Vol. 11 February 1, 2011
2011: BENCHMARK YEAR!
International Center Director: Mike Matsuno very Happy New Year to all of you! 2011 will be a ple outside of Japan. Moreover, we will also focus on help benchmark year for the International Center. Up ing to complete the experience/individual, of students return until this last year, we were mainly focusing on ing to Japan after a study abroad experience. We will work A new exchange partner agreements, language re to create challenging courses and stimulating opportunities quirements, and partner programs; the so called “pull” fac for them upon their return to OGU. tors of the outbound study abroad experience. Beginning 2011 will be an exciting, powerful year for the International this year, we will concentrate on the “push” factors for our Center, I Chat Lounge, Japanese Studies Program, Shoin outbound students. Prior to departure, our students require Teachers, and the ISST members. Please join us as we hands on, practical instruction and guidance in terms of take the next big step to internationalize our students and social skills, interpersonal communication, and basics of campus wide environment. how to interact/behave/participate with non Japanese peo
Yusuke Tsuruoka (Foreign Language, Senior) Lithuania is one of the countries Japanese do not know much about. His tory notes that the Japanese foreign ambassador, Mr. Chiune Sugihara, saved 6,000 Jewish people during the Second World War in Lithuania. There is a street named “Sugihara Street” in Kaunas City to honor his courage. OGU sent the first OGU student to study abroad in Lithuania last September. Let’s take a look at his life in a European country where it is rare to spot Asian people.
have been studying at Vilnius Uni tional business in one of the newly reno versity in Lithuania since last Sep vated buildings. It is a shame I rarely tember. Lithuania is one of the Baltic have a chance to visit the old campus. I States located near Russia. Still a About four months ago, I arrived here developing country, it only has a few in high sprits. Everything seemed to be modern buildings. The old urban area so new and exciting. I was looking so was designated as a World Heritage site, forward to starting my brand new life in where you can find traces of medieval Lithuania. However, soon I found out it times and will rarely see any Asian peo was only a dream. I was majoring in Eng ple, much less Japanese citizens. This is lish at OGU yet, the program I participate (Top) Dormitory student residents a great place to enjoy European atmos in here is the international business pro (Yusuke third from right) phere and culture. Vilnius University is gram. It was a new field for me. At first, I (Bottom) Vilnius University located in the capital of Lithuania and had to become accustomed to a very was founded in 1579, which makes it one different instructional style. Students the new field in English, and people often of the oldest Eastern European universi here are the main players in the class pointed out my low level of English. I ties. One can see remnants of some room. They are often expected to lead didn’t understand what others were say historical buildings spread out like discussions and give presentations. I ing and I could not explain what I wanted mazes, and a huge cathedral at the rear was continuously lost throughout class. to say, so I had a very difficult time com of the campus. I really appreciate these Also, I encountered a huge language municating with others. I was the only sites, yet unfortunately, I study interna barrier. It was extremely difficult to learn Japanese person in the entire dormitory. Page 2
I felt very lonely at times. Everything here My message to those who aim to study here in Lithuania. Fortunately, I am the was challenging for me: cooking, doing abroad in the future: “Take risks your only Japanese person on campus and laundry that my mother always did for self.” I believe this is the most important although I faced some adversities from me, paper work, unusual weather condi tip for a successful study abroad experi time to time, I took risks and tried many tions and much more. Looking back on ence. I have seen many international new things and overcame many obsta my early experiences here; I can now students who only spent time with stu cles. As a result, I now really enjoy my see how the challenges naturally forced dents from their same home country and life here. I hope you will also challenge me to improve my English skills rapidly. I spoke in their language all the time. Un yourself to try different things during your matured a lot. Now, as I reflect back, fortunately, those same students re four year university life. Even, if they those experiences have become only turned home without improving their for seem too difficult in the beginning. good memories. eign language skills at all. It is similar Homare Masuoka (International Studies, Junior) Unique to the University of Gävle in Sweden is a special program in Nordic Ecology. This program is offered at no other known university. After an absence of a few years, OGU sent one female student to par ticipate in the special program instructed in English, and to learn the parallels of physical fitness and the connection it has to life skills.
