About GEL program
Published on February 9th, 2016 | by Yusuke
I learned many academic things and experienced a variety of things from GEL program. For example, I learned how to give a presentation in English and I took a course on English Mediated Instruction. It’s a class to learn how to teach people some non English things using English.
I had 2 part-time jobs. Once I worked for a bar but it was very hard for me because I had to memorize the names of drinks and I worked until 4 AM! I was nervous when I worked there. After leaving that job, I started to work at a supermarket as a stock person. It’s an very easy job and it closes at 10 PM so I don’t have to work late at night. Especially, my colleagues are very nice. I’m satisfied with my job now.
I could make many friends from GEL program. This program gives me many opportunity to contact with foreign people. I have many nice friends in other countries now. This February (2016), I will take a trip to Taipei to visit one of them. I’m so excited to meet them again.
If you are interested in this program, please join it. Through this program, you will get many fantastic experience you can’t never forget.
New Year’s Day
Published on January 15th, 2016 | by Yusuke
On January 1st, it’s a tradition for Japanese to go to Shinto shrines and pray to God so that he will let us have a peaceful year.
We also pull out o-mi-kuji. An omikuji is a slip of paper with a fortune on it. The different fortunes in Omikuji are Daikichi, Kichi, Tyukichi, Suekichi, and Kyou. Daikichi means greater good luck, Kitchi means good luck , Tyukichi means moderate good luck, Suekichi means future good luck, and Kyou means bad luck.
In addition to the main fortune, each of the slips of paper has divinations about your studies, health, love, and kuck with money. Normally, it costs 200 yen so if you get the chance, give it a try.
Etude エチュード洋菓子店
Published on December 18th, 2015 | by Yusuke
Etude is a cake shop near the campus. You can buy Christmas cake or cake for someone’s birthday and even you can buy the pudding. I recommend you go there with your family, children, and by yourself. It has a parking lot.
The address is Hokkaido Asahikawa shi asahimachi ichijou 9-689-23.
It is open daily open from 9:00 until 20:00. It is closed on Wednesday.
This year’s X’mas
Published on December 18th, 2015 | by Yusuke
Now, I am a college students and this year’s Christmas won’t be the same as last Christmas because I don’t live with my family since I’m in Asahikawa and I am relieved that I don’t have a girlfriend.
On Christmas day, I won’t go on a date with my girlfriend but I will go to dinner with my friends and we will hold the throwing pies party with high school girl students. Also, the students in my dormitory will do a gift exchange. Sixteen people will participate so I’m very excited.
My X’mas memory
Published on December 18th, 2015 | by Yusuke
For many young people in Japan, Christmas day is a day for couples. They spend that day with their girlfriend or boyfriend. Last year, I went dinner with my girlfriend on Christmas and we exchanged gifts.
In my family, we have the christmas cake and KFC fried chicken instead of eating Christmas feast. In my home town, the man wearing the costume of Santa distributes chocolates to people saying “Merry Christmas!!” in front of the station.
Interview with Alan from Taipei
Published on December 15th, 2015 | by Yusuke
In this post, I interviewed Alan, a junior, who came to Japan from Taipei City University. I asked him the following questions:
- Have you ever been abroad? Where did you go?
- Why did you decide to go abroad and why did you choose Japan or America?
- Did you have surprising or interesting experiences during the program and what?
- How did you learn English or Japanese before having go abroad?
- What are different points about classes from you’re your university?
- Did anything happen to you before and after having go abroad?
- Can you give any advice for students who want to go abroad I the future.
Alan told me, “I went to Japan when I was a senior high school student because that was also an exchange program but it wasn’t as formal as short-time overseas program I did in October, 2015. I found that Japanese are kind and friendly. Also, the food here is really tasty. I saw a funny teacher in his class and hid teaching style is what I want to emulate. I have learned English since I was a primary school student. I just know a little Japanese and the reason why I want to learn Japanese is that love Japan lol. In Japan, I think teachers won’t lecture all the time and they give time for students to express their thoughts. However, in Taiwan some teachers will keep lecturing without giving sometime for students to convey their thoughts. I think I know more about culture from going abroad like Japan. It’s always a nice try if you want to go abroad. Be nice, brave and hard working.”
Both guys told me that going abroad is a good opportunities to learn English and about other cultures. I think we can make good friends from other countries, and we will never forget that wonderful time. Why don’t you dive into the world with us at HUE?
Interviewing Ryo who went to Illinois
Published on December 15th, 2015 | by Yusuke
In this post, I interviewed Ryo Ito, who was then a junior at HUEA. He has studied abroad in the US, Canada, and Russia. He has also been to Laos.
I asked them these questions.
- Have you ever gone abroad and where?
- Why did you decide to go abroad and why did you choose Japan or America?
- Did you have surprising or interesting experiences during the program and what?
- How did you learn English or Japanese before having go abroad?
- What are different points about classes from you’re your university?
- Did anything happen to you before and after having go abroad?
- Can you give any advice for students who want to go abroad I the future
Ryo answered “I was really interested in going abroad. However, I had never go abroad before I entered HUE but after I entered the university, I had many opportunities to go abroad, so I applied for the short-term study abroad program. I chose Canada because I hoped to study English and experience other culture. I was very surprised that American people talked with people more closely than Japanese do and Canadian were very kind. I studied English from podcasts and word lists before going abroad and my host family corrected my diary everyday. In Japanese classes, students raise their hands and ask questions to the professor but in American classes, students don’t raise their hands. They ask questions and tell their comments any time. American classes adapted the conversational format. After the program, I became more interested in English and I want to do something with English in my future career. The experience is the most memorable and exciting activity in my life so I hope that many people will apply for this program and make your life more wonderful.”
