Please enter search keywords
教育プログラム|連携事業
After entering APU, I taught Japanese to my international student friends in AP House and helped them with day-to-day issues. I developed a strong respect for these students who had the courage to come on study abroad to a non-English speaking country. In my work as a Student Press Assistant (SPA), I had the opportunity to interview students who had been on study abroad. Listening to their stories helped me develop a better image of what it was like to study in another country.
I had wanted to go on study abroad to improve my English since I was in junior high school, but after meeting the international students at APU, I started thinking about testing myself by going to a non-English speaking country far from Japan.
I decided to participate in a student exchange program, instead of other types of study abroad, because of the cost and the ability to transfer my credits back to APU. There are many opportunities at APU, both in class and outside of class, for learning about Asian cultures and business, but I wanted to study abroad in Europe in order to expand my future career options.
Switzerland is considered one of the world's most economically competitive countries in the world, so I was thinking I could compare its economy, education system and culture with Japan's while living and studying there. The Zurich University of Applied Sciences appealed to me because of the small class sizes in the management program, the large number of exchange students from the non-English speaking countries of Europe, and the fact that classes were held in English.
Since coming to APU, I have studied English slowly but surely on a daily basis. In addition to actively participating in my English classes, I also went to the Self-Access Learning Center (SALC) to study. I focused most of my efforts on speaking skills. I practiced my conversation skills in regular one-on-one sessions with the Teaching Assistants (TAs) at the SALC. During my commute to school, I used smartphone apps to study English vocabulary, and I read the articles on the BBC's English Learning website that my teacher told me about. I made studying an enjoyable daily habit.
I also took the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test regularly to improve my score, and I managed to meet the 5.5 required by my host university. After that, I didn't have to worry about cramming for an English test before heading abroad.
Not only do I want to earn credits from my host institution, I also want to participate actively in my classes and practice stating my own opinions. I am usually quite shy, but I enjoy finding new sides of my personality when I put myself in new situations. I will also continue working as an SPA while on study abroad. I plan to report on my interactions with other exchange students in Europe to APU students who are thinking about studying abroad. I also want to do an internship if I have the chance. In my future career, I want to be a bridge between Japan and the world. This is why I want to use study abroad to enhance my knowledge of management while polishing my English skills.
Copyright (c) 2016 Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
