Ryo Suzuki
(College of International Relations,
2nd year)

Tomoki Shibata
(College of International Relations,
3rd year)

Leung King Yat Chris
(College of International Relations,
2nd year)

Below is a special talk with 3 students who belong to the College of International Relations.
Ryo Suzuki is a Global Studies Major student. Tomoki Shibata supports international students as a student support staff. Leung King Yat Chris is a student from Hong Kong.
They talk about their many experiences gained through being together with international and Japanese students.

Q1

Did you realize any gaps through being together?

Shibata

I felt a difference sense of value in money matters. I think international students have individualism.

Suzuki

International students are really active in a class and also they listen to professors very studiously.

LEUNG

I really wonder why Japanese students don't assert their ideas very much.

Q2

What did you learn from each other?

Shibata

I leaned that I need to explain the aim and contents clearly to international students when we would like them to join events. Otherwise they are not interested in them.

Suzuki

International students require a conclusion at the beginning of the conversation or discussion. So I keep it in mind to tell a conclusion first, and then explain my reasons.

LEUNG

I was surprised that Japanese students accept their seniors' advice perfectly. I leaned a lot about vertical relationships through my club activity.

Q3

Did you feel any language barriers when communicating with each other? How did you overcome them?

Shibata

It took a lot of time for me to find out how to communicate with international students.
I spoke with them a lot and got better and better at communicating with each other.

Suzuki

Sometimes I was misunderstood by international students when we discuss a kind of difficult topic. When I realize that I am misunderstood, I correct the misunderstanding immediately and explain what I would like to say again.

LEUNG

I sometimes can't understand young people's words when I talk with Japanese students.
I have to ask them the meaning of the words every time.

Q4

Do you have any suggestions for international and Japanese students to communicate with each other more freely?

Shibata

I think a good way is to make groups including Japanese students and international students and have interviews each other. This would be fun! Facebook is also a good way to communicate with each other.

Suzuki

I think Japanese students should have confidence in their English skills. They should be released from a fixed idea which is they have to speak English perfectly.
It doesn't matter whether they can speak English well or not.

LEUNG

I would like Japanese students to have courage to speak English. They don't need to worry about that.

Q5

If you know any events or places to have a good time with international and Japanese students on campus, please let us know.

Shibata

Japanese students should try being support staff for international students like TISA.
If they become a TISA member, they can have more chances to communicate with them.

Suzuki

The Student Council, which I belong to, is going to organize international exchange events. I would like more students to join them.

LEUNG

I am going to organize support events!!

Ryo Suzuki (College of International Relations, 2nd year)

What would you like to challenge at Ritsumeikan?

I would like to brush up on my English skills with my friends. And also I would like to try to participant in an internship related to economics.

What are your dreams for the future?

I would like to study international economics and become a professor.

What aspects of Japanese culture are you interested in?

The habit of taking off shoes. I can be relax quickly.

Tomoki Shibata (College of International Relations, 3rd year)

What would you like to challenge at Ritsumeikan?

I belong to "Seminar of HIPHOP Studies". For my graduation thesis, I want to write about "the development of the music of African American People" which is the theme I study now.

What are your dreams for the future?

I would like to work in a field related to music.

What aspects of Japanese culture are you interested in?

Four seasons. I like to enjoy each season in a each way. I like musical lyrics which express season as well.

Leung King Yat Chris (College of International Relations, 2nd year)

What would you like to challenge at Ritsumeikan?

I would like to study foreign languages and cultures to become a global person.

What are your dreams for the future?

I would like to work towards world peace at the United Nations.

What aspects of Japanese culture are you interested in?

Four seasons. Especially I love winter in Japan because we don’t have snow in Hong Kong. I like to enjoy each season in a different way.