a bus to
go to University, but sometimes I let five or more buses go because they had been so crowded. On
another occasion I was talked to by people didn’t know when I had been waiting for a bus and I was
surprised. We talked about Japanese comics. These are a good memory now.
I studied English mainly this time in Waikato Pathways College. Students were in the class depending on
their English ability for a class policy. We learned knowledge to be necessary in speaking English, which
is grammar, a word, pronunciation, speaking, writing English including the listening. Especially, many
classes were about pronunciation, speaking and writing English and they were discussion forms. As a
result, I could talk with various foreign students and was able to express my thought better than I used to.
At this time, I felt talking to other people with English is good method to improve one’s English skills.
I touched New Zealand beautiful nature at various places with my host family, experienced the culture of
Maori, watched a game of the rugby and host family’s relatives gathered and ate lunch and dinner on the
weekend. I was able to enjoy New Zealand. I felt lovingness of the family through homestay. Besides I live
by myself and miss it, I felt my host family valued time for family.
It was very serious and uneasy to spend three weeks with other language at a strange place, but, finally,
many fresh experiences and discoveries overcame them. However, I often felt regret more than
confidence in this study abroad. On the other hand, I think it is not provided by living in Japan and it’s very
valuable. I want to change it into confidence without wasting it. If you are interested in study abroad, you
should apply for a study abroad and it makes you grow.
________________________________________
Ryota Kanai (a second-year student)
It takes 15 hours to go to New Zealand from Japan. So we were tired from only going there.
We studied English in university and enjoyed homestay. But for language study abroad, there are so
many Japanese, so it is not good.
However, I could learn about culture of New Zealand by participating in this study abroad program.
Waikato University provided some tour events, so we can participate in them. And we had plenty of free
time, so we can go there if we want to.
In Hamilton, there is a museum, garden that collected from various countries, various country's
restaurant.
Prices in New Zealand are higher than Japan. But public transportation is not expensive. So we don't
have difficulty for money to go somewhere.
This study abroad was 3 weeks short, but I was satisfied.
_______________________________________
Akari Harada (a second-year student)
I went to study abroad in University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand for three weeks.
I did a homestay during my stay in New Zealand. There was a Chinese student in my house. It was the
first time that I went to study abroad and did a homestay, so I was nervous and I couldn’t get familiar with
my host family. But, my host family made many joke and friendly atmosphere. And they took me to
shopping and they are very friendly, so my nerves feeling gradually softened. In addition, I and my host
sister who is a Chinese student were close in age, so I could talk a lot with her while laughing in English
and It became the good memory that we had a good time.
And I went to the language school called Path Way College at Waikato University. I took classes from 9
am to 2 pm. But If I took elective class, it ended at 4 pm. I had Intermediate English Class. There were
12~16 people in my class. We talked about what happened yesterday with our neighbor at the beginning
of the class every day. We considered and discussed about some questions given in class with each
neighbor many times. In addition, we change our seat every day in my class, so I could talked to everyone
and I was able to make some good friends. They were very friendly, so I could communicate with them in
English. Therefore, my English conversation ability improved.
I was thinking what I should do to improve my English conversation ability in this studying abroad
program. Then I thought what most important is the
strong intention to tell something to someone and want
to know that person or share something what I'm
interested in now. There were many things that I didn’t
know. For example I didn’t know how to use credit card
and get on bus. But as I didn’t know how to do, I had to
solve the problem by myself. So, my communication skill
and activeness improved without even realizing. This studying abroad program became a very good
experience for me. I want to make this experience useful for my study in the future.
________________________________________
Yuta Watanabe (a fourth-year student)
First I saw the information about this program at my University and felt this was so interesting and I
would try to register. For 21 days from 21st February to 14th March 2015, I studied at the University of
Waikato. When I first arrived at the host father’s home I really didn’t know what to expect and I was
worried that everything would be too difficult, but all of the host family were really nice and I was able to
settle into the daily life really quickly. I got a lot of experience including English language and how to live
the life as New Zealand people. I took part in this program because I think it help my speaking and
listening skills in English a lot. I was able to make new friends that I hope to keep in touch with for years
to come. Finally, I hope that if there is another good Waikato program like this program, I would like to join
it.
