Vol. 6
March 25, 2010

1. Japanese Study Programs - Short-term
It is our pleasure to begin welcoming short-term study groups as of January 2009. The most recent guests include a ten-day stay by Pai Chai University in January and a well attended short term stay by the University ofMississippi for a month back in June. In 2010, groups of students from Soonchunhyang University and Pai Chai
University came to study Japanese on campus.

【Soonchunhyang University】

S

oonchunhyang University wasestablished in 1978 as a medical
university. They currently have
many overseas partners and accept international students, not only from Asian
countries, but also, from America andEuropean nations. Once the agreementfor “partner exchange” was solidified in
2006, we have actively exchanged students with this partner. Last year, Ms.
Risa Narumi, an OGU sophomore majoring in International Studies studied at
Soonchunhyang University for a semester while OGU welcomed five students
from Korea in exchange.
History was made, when eleven Soonchunhyang University students visited
OGU for the first time to study intensive
Japanese. Although a very short stay,they enjoyed learning Japanese language, Japanese business and history
instructed in Korean. Various cultural
culture and field events were hosted
during the afternoons. They especiallyenjoyed the J-Chat event, held at the IChat Lounge, in which they participatedin games such as “Learning Japan(Top) Students at Kiyomizu Temple(Bottom) Soonchunhyang University students
at the Farewell Party

through food,” enjoyed making Takoyaki,
and mingled among other internationaland OGU students.
The weekend featured a visit to Kyoto
with golden highlights such as a trek tothe Kiyomizu Temple, Gion, andKawaramachi. Students were lucky
enough to even witness a wedding at
Yasaka Shine. They viewed Maiko wearing traditional kimonos on Sannenzaka
and strolled tirelessly throughout thearea while snacking on Japanese sweets
and pickles. Luckily, all students wereable to experience a home stay visit regardless of their level of Japanese. They
greatly appreciated the warm welcomes
they received from all their Japanesehost families.

the Pai Chai University students enjoyedsharing time with the OGU students,
although, their late entertainment sometimes prevented them from getting
enough sleep.

【Pai Chai University】

P

ai Chai University, one of theoldest universities in South Korea,
was founded by a missionary in
1885. The university currently has 44
departments and about 13,000 students.
Since the agreement with OGU was only
recently signed, our students have yet to
study there. However, OGU welcomed
two Pai Chai University students thispast fall.
During January and February approximately 30 students came to OGU to
study Japanese. It has been said, morethan 100 students applied for this program and the selection process wascompetitive. Two Japanese teachers,
Ms. Sinsun He and Ms. Keyongwha Parkescorted the group and taught Japanese
while in Japan. They visited the Asahi
beer factory, the Instant Ramen Museum, Yuzen die factory, and NHK
broadcasting station. They too, attended
the J-Chat Event held at I-Chat Lounge.
They stayed at the Senriyama Seminar
House (OGU’s accommodation facility)
and commuted to OGU each day bytrain. Some of the OGU volunteer students stayed with them as well. Fondly,

Pai Chai University students and
ISST members at the Farewell Party

Language PartnerThe ISST (International Student
Support Team), an OGU volunteer group, successfully served as
language partners for students from both
Soonchunhyang University and Pai Chai
University. ISST students not only taught
language to the exchange students, butalso went out and dined with them. The
Korean students learned authentic spoken Japanese and gained a deeper understanding of Japanese society andculture through this experience. Likewise, OGU students learned much about
Korean culture and increased their interest in the Korean language. Mr. Keisuke
Nitta, one of the ISST student leaders,has been generous enough to share his
perspective in a summary of both eventson the newsletter pages following.

