Educational Differences

By Saki Mu

Even though the name of the college is the same, if the schools are in different countries, there will be many differences. MFWI is the school in Washington State which MWU built about twenty years ago. As I spent two weeks here, I’ve noticed many differences between MWU and MFWI. There are two main differences: classroom style and participation. In Japan, I took class from the American teacher, so the classes we are taking right now are not so different from what we did. However, for other class’ student, it’s not the same as they studied in Japan.

First of all, the big difference between MWU and MFWI is the number of the student in classroom. Usually, there will be fifty students per class in Japan, but not here. Only about fifteen people are in one classroom taking the classes. I think this classroom style is very American because we don’t see this kind of classroom organization in Japan. I think small number of students in class is a really good way to learn something, because teacher can pay more attention to the students. If there are many students in the classroom, then teacher won’t be able to pay attention to each student.

Secondly, I think big difference between Japanese education and American education is the participation. This is not only in MWU, but in most of the universities in Japan. Japanese class is described as one-way education while American education is called as two-way education. Even though we’ve had American teacher’s class in Japan, we are not participating enough in the class at MFWI. Many teachers tell us to be active in MFWI. I think participating in the class is really important to improve our English and skills better.

It is really hard to change the style of learning we did in Japan to American way immediately, but I think we can. Some of the students are really aiming high to improve their English skills. I’m wondering if MWU changes their way of teaching, I think English level will go up more. I hope that this difference will be a good point of our language study.

Compare and Contrast the Teaching Style

by Yuko

We’ve taken classes in MWU for about a year before we came to MFWI and then we began to take classes at MFWI about two weeks ago. I feel the area of classrooms in MFWI is smaller than that of MWU, but almost always we have only eleven students in the class, so the area doesn’t matter for me. Moreover, the area is exactly appropriate for the number of our classmates to take the class, and I feel peacefulness by gathering in the smaller classroom in MFWI than in MWU with our classmates. We can be interactive in MFWI classrooms such as giving our opinion often because the largeness of the classroom of MFWI is a little bit smaller than that of MWU and the atmosphere in the classroom is relaxed in MFWI. We sometimes had too large classrooms for only eleven students of us in MWU to take the class. The largeness of the classroom of MWU made something quiet atmosphere, so I might have been being a little bit hesitated to speak up in the MWU class.

Eleven of us are almost always in the same classroom in MWU except the time we were taking liberal art classes and third language classes such as French or German. Most of the teacher who taught us the liberal art just gave us the lecture, and usually I didn’t have the chance to give my opinion in the liberal art classes in MWU. Before I came to MFWI, I read some books which tell me the fact that the participation in classes is really important in the school in America, so I have been wondering how the class would be in MFWI. Actually almost all teachers of us in MFWI urge us to tell our opinion a lot in the class. So I try to speak up what I think as much as possible. But, sometimes I feel so sleepy because I can’t spend enough time to sleep; therefore, I can’t raise my hand often under such a situation. So, I would like you to know this reason.

While we had classes which teachers only speak and students kept their silence, we were just given knowledge and skills. On the contrary, while we are in MFWI, we try to get ideas and wisdom by exchanging our opinion between teachers and students. So, I can say the teaching style in MFWI draws our activeness than the passiveness, which we are needed in most of our liberal art classes in MWU.

MFWI and MWU

Saki Mi

I study Speaking, Writing, Conversation, Grammar, Reading and American Study in MFWI. I also studied other kinds of education in MWU last year. I found some differences about the classroom teaching style of MFWI and MWU. I studied American style classes in Japan because most classes were American teacher; professor Mary Brooks, but it’s a lot different here.

The class style which the students are expected is different between MFWI and MWU. I learned to actively speak in the class at MWU. We have to tell the teacher our opinion every time. We spoke more than we wrote in the classes. The teacher gave us a lot of assignment in each class; however, we have a time to do them because the classes are once a week in Japan. On the other hand, MFWI is different from MWU. The big difference is being active in the classes. It is similar to MWU, but we have to do more. I noticed our attitude in Japanese class was weak. The teachers expect us to be more active and talk with the teachers. We’ve still have a reserve. I’m sometimes nervous to say my opinion because of it. We are expected to speak with native speaker more in MFWI, so we have a lot of opportunities to talk with and make a speech. I also found one more big different between MFWI and MWU; that is, the each class is three times a week. For example, the writing class is on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. It’s surprising for me. We had the classes once a week in Japan. MFWI teachers give us many assignments, and we have to do them at once because we have the classes tomorrow or day after tomorrow. It will be hard for me by the time I get used to the school life.

