08/30/2016．Japanese College Students’ Successfully Completing Chinese Studies

 




　
　

　

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apanese students experienced Taiwan’s paper-cutting culture. Front left is Prof. Hatamura,
who brought the group of students to Taiwan.Image provided by the Department of Applied Chinese
 







 


August 30, 2016







 【News release: Public Relations Office】
     From August 8th to 27th, Wenzao held its “2016 Japanese Technical College Chinese Language Camp.” During the camp, students from Japan’s National Institute of Technology, Ube College visited Taiwan to learn Chinese and get a taste of Taiwanese culture.
     Organized by the Department of Applied Chinese at Wenzao, the camp gave nine graduate students from the Graduate Institute of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language the chance to teach classes during the camp. The two-week Chinese language camp offered Chinese classes, as well as allowed the Japanese students to engage in cultural exploration to experience traditional Taiwanese tea customs, Taiwanese culture, art classes, and more. The students were also taken to visit some of the famous attractions in Kaohsiung and Tainan to see some of southern Taiwan’s beautiful scenery.
     With the rules of the camp stipulating that all of the students must stay in the student dormitories at the university, each student was assigned an advisor to assist them with their studies and provide extra support outside of class. In the final week of the camp, a course completion presentation was organized for the visiting students. This gave them the opportunity to present what they had learned during their time in Taiwan. Before the presentation, the students discussed the progress they had made with their advisors. Using only Chinese and English, the visiting students then gave their oral presentations which focused on a variety of topics, and also shared their own thoughts and observations.
     Before arriving in Taiwan to participate in this Chinese language camp, these students had never studied Chinese before; however, within two short weeks they managed to go from zero to being able to read Hanyu Pinyin. Their slow and steady recital of Chinese resulted in a roaring round of applause from the invited guests. After the presentation, each student was awarded a certificate of course completion, and the event came to a perfect close after a rendition of the famous Taiwanese melody “I miss you.”
     Naoki Kumai, one of the students from the college who participated in the camp, expressed how the lively and interesting nature of the Chinese classes has made a lasting impact on him. He also said that the cordial attitude of the teachers and advisors mean that if he has another chance, he would like to come back to Taiwan to participate in another Chinese language camp. Another student, Rino Koga, also said that the thing which she enjoyed the most was the artistic glass installation found at Kaohsiung’s MRT Formosa Boulevard Station, saying that works of such beauty like this are practically non-existent in Japan. Other students commented on their unforgettable experiences trying Taiwanese cuisine such as steamed dumplings, sweet potato balls, shaved ice with mango, and bubble milk tea. Prof. Hatamura from the National Institute of Technology in Japan, who brought the students over to Taiwan, pointed out that the Chinese language classes arranged by Wenzao offer great variety, while also including ample learning activities. This allowed his students to integrate into the Taiwanese way of life and experience the richness of Taiwanese culture.  


 




Image provided by the Department of Applied Chinese and Graduate Institute of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language




 


 




The “Japanese Technical College Chinese Language Camp” held by Wenzao received resounding approval from the Japanese students. 


Advisors played card games with the visiting students.












Advisors from Wenzao took the Japanese students to visit some of
Kaohsiung’s famous attractions. 

Students from Japan got a taste of making hand-made pineapple cakes.










Advisor Yu-ci Liu (right) and Takumi Yamasaki, a Japanese student (left), put language barriers to one side to interact freely. 

Japanese students, Ayane Miyazaki (middle) and Misaki Yuri (right),
who visited Kaohsiung’s Ruifeng Night Market,
cannot stop praising the delicious food that is available.










Visiting famous historical sites in Tainan.

In the final presentation of the Chinese language camp, a Japanese student shared what she had learned while visiting Taiwan.