Immersion Programmes
As part of the department's efforts to foster a deeper understanding of Japan among our students, homestay and internship programmes in Japan are conducted during the vacations to provide the students an opportunity to experience Japanese culture and society as lived, rather than through reading books.
Homestay Programmes
The NUS Osaka Tour Study Programme is one of the main programmes sponsored by the SIN-Osaka Club. The SIN-Osaka Club was set up in 1995 with the objective of fostering friendship between Osaka and Singapore. The department has been organising homestays with the club since 1996, and the most recent group of 25 participants was accompanied by Ms Remi Kakiyama from 29 May – 7 June 2002. Educational tours to Osaka Gas Science Museum, Panasonic Hall of Science and Technology and the Osaka Museum of History were arranged. The group was also given opportunities to exchange with students at Osaka College of Foreign Trade. Two days were spent with individual host families, followed by a tour to Kobe and Rokko Mountain, sight-seeing in Kyoto and Nara, and a visit to the Asahi Newspaper. The participants all agreed that it was a fulfilling and enriching trip.
Himeji Dokkyo University Exchange Programme was a Japanese language-cum-homestay programme at Himeji Dokkyo University that was held for one month from 19 Nov – 19 Dec 1999. 10 of our department's students participated in this programme. Arrangements were made for students to stay with host families and Japanese lessons with daily assignments were held in the university. A visit to Himeji Castle was organised by the university, and other activities during their stay were decided by each individual student or by their host. Students showed an improvement in their understanding of the Japanese language and better knowledge of Japanese culture and life style after this programme. They also found their stay to be a very rewarding and unforgettable experience.
Hiroshima Singapore Association (HSA) was established in 1995 to promote mutual understanding between Singapore and Hiroshima. The department has been organising student exchange programmes with HSA since 1998, and the most recent Hiroshima Homestay Programme provided an opportunity for 18 students to visit Hiroshima from 29 November to 6 December 2002, escorted by Dr Lim Beng Choo. The students visited Hiroshima International Centre, Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima Castle, Mazda Motor Co., Miyajima Island, Hiroshima City University. They were also invited to Hiroshima Singapore Association Reception, organised by Hiroshima Shinyo Bank. After their return from the memorable trip, students reported that their stay of five nights with their host families let them experience real Japanese life and culture. The programme also provided very good opportunities for them to practise their Japanese language skills.
Homestay Programme in Shizuoka Prefecture 2002 enabled 5 students to participate in various exchange sessions with Shizuoka University students and field trips within Shizuoka Prefecture for 11 days from 2 to 12 December 2002. The exchange sessions consisting of presentations and discussions by both universities students helped our students gained a clearer perspective and deeper understanding of Japan. Visits to Shizuoka Broadcasting Station, Sunpu Castle, other sightseeing areas and a overnight trip to Hakone were arranged. The students' knowledge of Japanese society improved through living with Japanese host families. The programme was a memorable and simulating experience for the students.
Internship Programmes
Since May 1998, the department has also begun a new Business Internship Programme for our students in Hiroshima. Hiroshima Singapore Association Internship Programme aims to provide the students with a firsthand experience of working in a Japanese business environment. Seven of our students participated in the programme from 12 May to 12 June 2002. They were attached to the Hiroshima Shinyo Bank, Hiroshima Gas, Japan Travel Bureau, Molten and Righa Royal Hotel for their internship.
The department also conducted the Toshiba International Foundation Grant for Japanese Language-Cultural Immersion-Internship Programme from 24 November – 22 December 2002. This is the fourth year that Toshiba International Foundation has supported our programme. 8 students from the department were selected for the programme which aims to promote international exchange and understanding of Japan in terms of its language, culture and society, history and aesthetics, and economy and business environment. The students attended classes conducted by the Association of Japanese-Language Teachers (AJALT), which also organised their cultural activities, internship training and home-stays. The companies that participated in the internship programme included ALC Press Inc., Bojinsha, Kinokuniya, and Kodansha International Limited.