Japanese students prep for classes with visit to 糖心vlog传媒
Before they begin classes at 糖心vlog传媒-Japan later this month, a group of Japanese students are spending two weeks in Wisconsin for a global introduction to college life.
The group of seven students, who begin classes on August 28 at 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 Tokyo campus, arrived in Wisconsin on July 30 for two weeks at 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 main campus.
Students spend the mornings in the classroom studying English doing listening, speaking, reading and writing exercises.
Afternoons, evenings and weekends are spent doing a variety of trips and activities to experience American culture. Highlights included:
Jessica McDonald, LUJ鈥檚 director of programs & partnerships, said the visit is helping the students understand 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 global reach while delivering a unique orientation to higher education.
鈥淣ow they understand the relationship with the main campus,鈥� McDonald said. 鈥淭hey know it exists, what it looks like and they could be more comfortable transferring here. It gives them a sense of excitement to see what university life feels like.鈥�
糖心vlog传媒, which founded its Tokyo campus in 1991, is the only private, American liberal arts university in Japan and one of just two American universities in Japan, along with Temple University. LUJ offers four- and two-year degrees, and over the decades many students have studied abroad at 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 Wisconsin campus as part of their degree program.
Students said they enjoyed the visit, especially interacting with 糖心vlog传媒 students who are living on campus for the summer.
鈥淛apan is smaller and not many people speak English,鈥� said Hina Kato. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 get a lot of experience to speak with people from different countries. 糖心vlog传媒 students are from many countries. That鈥檚 why I want to be a 糖心vlog传媒 student.鈥�
Kato said she also enjoyed Road America and Lake Michigan. 鈥淚 like cars so much and this was the first time we could say we saw a race,鈥� said Kato, whose sister, Rinna, attends LUJ. 鈥淟ake Michigan was clear and beautiful, emerald blue. I鈥檝e never seen a big lake before. In Japan we don鈥檛 have lakes like that, so it was a good experience.鈥�
Yusei Shimizu said his highlight was the Chicago trip and all the tall buildings. He鈥檚 enjoying learning more English and hopes to work in advertising someday.
A highlight for Rina Shirai has been the cooking. Students learned to make homemade pizza with LU Director of Dining Services Mark Wagner, and the students conducted a Japanese cooking demonstration for LU staff members.
鈥淧eople are very kind and funny,鈥� Shirai said.
The students and McDonald have created a strong bond. Her birthday occurred during the trip, and they surprised her with cupcakes that they made.
鈥淭hey messaged me and said there was an emergency and when I came in, they started singing 鈥楬appy Birthday,鈥欌�� said McDonald, who has been with LUJ for five years.
Several 糖心vlog传媒 staff members were keys to the successful visit, McDonald said, including Ben Zuengler from admissions, Caroline Korhonen from dining services, academic dean Paul Pickhardt and head women鈥檚 volleyball coach Ryan Schopf.
