Name: Tomas Cordero

Course: Understanding Japan's Cultural and Educational Landscape

Country: United States of America

1.What brought you to Shinshu University?

I first heard about Shinshu University when one of my university professors, Dr. Porter, mentioned the study abroad opportunity to our class. She showed us pictures of Nagano and the amazing time that she's spent there with Shinshu staff and students, and I was eager to learn more. The program caught my attention because I had previously studied in Tokyo during my third year of college, and I wanted to go back to Japan and experience the country again through the lens of education, which I was now studying. I also wanted to see a new part of the country that has a strong connection to its historical roots and its surrounding natural beauty. I was also excited about the possibility of participating in cultural exchange activities with Japanese students and further expanding my worldview, so that I might become a more open-minded and culturally aware educator. When a spot opened up in the program, I quickly took it and never looked back. In retrospect, making the choice to go to Shinshu University was one of the best decisions of my life!

2.How did you prepare for studying in Japan (Nagano)?

In order to prepare for studying in Nagano, I did some research about Shinshu University, the surrounding city, and cultural norms in Japan; I also made an effort to brush up on my Japanese in order to be able to communicate well with locals and survive when I was on my own. Both the Sac State staff and Shinshu University faculty were extremely supportive in the buildup to the program, and they answered all of my questions quickly and thoroughly. We even got to meet a few members of our Shinshu support team such as Professor Hiroki Yamamoto and our student supporter Mitsuki, who both visited Sac State in the months preceding the program. While nothing could have fully prepared me for the sheer awe and exhilaration that comes with being in a new country, I am extremely grateful to everyone involved in the program for helping make our transition to life in Nagano as smooth as possible!

3.How was your life at Shinshu University?

I greatly enjoyed the time that I spent at Shinshu University. First, I found our university classes to be very educational; I learned a lot about Japanese culture, education, and language. In my opinion, the most interesting classes were those about the similarities and differences between the English and Japanese languages and how these affect the cognition of the speakers of each language. We also took classes related to Japanese cultural traditions such as flower arrangement and tea ceremonies. My teaching practice was a blast, as I had the opportunity to interact with schoolchildren of all ages (from 1st grade to 9th grade) and participate in cultural exchange with them. My favorite parts of the teaching practice were learning the game "Daruma-san ga koronda" from the elementary school students, participating in a relay race with 9th-graders at P.E., and teaching an English lesson to 7th-grade students about life in California. My life outside of class was also extremely memorable; our mentors and student supporters made sure that there was never a dull moment for us. Throughout the entire month, they made an effort to include us in all of their events and celebrations, and I am beyond thankful for their dedication to making us feel welcome. I appreciated the field trips that the faculty and students arranged for us, such as our tour of Zenkoji Temple and our excursion to Togakushi Shrine and the ninja village. I'm glad that we had the opportunity to experience Nagano to the fullest by traveling and learning about some of the region's most iconic spots. In the end, my time at Shinshu University felt like an entire year's worth of memories packed into a four-week span.

4.What did you do in your free time?

I spent most of my free time with my fellow Sac State students and our student supporters from Shinshu University. The Shinshu students showed us around the city and helped us experience various aspects of Japanese culture. Over the course of my time at Shinshu University, I was invited to restaurants, izakayas, a traditional sake shop, an onsen, karaoke, and more. We had several special events on campus such as a barbecue, a takoyaki party, an okonomiyaki party, and a farewell celebration. I had initially been worried that it might be difficult to make friends at Shinshu University, but by the time I left, I found it hard to say goodbye because I knew that I had made friends for life. Even when I spent time alone in Nagano, I enjoyed walking through the streets, meandering in and out of shops, and enjoying the view of the mountains. My favorite part of the city was Zenkoji Temple because of its awe-inspiring size and the way that its streets filled with life and music during the festival that we attended there. Overall, I enjoyed my free time in Nagano every bit as much as the program itself, and I'm thankful to the university for providing us with so much time to explore and spend time with our new friends.

5.How do you want to make the most of your experience at Shinshu University in the future?

In the future, I can use what I learned at Shinshu University to inform my teaching in the United States. I am currently teaching second grade at a school in California, and I have many students who are still learning English. My university classes and teaching practice in Nagano gave me a lot of experience teaching English to novice speakers, and this will be valuable to me as I build relationships with my current students and help them develop their ability to speak, understand, read, and write English. Participating in cultural exchange activities in Japan also helped me gain an appreciation for global history and culture, and it helped me realize that the human experience goes well beyond the culture that I experience back home in the United States. I hope to use this new knowledge to remain curious about my students' backgrounds and encourage them to share their funds of knowledge with me and the other students in the class. Overall, studying and teaching in Japan has inspired me to turn my classroom into a place where everyone's unique perspective is valued and all students are given the linguistic support that they need to succeed.


6.Message to the prospective students

I would very highly recommend studying at Shinshu University to anyone who has the chance. Even though I was only there for a month, this experience provided me with so much knowledge and so many lifelong memories that I can't believe it was such a short time in retrospect. If you are interested in experiencing a new culture, learning about a unique and successful educational system, and widening your own horizons, then you will love being a part of this program! I wish I could go back and relive my time in Nagano over and over again, but I'm excited that a new group of educators will get the chance to visit Shinshu University next year and have the same great experience that I did. I couldn't recommend this program enough, and I can't capture in words how amazing all of the people involved are. It's a truly life-changing opportunity, and I hope you have the chance to participate too!