Nagoya University offers a wide range of programs to support students interested in studying abroad. Among these programs, the "short-term overseas training" courses are an ideal option for students who are worried about their language skills or anxious about traveling internationally for the first time.
Open to all students regardless of their department, the courses consist of both on-campus lectures at Nagoya University and immersive learning at partner institutions overseas. Through this combination, students gain essential knowledge about the local language and culture before experiencing it firsthand. The course also counts toward the total credits needed for graduation, an opportunity too good to pass up!
Studying abroad in Western Australia included participation in local events (2024)
Study for a Few Weeks at Universities in North America, Europe, Asia, or Oceania
The short-term overseas training lectures are held every spring and fall semester, with the actual study abroad experience taking place during summer or spring break for around two to five weeks in North America, Europe, Asia, or Oceania. Students can choose from six different courses depending on the chosen region and time of year. The university facilitates arrangements such as the study destination, travel procedures, and accommodation.
Students stay with host families or in dormitories that have experience in accepting international students, ensuring a safe and secure environment. After completing this "introductory" program, students often feel confident enough to pursue long-term exchange programs.
Workshop held at the University of Western Australia (2024)
Learning From the Experiences of Past Participants
A key aspect of the courses is that students can hear about the experiences of their peers firsthand. For example, a pre-departure lecture for a five-week study program in Western Australia was held in December 2024. The lecture was attended by around 30 students planning to study abroad in February 2025. They listened to the stories of past participants and received a theoretical introduction to language acquisition from Designated Assistant Professor Yōko Tatsumi.
Two second-year students, Haru Ueno from the School of Agricultural Sciences and Ayako Shimizu from the School of Letters, shared their experiences, describing classes and everyday life with host families. "You will not become fluent in English in five weeks, but being exposed to a different culture was a truly valuable experience," said Shimizu. Ueno added, "You might feel nervous, but once you go, you will be fine. Go all out and have fun!"
Former participants share their experiences in Australia
Following their reports, Ueno and Shimizu answered questions from students preparing for their own trip: "How do you get a phone plan?" "How much luggage should I bring?" "Is it safe?" Although Ueno and Shimizu had never met before the program, they ended up becoming close friends. "It is a chance to meet people who you would never otherwise encounter," they emphasized, noting that the value of the program goes beyond just the overseas experience.
Students planning to study abroad hear directly from their peers about daily life abroad
Forget and Remember, Again and Again: Repetition Is Key to Language Acquisition
After the experience reports, Designated Assistant Professor Tatsumi gave a lecture titled, "Why Is It So Hard to Speak a Foreign Language?" Drawing on second language acquisition theory, she discussed how Japanese and English differ significantly in many ways, referring to this gap as a "large linguistic distance." She explained that conversation in English often involves listening, mentally translating into Japanese, forming a reply in Japanese, and then translating it back into English, a process that slows communication.
She also highlighted how native English speakers take about 35,000 hours to acquire the language by age four, while Japanese students only have a fraction of that time during six years of junior and senior high school. "The key is frequent exposure to English. Repeated cycles of input, memory retention, and output (speaking) are essential to mastering the language," she emphasized.
Strategies for acquiring a second language, explained based on theory
Fostering Students with a Global Mindset
Aiming to be a world-class research university, Nagoya University has adopted an international strategy that focuses on building a "Global Multi-Campus" and promotes global education, research, and industry-academia-government collaboration in cooperation with leading institutions overseas.
Nagoya University currently has academic exchange agreements with 480 universities and research institutions in 61 countries and regions. It hosts approximately 2,600 international students while also sending many of its own students abroad through exchange, training, and research programs.
Ample opportunities to interact with local students (2022, North Carolina State University, U.S.A.)
In recent years, the declining value of the yen and rising living costs overseas have made studying abroad more expensive, discouraging some students. To support them, Nagoya University offers travel grants, scholarships, and savings programs to help ease the financial burden.
Among its various study abroad offerings, the short-term overseas training courses act as an entry point, with many students later choosing to join long-term exchange programs. Professor Nami Iwaki of the Nagoya University Study Abroad Office, who has been involved in the program since its inception, stated, "Experiencing life abroad makes a huge difference. It is not just about language, it builds confidence. There are only benefits!"
Students taking the course about Thailand try on local traditional attire (2022)
The International Communications Office, Nagoya University wishes to thank the Public Relations Office, Nagoya University for the use of this article. It was originally written by Tatsuyuki Fukui in Japanese for the "Public Relations Meidai" web magazine. It has been translated and edited for clarity and readability by the International Communications Office while preserving the original content's intent. Photos from overseas events provided by the Nagoya University Study Abroad Office; all others taken by Tatsuyuki Fukui. This article was originally published on February 4, 2025, and some information may not be up to date. For the original in Japanese, please see here.