hy Sweden?” Everyone to learn all the biology terms and under asked me. Many were curi stand the lectures in English. I was ous as to the reason I had often lost throughout class. This course W n’t selected an English is also quite different from other speaking country if I wanted to master courses at University of Gävle because the English language. Unlike others, I classes were not held regularly. Each wanted to do something non traditional week, class times fluctuated from twice if I have a chance to study overseas. a week to four times a week. This pre When I saw the outdoor course in the vented me from registering for other exchange student guidebook, it defi regular courses such as Swedish lan nitely peaked my interest! guage. Yes, that was unfortunate, how Even before leaving for Sweden, I ever my experience overall was very encountered minor challenges. The interesting and would have been im University of Gävle does not have a possible to get any other way. Class dormitory, so I needed to find an apart was often held in the outdoors away ment. It took me a long time to locate from campus. The classes included
one and I barely secured the place activities such as: camping and hiking, With classmates shortly before my departure. That made canoeing, visiting national parks, mines me a little nervous! Even then, I wasn’t and many other interesting sites in the study English at OGU. I personally able to move in upon my arrival and field. I was very lucky to be given the think that in order to ensure success in had to spend the first several days in opportunity to visit places I would have this program, a student will needs Eng Sweden at a youth hostel. I later found otherwise never had the chance to see lish skills far above the required level out that other international students ran as a tourist in Sweden. Only a small on the exchange program application. across the same problem. group of students register for this A student in this program really should What did I learn in the Nordic Ecol course, so we developed strong bonds have the ability to use English effec ogy course you might ask? I learned all with one another. In fact, they helped tively on a daily basis. This is a very about Biology! Although I was aware I me with my homework everyday. challenging program; so if you want to would be taking biology, I never A word to those interested in partici do something unique and a little alter dreamed it was the majority of the pating in this program in the future: you native, try this Nordic Ecology program. course. I had never taken any biology will study all about biology once in Swe I am confident you have never experi courses at OGU, so it was challenging den. Beforehand, it is crucial that you enced anything like it!
Marta Aðalsteinsdóttir (University of Iceland) We welcomed our first two stu celand is an island in northern beneath ice caps. Iceland’s largest dents from Iceland this school Europe, between the Greenland glacier is larger than all of Europe's this year. How many of you have Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. glaciers combined. 2 been to Iceland before? In this I It is in total 103.000 km and the I came to Japan on the evening of article, you will learn about the population is about 320.000. The September 2, 2010. I got a major culture in Iceland through the capital and the largest city is Reykjavík. culture shock; everything was very Iceland is volcanically and geologically eyes of one of our international different from what I was used to in active because it is situated on top of a students; Marta. Iceland. I didn’t understand anyone, it hot spot. Hot springs can be found was extremely hot, and the city seemed scattered all over the island because of humongous to me. I was so homesick this hot spot. Despite all the heat in the that I did nothing but cry and wish that I earth a full 11 % of the island is buried could turn around and go go back Page 3
home. Now I have been in Japan for own misery. I have decided to enjoy my system; had one of the best soba almost 5 months and everyday I feel time in Japan even more for those who noodles in Japan on top of Mt. Hiezan; grateful that my wish of going home could not stay longer. and so much more. never came true. The Japanese and Icelandic cultures I’ve had a fantastic time in Japan but it I have come to love Japan and the life are very different. I admit that some hasn’t been just all fun and games. I I have made for myself here. I would be things in Japanese culture I don’t had to live alone which is something I lying if I said I didn’t miss my family and understand and even find ridiculous at have never done before. I have never friends in Iceland, but here I’ve also times. But I respect the culture and lived in a foreign country before and made friends, friends I can call family. understand that even if one is raised have never spent this much time away My stay in Japan and the people I’ve with one mentality in mind it doesn’t from my family. I admit that sometimes met here have given many positive make a different one wrong. I am in no I thought about going back to my little things for both my self confidence and position to judge others, I came here island because there life just seemed independence. I feel much closer to not only to learn the language, but also easier for me, since it’s my own knowing who I am and what I want from to observe the culture and learn from it. country. Yet, if life was that simple, then life due to my time in Japan. I have met Everyday I watch the Japanese to see it wouldn’t be any fun at all. so many wonderful people here I will what makes them so “Japanese”. never forget; people that have changed I’ve done many things here in Japan my life and way of thinking. My mind that will make for good stories when I has changed and I have grown go home to Iceland. I patted a little mentally. shark at the Kaiyuukan; went to the I’ve had a wonderful time in Japan movies and understood surprisingly and I am very grateful that I get to stay much; was interviewed by random for another semester. Many of my good Japanese students while eating at friends, within the foreign exchange McDonald’s; got lost on numerous program, have returned back to their occassions; helped a drunk Japanese home country. I miss them terribly, but man out of a ditch; got to experience With Japanese Level 3 classmate no good comes from wallowing in one’s Japanese hospitals and healthcare and teacher (Marta second from the right)
