Japanese Language Education Program: "Japanese Pedagogy I" Second Collaborative Class Session with Michigan State University Students (Thuesday, October 28)

On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, eleven students enrolled in the “Japanese Pedagogy I” course at Ibaraki University participated in the second online collaborative class session with thirty-five students from Michigan State University in the United States.

In this session, the Ibaraki University students designed and conducted Japanese communication activities tailored to the Michigan State University students, based on the needs and readiness survey conducted during the first session. These activities included interactive tasks that considered the learners’ interests and proficiency levels, allowing the Ibaraki students to apply teaching methods in a practical setting. In the latter half of the session, students from both universities engaged in a Japanese-language discussion prepared by the Michigan State University side.

For the Ibaraki University students, this was a valuable opportunity to connect theoretical knowledge with real-world teaching practice. For the Michigan State University students, interacting with Japanese university students in Japanese provided strong motivation to continue their language studies.

Although the exchange took place online, the sight of students from both universities smiling and communicating in Japanese left a lasting impression. The session highlighted the potential of language education to build meaningful international connections.