M.L.O 5: Culture internalization and Language Immersion
Outcome Requirements:
Students demonstrate that they have actively immersed themselves in authentic Japanese cultural and linguistic environments and have internalized the language and cultural experience, from which they have developed a personal understanding and new perspectives of the community.
WLC's Japanese program has exchange agreements with Dokkyo University, J.F. Oberlin University, Chuo University, Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, Toyo University, and Okayama University. In addition, through CSU International Programs, you can study at Waseda University and Tsukuba University.
Students demonstrate that they have actively immersed themselves in authentic Japanese cultural and linguistic environments and have internalized the language and cultural experience, from which they have developed a personal understanding and new perspectives of the community.
WLC's Japanese program has exchange agreements with Dokkyo University, J.F. Oberlin University, Chuo University, Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, Toyo University, and Okayama University. In addition, through CSU International Programs, you can study at Waseda University and Tsukuba University.
Study Abroad Experience: Okayama Japan- 1 year (Fall 2012- Spring 2013)
MLO Reflection:
MLO 5 has us shown that we immersed ourselves in the Japanese culture; through which, we developed new knowledge and perspectives about the community.
Personally, my study abroad experience was probably the most impactful thing I had ever done. Firstly, I went abroad expecting to have the best time of my life. I expected to study, but not as much as I did. I made tons of friends with whom I experienced part of the culture that I never expected to. Namely, this is the drinking culture in Japan. I wasn't much of a drinker before I went to Japan, in fact I am incredibly weak with alcohol and find myself slightly more than drunk after a single glass of wine, but in Japan being weak or strong with alcohol doesn't really seem to matter. On the weekends drinking is a very widely expected way to pass the time. While drinking either in the park or their drinking bars, not only students, but business men as well, are able to let loose and forget all the stress that had piled up during the week. When I asked one of my friends about this, they said that because the Japanese society is so professional, the only time Japanese citizens can relax is within an Izakaya. Going to an Izakaya is sometimes a daily thing for business men. There are higher end Izakayas that can be used for business deals, or there are the one’s that mainly cater to college students. On numerous occasions I even saw families come into Izakayas which struck me as inappropriate. But again my friend explained that it is not all that rare to see families with their children come in an Izakaya to eat.
Another part of the culture I found interesting was the fact that Japanese citizens don’t expect a foreigner to speak Japanese; in fact, no matter how often you speak to them they will either complement your Japanese, or compliment how good it has become. I personally was asked asked probably every day where I studied Japanese, and how long I had been studying. I found that part of the culture a great way to start conversations and develop new friendships.
One part of Japanese culture I didn't get to partake in very often was traveling, but on the off chance I did get to travel, I often spoke to random people, like shop owners and flight attendants. After awhile I developed a sort of pride in my Japanese speaking ability because I was able to speak easily with people I had not met prior to then. One example is my trip to Hiroshima, and though I felt rather looked down on while I was there it was very impactful for me. While I was staying in a Japanese hostel, I went to ask a waitress if I could have breakfast, and even though I spoke to her in Japanese, she replied saying she didn’t speak English, and I said told her that it was fine because I was ordering in Japanese. Although, when this happened, I knew that I had made some mistakes, this was probably one of the first times while being abroad that I was able to be on my own and not rely on anyone else for help. After this, I had started going around my city more and finding new places that would allow me to speak with people that never really spoke to foreigners before. I also joined in education events put on by certain English companies, as well as gave a lecture explaining California to a group of 200 or so high school students. I may have studied a lot, but I did it in a way that forced me to talk and partake in Japanese daily.
I didn’t find anything about studying abroad to be difficult. To me, everything I did was a new experience that helped me grow into the person I am now. I developed the desire to study second language acquisition, which hopefully I will return to graduate school to do. I believe I also changed as a person. Since returning, I've often been told that my personality has changed into that of a, “calm Japanese monk” as one of my co-workers puts it. Personally, I do attribute this to what I experienced while I was abroad, and do believe that because I studied abroad I became a better person.
MLO Reflection:
MLO 5 has us shown that we immersed ourselves in the Japanese culture; through which, we developed new knowledge and perspectives about the community.
Personally, my study abroad experience was probably the most impactful thing I had ever done. Firstly, I went abroad expecting to have the best time of my life. I expected to study, but not as much as I did. I made tons of friends with whom I experienced part of the culture that I never expected to. Namely, this is the drinking culture in Japan. I wasn't much of a drinker before I went to Japan, in fact I am incredibly weak with alcohol and find myself slightly more than drunk after a single glass of wine, but in Japan being weak or strong with alcohol doesn't really seem to matter. On the weekends drinking is a very widely expected way to pass the time. While drinking either in the park or their drinking bars, not only students, but business men as well, are able to let loose and forget all the stress that had piled up during the week. When I asked one of my friends about this, they said that because the Japanese society is so professional, the only time Japanese citizens can relax is within an Izakaya. Going to an Izakaya is sometimes a daily thing for business men. There are higher end Izakayas that can be used for business deals, or there are the one’s that mainly cater to college students. On numerous occasions I even saw families come into Izakayas which struck me as inappropriate. But again my friend explained that it is not all that rare to see families with their children come in an Izakaya to eat.
Another part of the culture I found interesting was the fact that Japanese citizens don’t expect a foreigner to speak Japanese; in fact, no matter how often you speak to them they will either complement your Japanese, or compliment how good it has become. I personally was asked asked probably every day where I studied Japanese, and how long I had been studying. I found that part of the culture a great way to start conversations and develop new friendships.
One part of Japanese culture I didn't get to partake in very often was traveling, but on the off chance I did get to travel, I often spoke to random people, like shop owners and flight attendants. After awhile I developed a sort of pride in my Japanese speaking ability because I was able to speak easily with people I had not met prior to then. One example is my trip to Hiroshima, and though I felt rather looked down on while I was there it was very impactful for me. While I was staying in a Japanese hostel, I went to ask a waitress if I could have breakfast, and even though I spoke to her in Japanese, she replied saying she didn’t speak English, and I said told her that it was fine because I was ordering in Japanese. Although, when this happened, I knew that I had made some mistakes, this was probably one of the first times while being abroad that I was able to be on my own and not rely on anyone else for help. After this, I had started going around my city more and finding new places that would allow me to speak with people that never really spoke to foreigners before. I also joined in education events put on by certain English companies, as well as gave a lecture explaining California to a group of 200 or so high school students. I may have studied a lot, but I did it in a way that forced me to talk and partake in Japanese daily.
I didn’t find anything about studying abroad to be difficult. To me, everything I did was a new experience that helped me grow into the person I am now. I developed the desire to study second language acquisition, which hopefully I will return to graduate school to do. I believe I also changed as a person. Since returning, I've often been told that my personality has changed into that of a, “calm Japanese monk” as one of my co-workers puts it. Personally, I do attribute this to what I experienced while I was abroad, and do believe that because I studied abroad I became a better person.
Please see "My Year Abroad" page for evidence showing my year abroad