NEWS
ICU International Summer Program in Japan (ISPJ) End
Update: August 22, 2023
On July 27, 2023, the first International Summer Program in Japan (ISPJ)* was successfully concluded with 31 participants from abroad and 19 ICU students, for a total of 50 participants.
*ISPJ...An international program for Japanese language learners from around the world and ICU students interested in Japan studies to learn about Japan through various academic disciplines.
Class activities
For about a month from July 5, mainly staying in on-campus dormitories, participants from abroad studied Japanese in the mornings, and in the afternoons ICU students joined them to take omnibus-style classes taught by ICU professors specializing in a wide range of fields, including psychology, business, popular culture, history, literature, art, and the environment science.
Zazen and tea ceremony experiences in cultural programs
Field Trips
Participants' voice (summary of speech at the closing ceremony)
Ms. Chang He, Graduate Student, Brown University, USA (presented in Japanese)
I started studying Japanese as a child. But I never had a chance to speak Japanese, which was a shame because I wanted to talk to everyone in Japan. The teachers at ICU were very kind and taught us carefully according to our level. It was difficult, but I improved if I kept trying. It took a lot of study, but my Japanese became a little better. I also gained confidence. When I first came to Japan, I could not do anything even if I had a problem. Recently, I am finally able to have a few conversations. I know how to talk about what I am thinking. I am very happy. I am thrilled with this wonderful opportunity. I learned how to speak from everyone: teachers, assistants, volunteers, classmates, etc. Thank you very much, ICU. I am sorry that the course is coming to an end. I will continue to study hard. I hope to be able to communicate with more people when I come to Japan next time. Thank you very much.
During the four weeks we spent with our fellow students, we learned a lot from our university life, and today we celebrated a successful closing ceremony. Our Japanese teachers kindly taught us kanji and grammar, and during the ISPJ program we had valuable experiences such as visiting the Glico factory and experiencing Zen meditation, as well as interacting with our classmates and ICU students and learning the joy of conversing in Japanese. From now on, we will use this experience as a basis for moving forward on our respective paths. With many happy memories in my heart, I will work hard toward new beginnings. I will cherish my time with all of you and grow without forgetting what I have learned here. I will never forget the time we spent together this summer.
In this speech, I would like to introduce a word that we, young Japanese people, often use: "atsui（アツい）." Reflecting on this program, the word that came to my mind was "atsui（暑い）," which means "hot." The word "atsui（あつい）" generally has two distinct meanings: one can refer to a high temperature, as in the weather, the other stands for objects, such as fire, water. In addition to them, "atusi" can also express one's intense emotions or feelings. For instance, you can describe a dramatic baseball game or a moving story of friendship as "atsui（アツい）." Young people also use expressions "geki-atsu (fiercely hot) （激アツ）" when it's intense, or "mune-atsu (emotionally hot)（胸アツ）" when moved by something to the extent that your heart gets hot. For me, the past month was not only hot in temperature, but also emotionally "atsui（アツい）." I will never forget this immensely "hot" summer.