I found the difference of the classroom teaching style of MFWI and MWU. The students were expected to be active and tell their opinion in the English class only in Japan, but we didn’t do so perfectly. It’s weak. We don’t say our opinion quickly in English class. We had the classes once a week in MWU, but MFWI is very different. One class is three times a week in MFWI. MFWI teachers want us to be more active and do a volunteer. We talk with the teacher every time the class starts. We work hard so that the classes are three times a week in MFWI, but I will get used to the class style gradually, and improve my English skill well.

Compare and contrast the classroom teaching style of MFWI and MWU

Ayumi

Actually in ACE case, the class style is almost the same here in MFWI and MWU in Japan because we took all of classes with the same eleven students except for French and Liberal Arts. However, we have other classmates in Grammar and American Studies in MFWI, and we have different teachers for each class. If I pay some more attention to the difference, I could pick up some examples.

One of the different classes for me is Americans Studies. At first, it was very stimulative for me to attend the class. I have some reasons why the class was so stimulative for me. I'm getting used to listening to my classmate's English, so in the classroom I can hear other classmate's speaking. Some speak more fluently than me, and some seem to have difficulty in speaking. I felt nervous when I heard other people's natural pronunciation at the beginning of the class. Furthermore, we do some interesting activities in the class, but we didn't have such kind of class in MWU, so these activities were also new for me. We often discuss with each other in the class, make a line according to the topic which our teacher gave, or answer the buzz-in quiz.

Conversely, the style in MWU is bit different.We had worked on the same topic through three subjects with the same title text book, but we don't do now. As to this style, it was good for me because we could have some opportunities to think about the topic in other class. So, I feel there are a lot of things to think about for each class.

The different point in the classroom in MFWI is we need to do more interactive and say our opinion in English. In Japan, of course, we had to speak in English especially the Speaking class, but we sometimes talked in Japanese when we decided the member of the conversation practice group. There seemed to be less volunteer people when we studied in MWU. Therefore the teachers are stricter to us here. However, I don't think it's hard for me to attend class in MFWI. I feel the atmosphere is getting better, but I need to be more active in the class in MFWI!

“Practice makes perfect!”

By Reika

“Do you have any questions?” “Does anyone know the answer?” “What do you think?” If you asked these questions during class time in Japan, I know there was a long silence. We’ve never done volunteering during class time. Japanese teaching style is passive, so only teachers talk all the time. That makes students get bored and sometimes makes them sleepy. In my opinion, ACE students get used to be volunteering than other students because Mrs. Brooks strictly taught it to us. If we became silence, she counted four seconds and we had to answer something during the time. We’ve practiced the skill for one year, although we know we need more time to practice. Giving and saying opinions are really hard for us but it’s very important to express our ideas and thoughts. We’re sure we will be good at volunteering in the near future.

“E.O.! English Only!” I heard it so many times after I arrived at MFWI. In M.W.U., we used English only in Mrs. Brooks’ classes: speaking, reading and writing. Other classes like listening, grammar and English literature, we took the class in English but we used Japanese frequently during class time. As a result, speaking only English is a little bit hard for us. I understand why teachers always say to us, “E.O.!” When I was in Australia, I tried to stay in English all the time. Not only speaking English in daily life, but also writing diary, e-mails and chatting, I wrote, typed and talked all in English. That made my English really improve. Through the experience, I know if I make a time to stay in English as much as I can, my English will improve. Although the environment doesn’t change much, I don’t feel I’m in America. This is the hardest point for me to do that. Same classmates and similar classes make me feel like I’m in Japan. The purpose of this program is to improve our English, so I better make effort to stay in English as much as I can.

Active teaching style, volunteering and E.O. are different from Japanese teaching style. We have practiced them for a year, so what we need to do is more practicing! “Practice makes perfect!”

Differences About Teaching Style

Yuiko

The most important difference of teaching style between MFWI and MWU is the distance between teachers and students. In Japan, what students have to do during a class is just listening to what teacher is saying. Students don’t have to ask a question or say their opinion, because teachers don’t demand students to do so. In contrast, in America, teachers always need students’ opinion or question. In the first class at MFWI, I realized that teachers really want to know what I think about the topic by watching their eyes. I think this is the biggest and the most important difference between the US class style and Japanese. It can be the reason why some Japanese students feel uncomfortable in the classes at MFWI now.

Firstly, there is a big difference about the students’ attitude during classes between America and Japan. For instance, most Japanese students think that it is usual to sleep during classes. I remember that many students slept during a class when I was a high school student. The thought that it is OK to sleep during classes might not change even if they became college students. On the other hand, in the U.S, we have to listen carefully to what teacher said, because we can be called by teacher and we should have some opinion to the topic of the class. Most students are not used to the American class style, so it might be the first time for them to think about participation in classes. As a result, students start thinking about their attitude more deeply during classes. Some students start feeling kind of nervous, and some students start feeling a kind of fun. There is a little difference between each student how they accept American style.

