Ten students of University of Aizu (UoA) had three-weeks short-term Oversea Programs at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology USA on UoA's short-term Overseas Study Programs for Academic year 2018.

Here are their reports of their research and daily life in USA.　

Participants

?Ms. Eri Miyaoka（a first-year student）

?Ms. Shion Yagi（a first-year student）

?Mr. Yuhei Yamaya（a first-year student）

?Mr. Shogen Ikoma（a first-year student）

?Ms. Taeko Yoshii（a first-year student）

?Mr. Yuki Matsushita（a first-year student）

?Mr. Kentaro Ogi（a first-year student）

?Mr. Ryo Kanazawa（a first-year student）

?Mr. Yoshiyasu Chonan（a first-year student）

?Mr. Yuhei Morishita（a first-year student）

＊Grade during the program

Study Report

◆Eri Miyaoka (a first-year student)

I went to Rose-Hulman Institute Technology (henceforth as RHIT) on the short-term study abroad. The reason why I applied for this program is, that I wanted to know my English level and I was thinking of going on a longer exchange program, so I wanted to experience what it like studying in foreign university.

At first, I was so nervous that I couldn't understand what other was saying. But I got used to what the other was talking. After that, I begin to have a small talk with the students at RHIT who were taking care of us or with a teacher who taught us English. I was really happy when people understood what I said in English, so when I found a person I know I began talking to them.

There was a class where we learned programing when we were at RHIT. That class is different from the normal classes. We first had to watch a video and then take a test before coming to class, and if there were stuff you couldn't understand you just bring those questions to the next class and ask the professor about it. I thought it was quite unique.

The knowledge and experience that I gained at this program, I will use it for the long term exchange program.

◆Shion Yagi（a first-year student）

My consciousness was changed by this short-term study aboard. First, my reason why I applied for the study aboard was to develop language skills and to get desire to improve myself of programming. I wanted to watch difference about studying and attitude between America and Japan.

One of difference is the number of female college students. The ratio of boys to girls in our university is nine to one, but in Rose-Hulman Institute Technology (henceforth as RHIT) he is about six to four. There are fewer woman than men in both universities, but in RHIT, female college students asked their teacher about class. They also taught male students their homework. They voluntarily studied. When I watched it, I thought it is not good to do nothing more than what our teacher said us. I thought that I want to learn more.

Another is the time to touch the computer. In RHIT, the students are given their computer by their university and there are a lot of desks, chairs and sockets. That is that they can always study everywhere. I touch my computer more thought this condition. I felt ashamed to touch a computer except in our university. Because in Japan, people think a person who use it is office worker or Otaku who likes anime. Before study abroad, I wanted to touch my computer because I worried about what other people think about me. However, I take my computer out of my bag and I want to use it anywhere.

◆Yuhei Yamaya（a first-year student）

I have studied abroad at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, which is an American university, using a three-week dispatch program.

I have two reason why I participated in this program. The first is that I wanted to live in places where Japanese is not practical in order to know what kind of students' life they have. The second is that I wanted to ask American students how they think about their future.

I ask American students how they think about their future, what dreams they have and then share their opinions. That is what I absolutely wanted to do. I actually did do this and felt that everyone is living with some goal, purpose or dream. This is what I always felt while living in the university. Especially in the class, the students asked many questions to the professor and they were extremely active, in contrasted to Japan.

I participated in this program and it was the best thing that I could change my mind for my future and that my motivation for language study was greatly improved. I would like to make use of this experience all over the place. Until I go abroad next time, I would like to make myself grow up more. Thank you very much to everyone who provided a lot of support for this program.

◆Shogen Ikoma（a first-year student）

In a nutshell, this study abroad program is totally success. I learned a lot of things, went various location and made many friends.

At first, I thought this program is aim to learn English. But it's wrong. To be honest, my English skill haven't improve so much. But I learned how to make friends with foreigner, how to survive in America. Here is detail:

In the beginning, I could get along with Korean and Indian students. As study abroad student, we can talk about each other's country, and America. This is very effective way to make friend. You may make friends easily when you talk to international student!

In America, I should say my opinion clearly. Because if I say something in very few word, they can't understand. So I manage somehow to speak in many words. At last I became good at communicate to foreigners than three weeks ago!

Totally, this program is very good. If you hesitate to participate to this program, I strongly recommend. Seeing is believing!

◆Taeko Yoshii（a first-year student）

I took a Python class (CSSE120) and an English class (ESL) for this short-term study abroad. Not only skills and knowledge for Python and English, but I learned attitude of students in the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology for their classes.

During classes, I felt free to ask teachers about anything because they always confirm us if we had questions. Although we had quizzes at the beginning of each class, their scores didn't influence our grades, but were only used to check the comprehension of the preparatory lessons. In the quizzes the teachers answered the student's questions while explaining.

Needless to say, people there have a lot of preparation and homework, so I saw many students are studying in the college. There are outlets, sofas, chairs, desks, counters, etc. anywhere in the university, and there are cafes that are open until late as well. I think they have a really good environment to study.

As people having some doubts about the main classes in Japan, the class style of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology was fresh and enjoyable. I have seen the students of the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology say "I can't catch up with the classes if I don't study". They study seriously, so I would like to keep working on studying as students there.

◆Yuki Matsushita（a first-year student）

I thought that why I participated in this program was to improve my language skills and to broaden my perspective. And I noticed about my own language skills during this study abroad. When I actually talked with the local people, my English pronunciation was different and I could not tell what I wanted to say. However, I actually got the ability to communicate, such as using more words. And I became to want to study English more.

I took python class. I was surprised by contents of the class. In Japan, it is a mechanism to learn new knowledge in class and to do deep learning in home work, while it is a mechanism to learn new knowledge in home work and to do deep learning in class in RHIT (Rose-Hulman Institute Technology). I think that is better because there are more questions when I do deep learning and we can ask questions as soon as there is something you do not understand.

I understood the importance of telling something from my side. I had a lot of experiences at RHIT. For example, St. Patrick's Day. The town turned green on this day, and many people enjoyed it. I ate green cookies and drank green juice. I was surprised by various habits. There was a lot of customs that were different from Japan.

And I wanted to learn more languages ??and go to mid-term study abroad.

◆Kentaro Ogi（a first-year student）

The best thing that I feel I grow is that I could make obvious aims and achieved it. My aims are to communicate in English as much as I can and to learn the differences between Japanese culture and American culture.

I did my best to speak in English. There are English tutors in Rose-hulman Institute of Technology. The content is to talk in English with the tutor from 30 minutes to an hour. I took this tutor service as much as I could. In that, I talked about some events a