Programs and Classes

The Kanazawa Institute Of Technology had a very organized program which combined classes, trips, formal ceremonies, and parties. The Students for Global Exchange (SGE) group worked with the staff to make these fun.

CLASSES


Japanese and American students doing homework in the evening
in one of the school's study rooms.


When starting the program classes began three days after arrival. The first day was a placement test which was both written and oral. This test placed the students in one of the three levels of language classes. The language classes had projects, homework, and a test or quiz every other week, so study time was required. At the end of the program every student had to turn in a portfolio of work and other collected material for the language class. Language was taught four times a week for two hours. The other classes were culture class, japanese relating to science, and a project class. Culture class met 5-6 hours a week. This was a converstional type class which required observing the japanese people and provided information ranging from history to today's business techniques, involving some field trips. Japanese relating to science was a class split into language levels. All levels read from a science readings book and learned specific vocabulary. The last class was arranged in such a way that every foreign student was paired with a japanese student. Together we designed an object to help japanese student life. The class ended with a presentation of the object and a poster competition. From all the classes together I learned a lot.

TRIPS


Enjoying the trip on KIT's yacht at Animizu with SGE members. 		The first group trip was to the KIT Animizu campus. Along the way we stopped at multiple museums and sites. The Animizu campus was near the ocean with a bay area. We had a barbaque with SGE students and were allowed to go across the bay with the KIT yacht.

The next trip was to the Shirayamahima shrine. This was with the culture class. Here we went through a pruifying ceremony to learn more of the japanese beliefs.
A group picture in front of shirayamahima shrine.

The last trip was to a japanese elementary school. Here the students who were learning english showed us their games and clubs. They gave us a tour of their school and shared lunch with us. It was very entertaining.

CEREMONIES AND PARTIES


A barbeque party with teachers and SGE students at KIT.
Practicing to bow before a formal ceremony with KIT administrators.

The program began with an opening ceremony for which formal attire was required. Similarily the program also ended with one. For the ceremonies practicing bowing and walking was important. The multiple parties were also organized by the program. They included a lot of food, music, and talking. All in all these events were very opposite in style but similar in purpose - to celebrate us being there.

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