All of the students must realize some differences in the class style between the US and Japan. It might be a stress for students in a bad way or a good way. When we are used to American style classes, we will be able to understand American culture more deeply. Moreover, the experience will affect our future in a good way. We should participate in classes more actively and we should have more confidence in own opinion.

Cheney High School

by Saki

When I met Linnea, my pen pal, I was little bit nervous and I was sure that she was nervous also. Then she had next class, so she took me to her class which was Language Arts. As I entered the classroom, she began making groups of chairs for us. I was surprised because in Japan, if we have some guests in our class, we never move our desks and make groups. Then, the class had started. First of all, the teacher played the CD for learning vocabulary. He chose famous musician’s music, not like text book CDs. I was surprised again because it was rap music, but Linnea told me it has many vocabularies that we can learn and use for SAT tests. Next was about Independent Clause and Dependant Clause. Teacher asked students to answer the questions and immediately student answered for those questions.

Next part was reading section. They were doing some problems from past SAT tests and they were solving the problem one by one. Before they started answering, they formed a group, no matter how many people are there in a group, and used small white board to write the answer. When they get answers correct, teacher has a golf put in front of the class so student gets chance to put the ball and if you sank it, you will get a candy. Also, if you can give reasons why you chose the correct answer, you are also going to get a candy. This game is all point system and the group who gets highest score will get a Homework Pass that you can use for next assignment. I thought this is really interesting because Japan never has this kind of activity and we never eat candies at school, especially during the class. Also, we never play games during the class like putting the golf ball. I think participation was the biggest point, but I don’t Japanese students are not participating. Japanese students just needs time to think what to speak in English. I think they can answer the questions if it is in Japanese. However, we are in MFWI learning English so I think we have to work on that more.

I found many interesting points by visiting Cheney High School and meeting students there and became friends. Also, I could have a chance to ask about my questions for my cultural difference project. I had a great time there.

Diversity of Class Teaching

Miyuki

How come the classroom teaching is different between MWU and MFWI? About three weeks have passed since the classes started, and I found attractive and interesting differences between them. They have made me understand some rules in America and also helped me reconsider about Japanese rules. As a result, it is founded that both of them have peculiar systems and should be respected because these are individuality of two countries: diversity between MWU and MFWI.

There are a lot of diversity of class teaching showed in every class between MWU and MFWI. First, classes of Japan have an interesting rule of class teaching. It might be required in a class to be passive or dependent, and this attitude could keep a classroom to be quiet and help students to be in harmony, for example, in almost all classes except English classes at MFWU, I do not need to speak so much but listen to a lecture carefully without saying anything for ninety minutes. This is because the system might have a lecture keep going smoothly; moreover, teachers can teach students information efficiently in limited time. On the other hand, classes of America have other different system of class teaching. It might be required to be active or independent, and this attitude might help students have their own opinions about a topic and learn how to study by themselves, for example, in all the classes at MFWI, I have to not only pay attention to a lecture but also express myself with my own opinions during each class. Additionally, this rule might have students encourage each other to study hard and also make classes become more colorful and energetic. Both of them are quite different from each other; however, they are not good or bad but their personalities, so they should to be esteemed.

Finally, the useful characteristics or differences of each I have got comparing two types of classroom teaching should be turned out. The Japanese rule wants students to be silent and to concentrate on a lecture without saying anything, which might make a classroom calm down. On the other hand, the American system wants them to be powerful to express themselves with their own thought, which might make a classroom become interesting. I have come to MFWI to learn differences of culture, education, and life. I am not supposed to choose which the best is; however, I will input respective advantages from both of them and treasure this important diversity and features.

MWU and MFWI

Haruka


I prefer MFWI to MWU. MWU and MFWI are the same university, but they are not exactly the same. There are some similar and different points between MWU and MFWI. The similar point is class size. At MFWI, all classes are small classes. For other students, a small class is new. There were about fifty students in a class at MWU. On the other hand, my classmates were only eleven. For this reason, class size is a similar point for me.

There are some different points. First, there’re no Japanese teachers. Japanese teachers sometimes spoke Japanese, so I tended to speak Japanese. At MFWI, there are no teachers who speak Japanese. Consequently, I can concentrate on English. Second, there are many opportunities to share my opinion with my classmates. All classes have a time to talk with my classmates. In Professor Brooks’ class, I had a lot of chances to share my opinion, yet the other classes had few chances to talk with my friends. Finally, the biggest difference is atmosphere. MFWI teachers often ask us “Is there any volunteer?” I like it. Japanese teachers choose a person who answers the question. If the person couldn’t answer the question, the other students have to wait for a while. I thought it was a waste of time. It was strange that the other students couldn’t answer the question.