Page 2

“Language Partner ～ My Newfound Knowledge!”
Keisuke Nitta (Sophomore majoring in Foreign Languages)I

was recently fortunate enough to be
selected as a language partner for theinternational students visiting OGU
from both Soonchunhyang University and
Pai Chai University.
Once the Soonchunhyang University
students arrived in Osaka, we met at theStation and immediately visited Osaka
Castle and enjoyed shopping at the mall.
Throughout their stay, we studied language together and visited Kyoto forsightseeing. We actually became very
good friends, and when I look back; I
wish I could have had more time to speakwith them and learn even more about
Korea!
About a week later, the Pai Chai University students visited OGU and stayedat the Senriyama Seminar House, rather
than with home stay families. I tried hard
to communicate with them as much as

possible. We studied and played games
together. I was happy to see that they
started understanding some of what I
said in Japanese as time went by. It wasalso a good opportunity for me to learnsome Korean words.
Through this experience, I realized I
knew very little about the history of myown country of Japan and the Korean
people. While sightseeing together, theKorean students asked me many questions about Japan, but, regrettably, I
failed to answer them. Each evening, athome, I would quickly research Japanese
history in preparation for the following
day. This helped me to become more
proud of Japan and its history and culture. It was apparent that the Korean
students always take great pride in theirhome country. Compared to them, it
seems as if young Japanese people are

Keisuke with Soonchunhyang University students (Upper right)

totally uninterested in Japan. I also
learned that Koreans have a much morestrict hierarchical system than the Japanese. It was a valuable experience for me
to interact authentically with Korean students and learn about the country of Korea. I hope to use this treasured experience in my volunteer activities and college life in the future!

In response to a request from Soonchunhyang University; their students had an opportunity to stay with hostfamilies while visiting Japan. Although, a very short stay, they learned a lot from their Japanese home stayfamilies before returning to Korea. Having previously studied Korean through the OGU Extension Center, Mrs.
Masako Tonai had the privilege of hosting an exchange student for the first time. As a result of her strong
interest in other Asian cultures; she decided to welcome another Korean exchange student, currently studying at
OGU, into her home.

“Life with an exchange student from Soonchunhyang University” by:
Host Mother Masako Tonai

Although Sohee Jang seemed alittle nervous stepping off the airport bus, she graciously greeted
me in Japanese. Filled with excitement; I
forgot what I was supposed to say in

Ms. Miho Yuki:
Japanese InstructorI

recently had the pleasure of teaching
Japanese to a group of students from
Soonchunhyang University. Each ofthem worked tirelessly to study, manywith dictionaries in hand. I was very impressed with their positive attitudes andeagerness to learn. Although a short stay;
I believe their attention and dedication

Korean, even though I had practiced it
several times. The only greeting I could
manage to say was, “An nyeong ha se yo(Hello!).” in Korean.
The next day, I decided to take Sohee
to see her classmate who was staying in
Namba. At the risk of being a hovering
host mother, I wanted to escort her toNamba to ensure she arrived safely. It all
turned out well, and she kindly said,“Thank you for bringing me. I will see you
later.” What a nice host daughter!
Although I prepared some very simple
dishes, we enjoyed meals with rice, miso
soup, fish, vegetables, and also Korean

seaweed or food boiled in soy sauce.
Sohee does not eat Kimchi, Korean spicy
pickles.
Since I know Korean homes are builtwith central heating systems I asked Sohee to pack warm clothes for her stay inJapan. Even then, she wore the extra
gown, socks, and a pair of slippers I
brought out for her. I felt bad, my house
was still too cold for her.
On the last day, I enjoyed time alone
with Sohee. She kindly left me a thankyou letter and she still emails me once
every three days. I think of my daughter
in Korea everyday!

