MLO 5: Cultural Internalization and Language Immersion 5.1 Students demonstrate that they have actively immersed themselves in authentic Japanese cultural and linguistic environments and have internalized the language and cultural experience, from which they have developed a personal understanding and new perspectives of the community. NOTE: Students develop intercultural communication skills and strategies, and learn to adapt and respond in effective ways. This MLO may be fulfilled by a study abroad or equivalent experience. WLC's Japanese program has exchange agreements with:
Reflective Narrative: After studying abroad in Japan for a year at Toyo University, I can say that nothing learned in class can compare to full immersion in the target culture. I'll never forget the many experiences I've had in Japan. The time I spent at Toyo University gave me the change to get a glimpse at college life for Japanese students. I never would have learned just how respectful and nice Japanese people are without my study abroad. One of my fondest memories in Japan, I don't recommend actually doing this for safety reasons, is when I took a month to travel around Japan during spring break, and near Fukuoka city I was on an island connect to the mainland by a small strip of land, and someone offered me a ride back to the train station when I was waiting for the bus to go back. I shouldn't have taken it in hindsight, but I had a nice little conversation with the people who gave me a ride, it was 3 generations of men, grandfather, son and grandson in the car. Another experience I really enjoyed, but not too often, was going with my friends to random bars in Tokyo. I had a few small conversations with some salary men that were just relaxing after work and I find that Japanese people seem to be more open and relaxed to talking with me in a bar setting. I'm so happy that I'll have the opportunity to go back to Japan again and meet more people thanks to my acceptance into JET.