On October 30th (Fri) in the Reception Hall on the second floor of the Faculty Club, a study abroad experience debriefing session was held. This session gives former exchange students who experienced study abroad (overseas training) through Hiroshima University’s various overseas study programs the opportunity to report on their experiences. On this day, 45 faculty members and students interested in overseas studies were participating.



This was the ninth debriefing session. Students who took part in one of the following Hiroshima University overseas study programs reported on their experiences: the HUSA/USAC Hiroshima University Study Abroad Program, the AIMS-HU Program, the G.ecbo Global Internship Program, the START Program, the Taiwanese Language and Culture Study Program and the Special Overseas Program for Nurturing Researchers held by the Faculty of Applied Biological Science (Canada). Four of the seven programs were introduced in English, and the students had the opportunity to show the results of their language training abroad.



Students reflected on topics such as their motivations for studying abroad, the specific contents of their programs, the total costs of living and studying in their specific countries, and of the changes, discoveries, and personal transformations experienced after having studied or trained abroad. One of the students who had taken part in the HUSA program and studied at University of Manchester said they had studied side by side with native English speakers in an environment of friendly rivalry. Because of this experience, they had learned the importance of the phrase, ’fall seven times, rise eight.’ Another student, who went to Australia through the 27th START Program said that attending lessons and discussions together with Australian students was a life-changing experience that changed their attitude towards English language study. These are just a few of many such examples of the ways in which the students spoke highly of the continuing effects of overseas study and training after coming back to Japan.



At the end of the session, Prof. Nishitani, the Vice President (International) of HU spoke words of encouragement to the students while also reflecting on his own experience studying abroad during his days as a student at Hiroshima University. He talked about the importance of “assertiveness,” which is vital to living and studying abroad, and told the audience that it is important to reflect on, and benefit from, the various stories shared by each of the former exchange students. Prof. Nishitani’s speech showed that Hiroshima University’s longstanding tradition of studying abroad, and of students’ drive to do so, is one that is still alive and well to this day.



The participants who had not yet studied abroad expressed their thoughts, saying, for example, that it was useful to get specific information about the costs of studying abroad and that they were inspired and impressed by the speeches made in English by former exchange students, and were shocked that these were made by students of the same age.



This debriefing session is held twice a year in spring and autumn. The next session is scheduled to be held in May 2016.

Presentation by a participant of the Taiwanese Language and Culture Study Program	Presentation by a participant of the G.ecbo program
Presentation from a participant of the HUSA program	Comprehensive comments by Vice President Nishitani

【Inquiries about this article】

International Exchange Group (Overseas Studies Desk)

Education and International Office,

Hiroshima University

TEL：082-424-4346

E-mail： kokusai-ryugaku(AT)office.hiroshima-u.ac.jp

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