国際交流センター

【留学先】  College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University
【学　部】  外国語学部　国際教養コミュニケーション専攻　　　
【期　間】  2022年8月22日～2023年5月16日　　　　　　　　　　　
【氏　名】  E・Yさん（留学時：2～3年生）

  My New Discoveries

          The reasons why I participated in the 9-month exchange study abroad program were because I thought that going to the country and experiencing the culture would be more powerful than learning about that in classes. I set up three goals that I would like to achieve during the first half of my study abroad period. My goal is to improve my reading comprehension during the time, because my reading score was very low in the TOEFL test that I needed to participate in. The second is to live in a different culture than before, so I’d like to touch a new culture for me and also learn about it. There are so many people with different cultures at CSBSJU. I want to put myself in a different environment and get in touch with many cultures. Third, as a student of education courses, I would like to learn about the American education systems and the historical background that explains why the current education systems were created.

This college is not in the city, so I can put myself in an environment that focuses on studying. I am grateful to have a roommate, because she taught me how to live in a dorm and in Minnesota. Also, my roommate has Mexican roots, so it was a good opportunity to learn a different culture and make friends with various cultures, which is my goal. The dormitory is on the campus and the time to class takes only 10 to 20 minutes, that is one of the reasons why I use my time more effectively than life in Japan. Also, the campus is surrounded by nature. I think that I can relax naturally even though the environment has changed. I think that the college being in the country side leads to good experience, because I can do activities on campus that I can’t do unless the place is surrounded by nature, such as canoeing.

As for classes, the time of each class is 55 or 80 minutes, so I feel that I can concentrate and participate easier. Basically, students read essays, reference material, and use the textbook for assignments, and the classes are held in the form of discussion. There are a lot of assignments focusing on reading, but I think the form of class will definitely help students. In addition, one thing that is common in all classes is that the topic and issues to be addressed are not often dealt with in Japan. They are all issues that have become problems in the global society, so it is important to keep in mind. I think I am starting to see things from different angles that I used to. In order to learn about American education, I am taking a class in the department of education called “Teaching in a diverse world” this semester. In class, we researched American education every half century and each group gave presentations in the class. I was able to deepen my understanding of education from a different perspective from Japan. The American education systems are very different from Japan, and I didn’t understand about it all, so I had a hard time understanding various vocabulary and class contents. However, by going to the professor’s office after the class and asking questions every time, I was able to understand.

          What I have achieved so far in terms of the goals I have set is to come into contact with and understand a new culture. When I came into contact with a new culture, my friends and professors asked me about Japanese culture, and I learned that religions are important in the U.S. So, it also leads to reconfirming Japanese culture and religions. As for reading, I am definitely reading more now than when I was in Japan, but I am aware that I am still lacking, so I will continue to do my best. I feel that I am able to understand the historical background behind the education systems in America and the reasons why the current education was created. Right now, my favorite thing about living in an environment different from Japan is that I get to experience nature and various things that I cannot experience in Japan and discover what I really want to do in the future.

This is a picture taken when we (Tom, Yuto, Kosuke, Mei, and I) were on a canoe.