Student Blog

2 min read

Hello! I’m Mayumi Nakamura, and I studied abroad at the University of Hertfordshire in the UK. Today, I’d like to share one of the most memorable academic experiences I had there. Even when studying the same field, learning alongside local students and professors abroad gave me perspectives I had never encountered before.

No Culture Is Superior to Another

One of the courses I took, Education from Global Perspectives, explored education systems and school cultures around the world—including Asia and Africa—and examined how multiculturalism can be promoted within the British education system.

For many of you studying at APU, the idea that “no cultural background is superior or inferior” might feel obvious. However, through this class, I realized that I had subconsciously held a somewhat negative view of Japan’s “reading the air” culture, and that I had assumed Western educational systems, especially those in Europe and the U.S., were naturally more advanced.

Part of this assumption came from hearing that Japan’s implicit communication style can be misunderstood abroad as “having no opinion.” Another reason may be that international standards like global academic rankings are often shaped by Western countries.

As Japan transitions toward a more diverse society, I realized how important it is to question what we consider “normal” in order to create education that respects individual uniqueness.

A Completely Different Perspective on the Same Subject

I also took a Women’s History class, which initially sounded similar to Gender Studies at APU. But studying it in Europe offered perspectives I could not have gained elsewhere. The class examined themes unique to European history, such as the concept of slavery and depictions of women in Western art.

I was particularly struck by the fact that although women in 19th-century Britain could speak out about sexual violence, the written records were almost always created by men, and women who tried to voice their experiences often faced pressure from older generations or men around them. Learning this through primary sources taught me the importance of questioning historical information and approaching it with critical awareness—something that has stayed with me ever since.

What Academic Learning Abroad Taught Me

Through my exchange program, I deepened not only my subject knowledge but also my awareness of my own ethnocentrism and the diversity of perspectives within the same academic field. I was also evaluated more rigorously on how efficiently I used references and how critically I could think—skills that have directly influenced my current thesis writing.

Although keeping up with discussions in English was sometimes difficult, overcoming those challenges allowed me to grow academically and personally. Studying abroad was truly a valuable experience for me.

Mayumi Nakamura

Hello! My name is Mayumi, and I am a fourth-year student in the College of Asia Pacific Studies. I would like to share the unique features of APU, as well as my experience studying abroad in the UK for a year. I hope my posts can inspire readers who are considering studying at APU or taking on new challenges. Looking forward to connecting with you!