MLO 5: Cultural Internalization and Language Immersion
Outcomes
5.1 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.
The classes I took during my studying experience have been divided to the semesters I went abroad:
Fall 2013
Japanese B
Introduction to Japanese Studies I
Latino Americans and their Culture
Multiculturalism
Spring 2014
Business English III
Global Migration Labor Issues
Environmental Policies and Economies in Asia
To fulfill the MLO 5 requirement, I spent a year abroad in Japan for Cultural Internalization and Language Immersion. This was an amazing experience! I spent my time in the Tokyo Prefecture, studying abroad in Chuo University. The campus itself was beautiful, located in Hachioji. I spent my experience by choosing to live in Tamadaira dorm, the international dorm where exchange students can converse freely with Japanese students. Each exchange student share a unit with two Japanese students, ensuring that conversation in Japanese was possible every day. I fully utilized this opportunity to gain more confidence in my Japanese speaking skills. In the whole year, I was able to meet and greet two sets of students, as their year ends in the fall as opposed to ours which is in spring. With this, I made even more connections around the world as more exchange students moved into the dorm as others left after one semester.
Living abroad was the first time I got to live on my own, away from family and relatives. I learned even in a shared dorm, I still had to focus on myself, buying my own food, learning the transportation routes, and being able to understand daily life in Japan. I was used to having home cooked meals for me waiting at home, even though I knew how to cook, since my grandmother always insisted. This was a perfect opportunity for me to experience the whole living alone side of me. I wasn’t used to buying my own groceries, and much less ones I couldn’t read in a different language. Thankfully, my dorm mates were the best I could have ever had, helping me along the way until I got the hang of things.
One thing I did have to deal with was coping with homesickness. I thought by introducing ideas I had from home to Japan I could make lasting memories that way and help not think of any sad feelings I had. One big event I hosted was an American Thanksgiving Dinner. I would like to say, first, not one of my brightest ideas. I did not take into account how many people would be interested in this event. Turns out, about 3 times more than I thought! Nevertheless, I didn't let that get me down, instead, I went ahead and prepared the list of items to buy. I went to Costco and joined by my good friends there, was able to buy two 6kg. /12 lb. turkeys, a 5kg. /10lb. ham, a lot of potato, carrot, and green onion, a lot of bread, mashed potato mix, cranberry sauce, and pineapple. The fresh vegetables where for the stuffing recipe and pineapple for the ham. People loved it and enjoyed each other’s company. I'm glad it turned out to be a successful event and also glad I got to show a taste of what Japanese take from American culture.
I was glad I was able to experience all that I could while in Japan. Bunny and Cat cafes, sports day, group outings, Halloween in Shibuya, calligraphy writing, cup of noodles museum, even traveling up to Hokkaido was all marvelous. With all these experiences, I feel I was able to understand Japan so much better than I would have from reading a book. I’m glad I had this amazing opportunity.
5.1 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.
The classes I took during my studying experience have been divided to the semesters I went abroad:
Fall 2013
Japanese B
Introduction to Japanese Studies I
Latino Americans and their Culture
Multiculturalism
Spring 2014
Business English III
Global Migration Labor Issues
Environmental Policies and Economies in Asia
To fulfill the MLO 5 requirement, I spent a year abroad in Japan for Cultural Internalization and Language Immersion. This was an amazing experience! I spent my time in the Tokyo Prefecture, studying abroad in Chuo University. The campus itself was beautiful, located in Hachioji. I spent my experience by choosing to live in Tamadaira dorm, the international dorm where exchange students can converse freely with Japanese students. Each exchange student share a unit with two Japanese students, ensuring that conversation in Japanese was possible every day. I fully utilized this opportunity to gain more confidence in my Japanese speaking skills. In the whole year, I was able to meet and greet two sets of students, as their year ends in the fall as opposed to ours which is in spring. With this, I made even more connections around the world as more exchange students moved into the dorm as others left after one semester.
Living abroad was the first time I got to live on my own, away from family and relatives. I learned even in a shared dorm, I still had to focus on myself, buying my own food, learning the transportation routes, and being able to understand daily life in Japan. I was used to having home cooked meals for me waiting at home, even though I knew how to cook, since my grandmother always insisted. This was a perfect opportunity for me to experience the whole living alone side of me. I wasn’t used to buying my own groceries, and much less ones I couldn’t read in a different language. Thankfully, my dorm mates were the best I could have ever had, helping me along the way until I got the hang of things.
One thing I did have to deal with was coping with homesickness. I thought by introducing ideas I had from home to Japan I could make lasting memories that way and help not think of any sad feelings I had. One big event I hosted was an American Thanksgiving Dinner. I would like to say, first, not one of my brightest ideas. I did not take into account how many people would be interested in this event. Turns out, about 3 times more than I thought! Nevertheless, I didn't let that get me down, instead, I went ahead and prepared the list of items to buy. I went to Costco and joined by my good friends there, was able to buy two 6kg. /12 lb. turkeys, a 5kg. /10lb. ham, a lot of potato, carrot, and green onion, a lot of bread, mashed potato mix, cranberry sauce, and pineapple. The fresh vegetables where for the stuffing recipe and pineapple for the ham. People loved it and enjoyed each other’s company. I'm glad it turned out to be a successful event and also glad I got to show a taste of what Japanese take from American culture.
I was glad I was able to experience all that I could while in Japan. Bunny and Cat cafes, sports day, group outings, Halloween in Shibuya, calligraphy writing, cup of noodles museum, even traveling up to Hokkaido was all marvelous. With all these experiences, I feel I was able to understand Japan so much better than I would have from reading a book. I’m glad I had this amazing opportunity.