1. What I have learned

 

    The AELC has provided a wide range of knowledge about education. I usually took classes related to international educational development and school education, but could gained knowledge related to the psychology and assessment courses in AELC. In particular, the knowledge related to counseling is strongly connected to student care in school education, and it allowed me to see the connections between what I was learning in the faculty of Education . Additionally, as part of the fieldwork at AELC, we had the opportunity to visit schools and museums. During the summer AELC, we visited my elementary school in Higashimatsushima city, and during the winter AELC, we visited an elementary school in Nanjing and a museum related to Chinese examination, “Ke Ju”. The experience of learning not only through classroom instruction but also through actual observation was incredibly valuable.

 

2. Interaction with students outside of the classroom

 

    What I gained from AELC was not only knowledge. It was also a great experience for me to interact with members in other universities and students from different courses in the faculty of Education at Tohoku University. Not only did I improve my English skills by speaking in English, but I also had the opportunity to learn about education from students with different areas of expertise and discuss research designs.

 

3. Message to those considering taking the course in the future

 

    If you are considering taking this course, I recommend it. I had concerns about my English skills and studying abroad, but I was able to overcome all of these challenges. Initially, I struggled with speaking English, but with the support of other students, I was able to improve. We made an effort to communicate despite the language barrier. In addition, we were considerate of each other to communicate because all of us are not native speakers of English. I also faced difficulties living abroad, but with the support of other students, I was able to manage. For example, in Nanjing, I had a fever for three days, but Chinese students from Tohoku University helped me by arranging a taxi and preparing food for me. Additionally, students from other universities gave me fruits and other gifts when I returned to school, which helped me recover both physically and mentally. Studying abroad can come with challenges, but overcoming them is also a valuable life experience. I understand your concerns, but why not take a little courage and join AELC? It will open the door to new learning, and you will gain valuable knowledge and make new friends. Above all, the knowledge and experiences you gain abroad, which are not available in Japan, will become new worldview for your educational journey!