Study tour to AGU, Japan

UTAR delegates with some of the AGU staff and students at the Meijo Koen Campus

Language and culture learning was certainly more exciting when 20 UTAR students had the opportunity to explore and learn about the culture of Japan, through a study tour to Aichi Gakuin University (AGU), Japan, organised by the Department of Soft Skills Competency (DSSC) of Kampar Campus from 24 September to 4 October 2017.

With the study tour also being a part of the University’s effort to provide students with a supportive and challenging learning environment, it enabled the students to realise their full potential and skills and engaged them in activities that would encourage their intellectual, research and personal development. There, DSSC Kampar officer Lok Bee Lan took the opportunity to promote the UTAR New Village Community Project, which is believed to be able to pave collaborative opportunities for research, volunteer activities and cultural study projects.

The study tour was also aimed to make students more open-minded to pursue the language, culture and social skills of Japan, and to apply the knowledge when introducing oneself and when communicating with the AGU students. The lessons saw students gaining improved confidence when communicating with individuals of different backgrounds and understanding ways of dealing with people of different cultures.

Accompanied by Lok, the UTAR delegates arrived at the Chubu Centrair International Airport, Nagoya, Japan, and were welcomed by AGU Center for International Programs Chief Yusuke Onoe and staff Toshiya Adachi.

Before taken for a campus tour around AGU Nisshin Campus, the UTAR delegates were directed to their dormitory that was also located in the vicinity of the campus and were then briefed on the rules of the dormitory.

The following days saw the UTAR students attending morning classes on lessons, such as the Japanese language taught by lecturer Junko Tanabae and Japanese culture lesson taught by lecturer Hisataka Ishida. With Ishida, the UTAR students learnt about the religions that are practised by the Japanese and followed with a Zen meditation conducted by the Buddhists monks.

Other cultural lessons also included a tea ceremony, where the UTAR delegates were able to experience the ceremonial preparation and presentation of matcha tea or also known as green tea, as well as a cultural exchange programme which saw the UTAR students participating in a debate on the topic “Free Education”.

An unexpected bomb-attack warning was issued at the Nisshin Campus and had all students at the campus evacuated to the Meijo Koen Campus, where the students resumed their lessons there until Nisshin Campus was declared safe.

Unaffected by the change of location, the UTAR students performed well when they were tested on their learning progress through a memory test, and had proven how much they learnt and understood the lessons throughout the study tour. The final task assigned to the UTAR students was a Japanese speech presentation, whereby each of them was to present their experience gained from the study tour.

Apart from indoor lessons, the UTAR students also had the opportunity to learn from their visits to the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, and the Nagoya Castle, which helped enhance their understanding of Japanese technologies and culture.

“I really enjoyed the places I visited and it was definitely a good experience since I have always wanted to visit Japan. However, the best part of the study tour is being able to learn so much from the AGU students. One of the lessons I learnt was hard work and persistence, which can clearly be seen among the Japanese, who are really hardworking and dedicated to their work. From them, I understood that dedication and persistence are important to help me overcome challenges, especially at work,” said Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering student Laya Mohammed Ahmed Al-Hilfi.  

UTAR students practising Japanese with their AGU classmates

Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Chinese Studies student Yong Kian Fai presenting his Japanese speech

UTAR students preparing the matcha tea during the tea ceremony

UTAR delegates visiting the Toyota Commemorative Museum