Students from Meiji University and TUJ communicate in Japanese during class.
On October 7, 2024, a group of ten students from Meiji University visited Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ) to participate in the Japanese Oral Intensive I class, marking the first collaboration of its kind. Among the group were three international students who are fluent in Japanese. The visiting students from Meiji University are specializing in fields such as Japanese second language education.
Meiji University and Temple University have the Dual Bachelor’s Master’s Degree (DBMD) program since 2008, and a credit transfer program between Meiji University and TUJ has been in place since 2014. Each semester, students from both universities take courses at the partner institution and earn credits.
The Japanese Oral Intensive I class is designed for learners who have studied Japanese for about two semesters. This year, the class consists of 20 students, 12 of whom are from the U.S. The special session was coordinated by Yoshiko Ichimura, Assistant Professor of TUJ’s Japanese department, and Toru Yamada, Associate Professor at Meiji University. This session focused on a “Show and Tell” activity, where students introduced their favorite things in Japanese. Many students in the class, drawn to Japanese pop culture such as anime, games and music, have come to Japan to immerse themselves in the language and culture.
“Meiji University’s international students need a high level of Japanese proficiency, while at TUJ, as a 100% English-speaking campus, Japanese is not a requirement. I hope more students from both schools, who study in different environments, can connect with one another through this exchange, and I look forward to continuing such initiatives between our institutions,” said Professor Ichimura.
TUJ Dean Matt Wilson spoke in both English and Japanese in his opening remarks, sharing his bilingual skills with the class. He offered some encouraging words: “When learning a language, you can’t be afraid of making mistakes. When I was 19 and learning Japanese, I once said ‘Ninjin (Carrot) is walking toward us’ instead of ‘Ningen (Person).’ It’s through these kinds of mistakes that you grow, and I hope it’s the same for all of you.”
Maggie Newcomb, an International Business Studies (IBS) major, gave the opening greetings in Japanese. After class, she shared her thoughts: “It was exciting speaking with native Japanese speakers, which we don’t often get to do. The icebreakers made it easy to communicate, and I had a lot of fun. We helped each other with words when sharing interests like Takoyaki, Aidoru (Idol), or K-pop. I studied Japanese for two years in high school and came straight to TUJ from Idaho.”
Quentin Carson, a study abroad student at TUJ from Carnegie Mellon University majoring in Mechanical Engineering, shared his experience: “I’m studying Japanese as a minor because Japanese engineering, especially in the field of robotics, fascinates me. The visit from Meiji University students was a great opportunity for me. Speaking to a native speaker makes you nervous sometimes, so it was a good way to build confidence. I made some friends, we exchanged emails, and they offered to help me practice my Japanese more. They even invited us to Meiji’s lacrosse game, and I’m excited to see the match.”
The students from Meiji University also expressed their impressions, saying, “The warm atmosphere was welcoming, and what surprised me the most was the fact that the class was conducted entirely in Japanese. I thought there would be some English involved,” and “It was a lot of fun.”
Associate Professor Yamada of Meiji University commented, “Thank you for hosting our students at TUJ. It’s been a great experience for them. TUJ is different because the students come from various countries and diverse backgrounds. Our students truly enjoyed the time spent together.”
TUJ Professor Ichimura concluded, “This was our first attempt at this collaboration, made possible with the cooperation of Professor Yamada from Meiji University. I hope it becomes a source of inspiration for students at both universities.”
Other related stories
- Meiji University President Ueno’s First Visits to Temple University, Japan Campus (July 23, 2024)
- Temple University Leadership from Main and Rome Campuses Meet with Partner Universities in Japan (May 30, 2024)
- TUJ Top Leaders Meet New President of Meiji University During Campus Visit (May 10, 2024)