Consequently, I prefer MFWI to MWU teaching style. At MFWI, my teachers always say that participation is the most important. I have to speak out my opinion in the class. This is more important than anything else. Japanese students are not good at speaking out in the class. However, we have to do it. It’s necessary for the students who are learning English. Most of the students couldn’t speak out in the class at MWU; conversely they can be positive at MFWI. That’s why I prefer MFWI teaching style.

Teaching Style of MFWI and MWU

by Sayuri

The classroom teaching style of MFWI and MWU is a little different. I explain the reason why I say that, because Professor Brooks’ teaching style was similar to MFWI. Through her classes, I did not get confused about the classroom teaching style. However, I learn some new styles to improve my English skill every day here, and they are interesting for me.

Learning new classroom teaching style is difficult but fun. In order to show my opinion, I’m going to give three points. First, we usually sit at a table with four people at classes at MFWI. It is easy to show each answer, ask questions and share opinions. We often move around to find new partner. We did that at MWU, but it was a little bit less than MFWI. Next, it is different how to research. When we need to examine something, we often use the Internet or books at MWU. However, at MFWI we check the Internet and books and do interviews also. It is interesting for me because I can see real thinking and know many different opinions through interviews. Finally, we often discuss and share each opinion in a group or partner at MFWI. It is good to get new information, thinking way and advice. We also discussed, made presentations and showed individual thinking at MWU, so it is not so hard for us. On the other hand, we have never done peer editing. Therefore, it is difficult. It helps us improving our writing skill by finding problems and editing another person’s work.

We have already experienced the classroom teaching style of MFWI in Japan. Nevertheless, we did not do peer editing, do interviews and share the table with some students. In order to develop my English skill, I need to use these skills I’ve learned at MWU and got at MFWI.

Comparing and contrasting the classroom teaching style of MFWI and MWU

By Sae

My image of classroom teaching style at MFWI was completely different from reality. In my expectation of teaching style at MFWI was similar to Dr. Brooks’ class at MWU. However, American and Japanese have quite different attitude in the classes. Normally, Japanese students listen to classes quietly and just copy some explanations down from the blackboard. Many students don’t want to say their opinions and rarely ask questions in the class because they worry about mistake. For example, they don’t try to answer the questions even if their teacher asks. Therefore, classrooms are always quiet; on the other hand, they act on the defensive in the classes. If class is boring, many students always chat without caring about other students in the classroom. Even so, teachers will give us credits unless they have bad mark by the test.

In contrast, teachers at MFWI don’t want us to act like that at all. Teachers always wait for our responses, opinions, and actions. According to my RA, participation is very important in the U.S. Students need to say their opinions. Otherwise they get fail. Besides, there are many group discussions and group work in the class. These aren’t common in Japan because exams and attendance are important and almost assignments are independent work. In America, participation and cooperation are very important; therefore atmosphere of class is livelier and more vital in America. Although these are some differences, we must try to participate actively in classes at both MWU and MFWI.

Relationships Between Students and Teachers

By Miu

The biggest difference of MFWI and MWU is communication between students and teachers, I think. However, I wrote about this topic last week. I’m sorry that I didn’t know the topic of this week. Therefore, I’ll write more deeply this time. As I wrote the last journal, ways of classes are completely different. MFWI teachers always ask our opinions and make classes together, so their classes are really interesting. Therefore, we want to talk with them more and go to their office, so we can communicate a lot. However, MWU teachers made classes by themselves, so we are bored. Accordingly, we aren’t interested in them and don’t want to communicate with them. I think it is the biggest difference and also the most serious problem.

The classroom teaching style of MFWI and MWU is totally different. I think it is concerned with each national character. My image of Americans is cheerful, positive and active, but Japanese aren’t same as them. MFWI teachers always need our answers and opinions in their classes and try to know us as much as possible. Therefore, we are also interested in both teachers and classes and want them to know about us, so we go to their office hour. I’ve already been to some teacher’s office hour. We are smaller group than classes, so we can talk deeply with each other about each family, our classes and my future. Through time like this, we can exchange a lot of information and our relationship become well. In addition, talking with teachers is also a good opportunity to improve our English speaking skill. Therefore, I want to exploit office hours more in the future. Compared with MWU, some teachers have an office hour and some students use it. However, I’ve never visited their offices. It’s because I didn’t need to visit them. In Japan, classes are usually one teacher and many students about fifty, so only a teacher speaks and students just listen. It is not fun, so I don’t want to talk with them outside classes. I think it is a common opinion among most Japanese university students. Therefore, we hardly communicate with our teachers. It isn’t good thing at all. In my opinion, not only students but also teachers have to follow MFWI classroom teaching style. I know that there are a lot of difficulties such as luck of teachers and classrooms to realize my suggestion. Therefore, I’ll enjoy this teaching style at MFWI now.