Lessons

Since this is a blog about studying in Japan, I suppose I should mention studying. I started lessons two days ago, on Monday, and I’ve had all but two of the courses I’m taking. So here’s an overview:

Language Level 3

We did a placement test so they could put us in the classes that were at the right level. Unfortunately, the “right level” is a class where you’ve already learnt everything they teach. I’m not sure whether it makes sense to the Japanese teachers, but none of us students understand it. Anyway, I was put in Level 3 (out of 5), but I think I must have been at the top end of level 3 because the teacher heard me speak and said “This class may be a little simple for you.” It’s not just simple for me. It’s simple for all the people who were put in level 3.

Language Level 4

The upside is, as well as the level you’re placed in, you’re allowed to take the classes for the level above. This class was much more what I’m used to in Sheffield, where the teachers speak and you only understand half of what they’re saying – but it was actually very refreshing to be challenged like that. The work is perhaps the same or of a little lower level than what we were given in Sheffield, but in fact it’s just right for me, because it means I won’t find it so hard I give up hope.

“What is Peace?”

This was quite a bizarre lesson, actually. It’s taught in English, but the lecturer is Japanese, and it’s designed for Japanese students who want the challenge of being taught in English. Unfortunately, the lecturer’s English isn’t completely fluent either. All the foreign students have to take this course, though, because it’s Hiroshima and one of the university’s aims is to teach about peace. We sat through an hour of a weird mix of simple and complicated English; he used some words which I didn’t even understand, let alone the Germans sitting next to me, the Russian in the next row, and the hundred or so Japanese students. I’m not sure I’m going to enjoy this course, although if I sit next to the right people, it could be quite entertaining.

Tomorrow I have the first lesson of a course about linguistics, which compares English and Japanese, and on Friday there is one called “An Introduction to the Theory of Inter-Cultural Communication”, which sounds dull, but might turn out to be interesting. I will update you on that.