Ms. Yuki, an instructor at the International Center, shares a story about
her exchange students and their dedicated efforts to study intensive
Japanese under her direction. She recently had the pleasure of teachinga class visiting from Soonchunhyang University. She has also had theopportunity to teach exchange students from The University ofMississippi in the past and currently teaches a J-Bridge course offered tointernational students at OGU.
during class contributed to an improvement in their Japanese speaking level.
Many also shared with me their wonderfulexperiences of living with a host family.
Some were very fond of the culture; others loved the homemade Japanesedishes. Overall, the students left Japan
with many good memories: life with ahost family, engaging economic classes

instructed by Professor Park, various field
trips, Kyoto sightseeing and several exchange activities hosted by the OGU
volunteer student leaders. With hugesmiles on their faces on the last day ofclass, some replied “We will come backto Osaka for sure!” I very much enjoyedteaching these students and look forward
to seeing them again in the future!

Page 3

“Overcoming Challenges”
Universite d'Orleans, Ryusuke Kajiya (Junior majoring in International Studies)Icurrently study French at the Universite d'Orleans. Both exchange students and students from various partsof France study at this university. I feel
lucky because I can learn different styles
of French from different points of view.
Throughout France, language accentsand dialects are quite different dependingon the region you live in. Additionally,
many immigrants from Africa and Asia
speak French with distinctive accents andvarious styles.
In my classes, students often discuss
ceremonial functions, manners andevents in diversified countries and regions and later make presentations reflecting these topics. It took me awhile tofeel comfortable with this style of classroom instruction. I also had a difficult time
keeping up to speed with the other international students who spoke Frenchmore fluent than I. However, after several
months, I was able to deal with it all andmy language level surprisingly increased.
I believe this happened because I got

used to the new environment, became
more relaxed and began to think morenaturally around others.
I also think that I am less afraid to fail,which enabled me to quickly grow moreaccustomed to my new environment. In
the beginning, I was embarrassed tomake mistakes, so I remained quiet andnever tried to speak out or take a risk.
Although, I naturally continue to makesome language mistakes, I don’t dwell onthem and am more comfortable when I
am corrected. Fortunately, none of myclassmates judged me or made me feel
uncomfortable when I said something
incorrectly. This type of learning environment truly helped me to feel comfortableand become a meaningful part of thegroup.
When learning a language, it is crucial
to try and speak, make natural mistakes
and expect this will happen. No matter
how much you study and how hard you
try, it will be difficult to measure howmuch your language ability has improved.
You may feel frustrated and a little
stressed when you don’t understand what
others are saying or what you are reading. This can be discouraging at times
and may make you less motivated tocontinue studying. Rather than be disappointed, it is critical to be even more positive than usual. It helps me to tell myself“everyone makes mistakes” and it is quite
all right! Be prepared to work hard and if
you continue your efforts to study diligently, you will achieve your goal quite
rapidly. This is the most valuable lesson I
have learned thus far in France.
Thinking about studying abroad? Have
concerns or worries about learning aforeign language? While, it is indeed important to acquire good study skills, more
importantly, being consistent, proactive
and willing to take a risk is the key. I hope
my story will help you to dream for yourfuture.
Remember,whateveryou
do……..try your very best!

“Taiwan and Me” – My Journey in Taiwan”
Providence University, Erika Kojima (Junior majoring in International Studies)Seven months have already passed
since I began to study Chinese at
Providence University. Time certainly flies and I am carefully contemplating how I will spend my last few months
here. Taiwan is close to Japan and it issaid that both countries are similar in
culture. So it may be a familiar country forsome Japanese. Some still believe Taiwan is a part of China, some are not sure
where Taiwan is located, and others
know nothing about Taiwan. I will shareinteresting points about Taiwan and its
culture, and customs in hopes you will be
as inspired by this lovely country as I am.
“Sweet!” One of the first and mostimpressive culture shocks for me was
how sweet the tea is in Taiwan. The tea
is the most common beverage, consumed, is dark black and tastes very
sweet. For those who do not enjoy thisstrong flavor should be sure to mention