Both guys told me that going abroad is a good opportunities to learn English and about other cultures. I think we can make good friends from other countries, and we will never forget that wonderful time. Why don’t you dive into the world with us at HUE?
Katouya 加藤屋
Published on December 11th, 2015 | by Yusuke
Katouya is a ramen shop in front of the main entrance of HUEA.
You can enjoy lunch and dinner from about￥999 there. I recommend you go to eat with your friends, colleagues or by yourself.
It has 29 seats (5 counter seats, 3 seats with chairs and 3 tables of raised tatami sittings) and it has a parking lot.
The address is Hokkaido Asahikawa shi Hokumonchou 9-2644-6 and the phone number is 0166-53-6560. It is open daily from 11:00 until 14:30 and then again from 17:00 to 21:00. On Sunday, it is open from 17:00 to 21:00. It is closed on Mondays.
Meet Yusuke
Published on November 30th, 2015 | by Yusuke
I am Yusuke and I am majoring in English education at Hokkaido University of Education at the Asahikawa campus.
I’m from Iwate prefecture. It is next to Akita on the main island of Japan. Since I’m a university student, I live most of the year in Asahikawa on the island of Hokkaido now. My hobby is cooking.
Recently, I made an apple pie and it tasted good. I would like to improve my English. Also, I want to travel a lot other countries. I look forward to meeting you.
HUE’s International Partners
Published on November 27th, 2015 | by Yusuke
Sending Students Overseas
At HUE, we have three types of International exchange programs: short-term study abroad, long-term student exchange, and long-term language school. Using this, students from HUE can go to many places in the world to learn other languages and about other cultures.
Through the programs at Hokkaido University of education (HUE), a lot of students rediscover Japanese cultures and acquire the ability of speaking, listening, writing, reading in other languages. In addition, you can have wonderful experiences which widen your global vision and your ideas of cross-cultural understanding.
Accepting of Students from Overseas
Especially, HUE has rich study abroad arrangements with with Harbin Normal University and Illinois State University. These universities are located in sister cities to Asahikawa.
In total, 16 students came from abroad as exchange students to study at the Asahikawa campus in 2014. Every time new exchange students come to HUE, we always hold a welcome party and play icebreaker games in English. Attending this party gives exchange students and regular students at HUEA the chance to make friends. While at HUEA, exchange students take classes to understand Japanese culture and society, and promote exchange with the students of HUE.
HUE Global Education Leadership Program
In 2015, we started the Global education Leadership Program (GEL). This program helps you for preparation before going abroad.In the GEL program, students work hard on learning English. For example, you can learn English through classes like Presentation and Teaching Methodologies for English-mediated Instruction.. Also, the program advisor, Dr. Andrew Komasinski, will give you useful advices. You can join GEL program even if you are not an English major.
Overseas Partner University
There are many partner Universities all over the world. You can study Korean, Russian, Chinese even German if you decide to go these countries. Language skills you learn and friends you meet will become properties of your career and they will make your life more wonderful.
List of Partners
| Country | University Name | Date Exchange Agreement was Made |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | Novosibirsk State University named after Vitus Bering | December, 1998 |
| Kyrgyz | Bishkek Humanities University | April, 2003 |
| Zambia | The University of Zambia | August, 2005 |
| Egypt | Cairo University | October, 1999 |
| United Kingdom | School of Oriental and Africa Studies, University of London | January 1988 |
| Norway | University of Bergen | April, 2003 |
| Finland | Sibelius Academy | May, 1995 |
| Finland | University of Oulu | April, 2008 |
| Australia | University of Technology, Sydney | November, 1993 |
| Australia | James Cook University | February, 1995 |
| Australia | Griffith University | April, 2001 |
| China | Shenyang Normal University | July, 1988 |
| China | Harbin Normal University | July, 1988 |
| China | Shandong Teacher's University | September, 1992 |
| China | University of Hong Kong | April, 1999 |
| China | Sichuan University | March, 2000 |
| China | Tianjin Foreign Studies University | October, 2015 |
| China | Liaoning University | March, 2015 |
| China | Dalian Ocean University | April, 2015 |
| Vietnam | Hue University | September, 2009 |
| Canada | University of Calgary | February, 1990 |
| Canada | Simon Fraser University | April, 2000 |
| Canada | Saint Mary’s University | January, 1990 |
| USA | University of Alaska Fairbanks | July, 1989 |
| USA | University of Alaska Anchorage | June, 2006 |
| USA | Illinois State University | October, 1995 |
| USA | The University of Massachusetts Amherst | February, 2010 |
| USA | Southern Utah University | May, 2013 |
| USA | Simmons College | August, 2013 |
| Korea | The College of Education of Pusan National University | January, 2007 |
| Korea | Seoul National University of Education | June, 2009 |
| Korea | Jeonju National University of Education | June, 2010 |
| Korea | Busan National University of Education | June, 2010 |
| Korea | Hansung University | March, 2011 |
| Taiwan | University of Taipei | December, 2012 |
| Germany | University of Music Wuerzburg | June, 2014 |