________________________________________
China / DNA Program 3 weeks
Yuki Iguro (a third-year student)
I participated in DNA Program because I had been interested in the style of study in China and I wanted to
experience overseas internship. As personal impression I thought that Chinese people study hard and
thoroughly, so I wanted to know the attitude to study in Chinese students. I also thought that this program
is good chance to experience to work overseas because this opportunity is not much.
Schedule in Dalian was taking classes in the morning, lunch, and internship in the afternoon. When I
attended Japanese language class, students were active and voluntary. It was impressive that each
student speaks loudly in speaking training. According to local students, they study in a library in holidays
to pass Japanese Language Proficiency Test. I was overwhelmed by their strong desire to study.
Furthermore, first year students have to study by themselves from 7 o’clock until the starting time of
morning class and from the end of afternoon class until 21 o’clock. I surprised they study in such hard
environment.
In the afternoon internship, I listened to explanation of job description such as planning, developing,
designing, manufacturing, and testing of car navigating devices. I experienced the part of the job through
watching and touching products. It was a precious opportunity to know the flow of manufacturing.
My impression of China changed significantly, aside from the purpose of participating. Before going to
China I had an image that strong-willed people are the majority. However, I found a lot of people in Dalian
are so kind and friendly. Actually, some are shy, and some like a joke, there are many kinds of people. I
found an individual person is similar to that in Japan, it was a significant gap compared with before.
DNA Program is good chance to know the truth in China comparing with own impression, not only
experience overseas internship. If you are interested in China, I would like to recommend this program.
________________________________________
Misato Morino (a second-year student)
When I applied to DNA program, my parents didn’t allow me to go to China and we had a dispute by
telephone. Eventually they gave up persuasion and said “Do whatever you want”, then I stayed in China
for two weeks by signature on a pledge. I had some reasons to go to China until then, the biggest one of
them was that I wanted to improve the present situation, image of Japan and China is worse each other
by mass media and so on.
I know my Chinese friends do not have anti-Japanese feeling or commit breach of manners and they’re
kinder than Japanese people. I wondered why people have no good impression against China like my
parents. I thought I should go to China and get the information about what China is like, difference
between Japan and China, what people think of Japan.
In an internship, we visited each department and had explanation about what they are in charge of.
Sometimes we could touch the products or test products. We also went to a factory in 金州 for trying out.
At ALPINE which has branch all over the world, we learned about responsibility and duty to work at a
global company.
The university where we stayed (東軟信息学院) was ten times larger than our University of Aizu, but they
said it’s smaller so I was surprised. Chinese students were really more diligent than Japanese students,
they could speak Japanese very well like Japanese people even they learned for only three years. They
said “We studied hard because we love Japan”. When they were freshman and sophomore, they stayed
at university from 7:30 to 20:30 for classes and study self, they said. I thought Japanese students should
imitate their attitude.
On holiday or after the internship, we had exchange culture with Chinese students. We had a common
topic like our major or cartoons, and we still continue our communication by the Internet. Through this
program, I got some finding and self-examination, for example, responsibility to work in global society,
how I felt about China with myself, my attitude toward my study. I will make myself develop by this
experiences and I should contribute to improve Japanese image against China
________________________________________
Kaori Yatsu (a first-year student)
I participated in two weeks study abroad program and internship at Dalian Neusoft University of
Information in Dalian City in China. It was the first time for study abroad and internship for me, but I was
very stimulated by this experience.
The first, my attitudes toward China was changed. Before going to study abroad I did not have good
image to China. But I went to Dalian, everyone was just good people, so I became embarrassed.
Second, we had soldering experience at intern destination, Alpine, now I think I want more e-work and it’s
fun than I thought.
And third, I became aware of the differences between Japanese and Chinese culture. Japanese think
personal space is very important, but in China they think it important to share something with everybody.
At the beginning, I was not used to the custom but I was able to become friends with them immediately.
I want to continue to participate in various exchanges from now as well as reflect on the narrowness of my
field of view through this study abroad.
________________________________________