New Partner Universities! centennial in 2006. The Korean Government started Re In 2010 OGU partnered with five new universities. As a result, we now serve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) have a total of 46 partner universities located in 21 different countries targeting female university students last throughout the world. For those students who have the desire and re year. quired dedication to study abroad, there are plenty of new opportunities! ROTC is an educa Metropolitan University Prague tional system in hat comes to mind when you ting using Czech and English. Students which think of Prague? A beautiful study international relations and Euro students W city featured in the movie pean studies. receive “Nodame Cantabile Finale”. Or, per OGU students will participate in the trainings to be officers as well as study haps you enjoy Korean dramas, English or Czech language courses university courses as regular students. “Lovers in Prague”. Or a city known for designed for the international students. Sixty female students were selected Moldau composed by Smetana. The Those with higher English levels may from 7 Korean universities, and among city itself was created along with the also take undergraduate courses. How them, 30 students are from Sookmyung Moldau river in the late 16th century. about studying English in a city rich in Women’s University. Needless to say, Prague is now the capital of the Czech both culture and history, How about they are the elite females in Korea! Republic, which hosts a population of Prague? Although the University name implies it 1.2 million An interesting fact is that only accepts female students, anyone 21,300 out of 1.2 million residents are Sookmyung Women’s can apply for the exchange program. In students. addition to Korean languages classes, A relatively new Metropolitan Univer University there are also specialized courses of sity Prague, was founded in 2001. The onveniently located near the fered in English. It is common for stu total student body is about the same as central train station in Seoul, dents to study to become trilingual in OGU, yet they host about 350 interna C Sookmyung Women’s University Korea. Why not consider studying in tional students on campus. Students was the first private women’s university Korea? study in a full immersion university set in Korea and was founded by the Em press Sunhen, the last emperor of Ko rean Dynasties, Gojong’s wife in 1906. Empress Sunhen believed that women's education was critical for the nation’s development. It was first named Myung sin Girl's School. Later in 1955, it was known as, Sookmyung Women’s Uni versity. The university celebrated their Page 4
Internship Report: Antti Kunnas blocks to employment and also that while some Japanese companies accepted interns, unlike western companies, the system was limited to short periods throughout a month, with no guarantee of a future full time position with that company thereafter. Advice for international stu- dents considering an intern-
Lessons learned during my in- tant lessons I learned from my internship. ship in Japan: Clearly, an internship is a great occa ternship: Observations of job hunting in sion for any international students to During the fall of 2010 and the early part Japan: have a special experience and gain use of 2011, I had the privilege of serving as I worked in the office throughout the ful language skills as well as participate the first intern for the International Center weekdays, with the exception of a few in the job hunting process. That said, if at Osaka Gakuin University. As my first weekends when we sponsored special you do not explore every opportunity to experience working in a Japanese office, events. Throughout my internship, I was grow within the opportunity, your experi I became familiar with office practices fortunate enough to participate in various ence will remain limited to the office. and captured a view of the International job fairs in both Osaka and Tokyo. Al Take a risk and push yourself beyond Center office I had not previously seen though most job fairs were geared for your limits to discover who you really are during my stay as an exchange student. I Japanese nationals, others were useful and what you are truly capable of being. enjoyed the majority of my time in the for international students to attend. Sur During my internship, I not only thought office yet, at times, I felt frustrated. Not prisingly, more companies than I had of the present, I tried to imagine what I only did I dress differently from the aver expected were proactively pursuing the would like my career to be mirror in the age Japanese “office worker”, but also, I recruitment of foreign employees, al future. This method helped me to extend spoke a different style of Japanese in the though the actual number of foreigners in myself through unknown territory seeking office. As an exchange student I never the Japanese work force today is not new experiences to formulate my future felt intimidated to speak the Japanese I clear. life. Most importantly, never waste a had learned; yet in the office I often In June, I will graduate from my home moment of your journey throughout your lacked confidence to speak Japanese university in Finland. If, at that time, I still internship. If you are given the opportu naturally. I worried that I would use incor want to be employed in Japan, it will be nity, don’t waste it, treasure every en rect vocabulary or phrases while speak necessary for me to revisit the job hunt counter . for you may only get one ing. Gaining objective awareness about ing process again next year. It was dis turn! the language errors I made, and how to couraging to learn of the many road correct them, was one of the most impor
KC News OGU Short-term Japanese supported them throughout their stay. We expect to welcome international Program students from the U.S., Canada, and International Student The winter short term Japanese program Korea in the near future. Internship Symposium was held from January 17 to February 4, In January, 3 international students 2011, it welcomed 5 international stu Spring Semester Begins— dents from Soonchunhyang University in started an internship in Japan. They will International Exchange be interns at Fuji Xerox Osaka until May. Korea and 3 students from CQ University Prior to that, the International Student in Australia. They not only studied Japa Program nese and Japanese culture, but visited Internship Symposium was held and The spring semester of the International Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara and other major received 160 attendees from companies, Exchange Program began in January. parts of the Kansai area. OGU students high schools and other universities. Dr. Although, 35 of the 73 internationals hosted them as language partners and James Yellowlees, a representative of students returned to their home coun Canadian Education Alliance, gave the tries, 4 new students came in their place. keynote speech. A variety of presenta The international students can often be tions were also given throughout the spotted spending time with their Japa symposium. Among the featured pre nese friends in the student lounge in senters were Mr. Shiro Yoshimura, a building #1 and at the I Chat lounge in consultant for the Global Recruiting Sup building #13. Those fluent in Japanese port Project of the Osaka Prefectural may take regular undergraduate courses Government, Ms. Tomomi Kumai from beginning in April, so someone sitting in the International Center, and Mr. Antti your class may be a foreign student! Kunnas, an intern at the International Let’s enjoy sharing language and cul Center. tures with them throughput the spring Near Osaka Castle time!
Osaka Gakuin University/Osaka Gakuin Junior College 2-36-1 Kishibe-Minami, Suita City, Osaka 564-8511 Tel: 06-6381-8434 Fax: 06-6381-8499 Email: [email protected]