Erika with her friend and her family
at Gaoxiong (4th from left)“without sugar” when placing their order.
Summer is the longest season in Taiwan
and the temperature goes up to 18 to 24
degrees. Drink stands and shops pop up
everywhere beginning in the month ofMarch.
One of the most famous events in Taiwanese culture is the popular night market. There, you can find cheap, rare andtasty foods of all types from various regions throughout the country. You canalso enjoy shopping and playing games.
Some of my favorites are the fruits anddumplings; they are both so delicious andare always a popular choice. Most Japanese people don’t like the sticky, smelly
tofu known as “chòudòufu.” It is similar to
how some foreigners, who visit Japan, do
not understand the fondness Japanesepeople have for natto. I found this aninteresting cultural difference.
The Foreign Languages Department at
Providence University is well known.
Many international students study not
only Chinese, but also English. You
would be surprised to see how many
students come here to study English.
Each language class contains a small
group of only 4 to 6 students. Teachers
are active and cheerful, and give each
student individual attention. Sometimes
we learn culture by cooking dumplings orOnigiri in class. Exchange students arealso provided with two tutors.

Taiwan is such a small island; visitors
can travel the country quickly and efficiently with enough time. Trains, super
express trains and highway buses are themost popular forms of transportation.
Travel time between Taichung and Taipei
in the north, and Taichung and Takao inthe south is approximately two and a half
hours. If you enjoy traveling, this is aplace to do it! When the weather gets
warmer, you can see beautiful flowers
close to the mountains and near theocean and learn about traditional festivalsof indigenous groups in the eastern partsof Taiwan. Each region of Taiwan highlights different features, which enables
visitors to see the country from various
perspectives and never get bored.
Initially, I decided to study abroad tosimply have a unique college experience,
however, this experience has turned out
to be very meaningful! With each passing
day, my adventure becomes even more
profound as I am constantly learning! If
you too want a valuable life experience,
your future depends on the initiative you
take now for your future. While it is important to acquire the language when studying abroad, equally important, is discovering new things about yourself which will
naturally boost your self-confidence. Try
new things…you just may find yourself ina remarkable country like Taiwan or evensomewhere else!

Page 4“My Four Years at OGU” by: Daichi Tanabe (Alumni- Class of 2008)

I

believe my four years at OGU was ahuge turning point in my life. Playing
baseball was the only thing I really did
throughout high school, so to be honest,
I didn’t like to study at all in college. I am
now studying at graduate school in the
US and I must study a lot! When I was inhigh school I rarely received above average grades on any of my English exams.
My goal at OGU was to become proficient in English. Although, I still don’t feel
I have completely accomplished that
goal, I have always thought studying
abroad was a sure shortcut to achieving
my dream. From the first day I set foot in
the International Center; I was determined to attend the University of St. Thomas.” The reason I chose this university
was because I could take undergraduate
courses with American students, possibly
become a scholarship recipient, and it
required the highest TOEFL score criteria for admissions. I wanted to challenge
myself as much as possible. I knew next
to nothing about the TOEFL test, so
naturally, I had no idea how difficult it
would be to achieve a high enough score
to be selected. Once I became a sophomore, I started studying for the TOEFL
test in the library almost everyday. I also
attended the I-Chat Lounge frequently to
improve my English conversation skills.
When I became a junior, my dream came
true; I was accepted as an exchange
student at the University of St. Thomas.
At first, life at St. Thomas was very
challenging for me. I was required toconverse with Americans, submit papers
written in English and read many course
materials and textbooks. I had the wonderful opportunity of experiencing manythings I would never be able to in Japan.
For example: I gave speeches and pres-entation in English to American audiences. This experience gave me much
more self-confidence. Besides taking
courses, I participated in club activities,
enjoyed snowboarding, and spent Christmas and Thanksgiving with my host family. At the same time, I was able to see
Japan with an outside perspective andfelt it was actually a very small place onearth. American students knew about
Japanese automobiles and electronic
brand names, but many didn’t realize
they were actually names for Japanesecompanies. This surprised me. I also
realized the greatness of my own country’s educational system. One day, I gavea speech on the Japanese education
system. In mentioning to my classmatesthat the literacy rate in Japan neared
100%, some of my American classmatesgasped with shock! Until then, I took it for
granted that I could read and write without any problems. After my presentation,
I realized it was because everyone inJapan had the opportunity to receive an
equal education. Knowing this made mevery proud of my home country of Japan.
My year in Minnesota was an unforgettable memory for me. Looking back, I think
my dream to study abroad and at a specific University all came true!
I am currently attending graduate
school, majoring in TESOL, at The University of Mississippi in the US. You
would not believe the amount of readingand homework required of my graduate
program in comparison to an undergraduate level. However, due to mystudy abroad experience in St. Thomas, I
was much more prepared for my life here
in graduate school. My current goal is tograduate with my Masters degree on
time. It takes much effort and commit-

