Much of the charm of studying abroad is that it allows one to interact with locals and get firsthand experiences in a different culture.
Since ECC is a technical college, overseas students and Japanese students learn in the same building and they can always socialize with each other. At the ECC Kokusai College of Foreign Languages, overseas students of the Japanese course and Japanese students of other courses can do club activities, chat with each other in the student’s lounge and participate in events like BBQ parties after school.
〈Japan〉
What comes to your mind when you think about Japan?
What comes to your mind when you think about Japan?
Animated cartoons like Pocket Monsters, Doraemon, and Dragon Ball?.
Traditional sports such as Judo, Karate, Kendo, Sumo, and K1?
Japanese food like Sushi, Tempura, Sukiyaki and Kobe Beef?
Japanese music or entertainers?
Or Mt.Fuji, the tea ceremony, Horyuji temple, and Kabuki?
Each of these things is an expression of Japan, however, there are many other aspects.
You can not see and experience the real Japan until you have lived here as a student.
By comparing Japanese culture with yours, you will find new aspects of your own culture.
In class we invite you to tell us about your experiences in Japan.
〈Osaka〉
ECC Kokusai College of Foreign Languages is located in Osaka which is in the center of Western Japan. It is all you would expect from the second biggest city after Tokyo.
We have all the things you typically find in a major city, including shopping malls, leisure facilities, and cultural and educational institutions.
Osaka even has an amusement park called USJ (Universal Studios Japan) that is based on a world famous American film studio.
For overseas students, the great charm is that rent and the cost of food are much less expensive than in Tokyo. Although Osaka is a huge city, it is very livable. In particular, Osaka is known for its "reasonably-priced and delicious food".
Another benefit of living in Osaka is that you have the opportunity to experience Japanese traditional culture and history, because Kyoto and Nara are so close. Nara is considered the cradle of Japan, and Kyoto was the capital of Japan for 1,000 years. You will understand Japan more deeply if you visit ancient temples like Horyuji.
〈Shopping〉
For grocery shopping, small neighborhood supermarkets are inexpensive and convenient. And if it's late, there are 24hour convenience stores.
For clothing, large supermarkets and chain stores near the station have a lot of variety and are also inexpensive. Also, you can find extremely fashionable clothes in the department stores in the center of the city near the school.
If you want to buy any electrical appliances such as computers, go to the big appliance stores near school.
〈Entertainment〉
TV is the most common form of entertainment so it is only natural that foreign students watch TV to study Japanese.
Of course it's good to listen to Japanese outside the classroom, but watching TV is no substitute for preparation and review. Please watch it in your spare time after you finish your assignments.
Some students enjoy going to arcades. There are a lot of fun games so to a certain degree it is okay, but try not to get too absorbed in them because it can cost a lot of money. Try to use them just for a change of pace.
On days off, going to museums and encountering Japanese culture and history by visiting historic spots and cities, are the things that we want our foreign students to experience. We sometimes take field trips to visit old temples in Nara and Kyoto.
Visiting famous recreational facilities can also be good for a change of pace.
We hold a speech contest every year in February and the prizes for winners include tickets to Universal Studios Japan and the Kaiyuukan (a large aquarium where you can see the whale shark - one of the largest sea creatures in the world)
