An ICU student, Ms. Yumi Sato, is currently participating in an exchange program and is studying in Germany for one year. This series features the theme of "Studying Abroad × Liberal Arts", and consists of a three-part interview with Ms. Sato to discuss the changes, discoveries, and growth which she experiences during her study abroad. The first part of the interview was carried out during Ms. Sato's third month studying abroad.

My Wish to Study Abroad which I Had Once Given Up

I attended the ICU open campus during my first year in high school and I immediately fell in love with the university's learning environment. At the time, I was experiencing some doubts regarding the traditional cramming-type of education and as I was interested in interactive learning, I felt that I had found the education which I was searching for at ICU. Furthermore, the university's internationalism was also another key factor. I had been hoping to study abroad during my high school years, but had given up after facing opposition from the people around me. I was determined to study abroad once I entered university.

After entering ICU, I decided that I wanted to study in Germany. As I am from Hiroshima with "hibakusha" relatives (those who suffered from the atomic bomb), I have a deep interest in peace studies. Although a common factor between Japan and Germany is that they were both defeated nations at the end of the Second World War, my focus is centered on the differences between the two nations. For example, history education in Japan requires students to understand and memorize historical facts, but in the global community, including Germany, students have numerous opportunities to hold discussions and make presentations of historical facts and are required to develop their opinions and provide logical explanations. There is also a difference in the way the war is documented and how war memories are communicated. Japan has the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park but has not established many facilities which communicate the history of war. In comparison, German cities have attempted to communicate broadly with its citizens, such as reconstructing their cities using bricks which were burnt during the air raids. Taking into consideration such factors, I decided to study abroad in Germany as I wanted to compare the two nations based on my studies there.

My wish became true and my one-year study in Germany started in July 2022. I will be studying at the Freie Universität Berlin. Approximately 33,000 students from all over the world study at the university. As ICU has less than a total of 3,000 students, the environment here is different, but I hope to maximize the advantages of a large-scale university through meeting and interacting with many people.

Overcoming the Language Barrier

I began studying German during my second year at ICU. I took the beginners course of German language for one year, and after completing the advanced course in Spring semester of my third year, I came to Germany for my one-year study abroad. Having spent less time studying German compared to English, I felt slightly nervous at the thought of dealing with the complicated German grammar, but I received extensive support once I arrived in Germany which was very reassuring. From the beginning of July through to the end of August, I studied at a private language school in Freiburg, and I subsequently moved to Berlin where I currently participate in the language program held by the university. In addition, daily life with my host family provided an excellent opportunity for me to practice German, and just after one month, I found myself able to communicate smoothly in German.

Furthermore, I have come to realize the strength of ICU's English language education since arriving in Germany. With international students from all over the world studying at the Freie Universität Berlin, some courses are taught in English, and English is at times spoken in the dormitories and on campus. As ICU students study the English language intensively from their first year, you will find that your English ability will be of support to you even if you decide to study abroad in a non-English speaking country.

I am currently registering for courses, and I plan to achieve a good balance in my selection of classes taught in English and German. By extending my ability in both languages, I hope to become an internationalist who can communicate freely with people from all over the world.

My Future Aims as I Wait for Classes to Commence

Since arriving in Germany, I have come to realize the immense importance of possessing dialogue skills. When facing a language barrier, you need to possess the will and find ways to communicate and understand the other person. In addition to the communication skills which I have gained over the last two months, I plan to improve my language abilities as well as my dialogue skills which are relevant for an international setting. Moreover, as I now find myself in a new environment which has changed vastly, I also hope to maintain a dialogue with myself.

University courses will commence from the end of October. Unlike the liberal arts program at ICU, undergraduate students at Freie Universität Berlin study a specialized area within their respective departments. I belong to a department which specializes in political science and international relations, and I plan to delve further into my current research theme which is on nuclear issues. I have always been interested in peace studies, but after entering ICU, I began to consider peace studies from multiple angles, including studying other fields such as social psychology and chemistry, as well as exchanging ideas with fellow students from other majors. This opportunity to study "war and peace", based on a broad outlook and multi-faceted perspective, has enabled me to realize that my area of interest is centered on "nuclear issues". I am truly lucky to be able to experience the advantages of both a liberal arts education as well as specialized learning. I hope to present an original comparative study through my studies in Germany based on a multi-faceted perspective and critical thinking which I gained through my two years at ICU.