ment to graduate from a US graduate
school. After graduation, I would like toreturn to Japan and find a job in which I
can make the most of my new skills andexperiences I have here at the Universityof Mississippi.
It is up to you to decide how you
spend your four years at OGU. If you
have something in mind you would like toaccomplish, please start now! Don’t wait!
Get started as soon as possible fulfillingyour dream! Although it sounds easy,
truly it is not. Make no mistake; it is extremely difficult to follow through on yourdream and it requires hard work! At
times, you may need to sacrifice otherthings along the way. However, thesense of fulfillment and the self- confidence you obtain when you accomplish
your dream will greatly influence your lifeand shape the person you will become in
the future. Four years may seem like along time to you now, yet, it is actually avery short time and will pass by quickly! I
hope you will not allow even one- minuteto slip by, but rather, will use your college
time effectively and work hard to makeyour dream come true. I wish you all
good luck!

Daichi (Left) with his host family during
his stay at University of St. Thomas

The CET-OGU Signing Ceremony

President Shirai with Ms. Simpson
from CET AcademicsW

e are pleased to announce thesigning of our first agreementwith the independent study
abroad agency CET Academic. In January we welcomed President Kate Simpson, Mr. Anthony Ogden and Ms. Kate
Maruyama, from the United States, to
OGU to discuss our new relationship andits promising future. The first group of
students from the US will arrive in May ofthis year. What is CET all about, you
might ask? Since its foundation in 1982,
CET has been offering innovative independent study abroad programs in
China, Czech, Italy, Spain, Syria, andVietnam. They currently dispatch approximately 1,000 students to thesecountries annually. After a competitive
selection process, OGU was selected as
their choice venue for their new Japanese studies program! Nearly all of theinternational students currently studying
at OGU are from existing partner universities. Beginning in May, many American
students will be enrolled by CET to study
on our campus. Our tireless efforts to
expand OGU’s international outreachand to internationalize the campus continue to gain momentum. The International Center’s long-term goals are moving even closer to reality!

OGU Campus

Page 5

Korean Speech Contest
Recipient:
Hidenori Matsutani, aJunior majoring in
Foreign Languages

H

idenori, who you may remember
was featured in a previous newsletter, is the honored recipient of
the Grand Prix award in the “Let’s Talk in
Korean “ speech contest sponsored by
the Korean Consulate General of Osaka.
Hidenori’s winning speech was titled“The Reason I Started to Study Korean.”The International Center wishes him
congratulations and continued successat being a leader in building communication bridges between Japan and Korea!

New Partner UniversitiesW

e are pleased to announce ournewest partnership with theMetropolitan University Prague(MUP), as of February 15, 2010. MUP,
founded in 2001, is a rather young university, yet boasts many overseas partners with whom they exchange both
inbound and outbound students. OGU
students are eligible to study at MUP
beginning this upcoming fall.
ESCE also joined the circle of OGU
worldwide group in March. ESCE is abusiness school located in Paris, France.
Wow! OGU now has 42 study abroad
partner universities!

Hidenori (Center) with his prize

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: inoffice@ogu.ac.jp