Experience Japan: forging new language and cross-cultural skills
Since 2018, more than 280 University of Sydney students from various faculties and schools have embarked to Japan through the University's Open Learning Environment (OLE) In-Country Experiences program to learn Japanese through immersion in the local culture. From hands-on learning activities to cultural site visits, Commerce student Alyssa Liang shares about her experience with partner institution, Tohoku University, where she learnt the basics of Japanese and gained new skills in cross-cultural communication.
What was it like learning Japanese with our partner Tohoku University?
Learning Japanese was a novel and immersive experience! We started with the basics, such as hiragana and katakana, and learned phrases that we could use in real-life scenarios. Each of us was paired with a buddy from Japan who guided us through the lessons and recommended places to visit.
Why did you choose to learn Japanese? What benefits did you discover?
I love Japan’s perfect blend of urban excitement and natural beauty. Learning Japanese allows me to travel around the country, communicate with locals, order food, and ask questions.
What were your cultural immersion highlights? Tell us about an experience that had the greatest impact on how you appreciate and relate to the Japanese culture.
Tohoku University offered a variety of cultural activities, such as wearing the yukata (traditional summer garment), participating in shodo (Japanese calligraphy) workshops, experiencing traditional tea ceremonies and many more. I personally enjoyed wearing the yukata as it was incredibly immersive to walk around in traditional attire.
Apart from your language and cultural learnings, what skills or new perspectives did you gain?
Studying abroad pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and quickly adapt to new situations. Additionally, I learned practical life skills related to earthquake preparedness such as the importance of having an emergency kit at home.
How will you apply your experience to your current studies and your future career?
This experience has taught me how to foster cross-cultural collaboration and build positive relationships with people from different cultures. I’m able to use these abilities to work effectively in multinational teams and contribute to an inclusive workplace environment.
Experiencing Japan in Tohoku has taught me how to foster cross-cultural collaboration and build positive relationships with people from different cultures. I’m able to use these abilities to work effectively in multinational teams and contribute to an inclusive workplace environment.
Alyssa Liang
Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Marketing and Business Information Systems majors)
“Experiencing Japan in Tohoku has taught me how to foster cross-cultural collaboration and build positive relationships with people from different cultures. I’m able to use these abilities to work effectively in multinational teams and contribute to an inclusive workplace environment. ”
Alyssa Liang
Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Marketing and Business Information Systems majors)
Why is building diverse connections through immersing in another language and culture important for our world today?
It helps break down stereotypes and prejudices – fostering deeper, more meaningful connections with people from different backgrounds. This immersion opportunity also leads to the establishment of global networks which can result in lifelong friendships.
Worth 6 credit points, In-Country Experience units are open to undergraduate students with little to no language experience for an opportunity to gain new language skills through cultural immersion with our partner institutions around the world.
Browse more photos from Alyssa on the Experience Japan (Tohoku University, 2024) photo album on the School of Languages and Cultures' Facebook page.
