Real Reporter Online - We have the courage to make mistakes.

Fun Things to Do in South Korea

August 24, 2022

By Nana Hamano

What are fun things to do for students who study abroad? If you go to South Korea, there are a lot of interesting things to do. I would like to introduce three types of entertainment that are great for relieving the stress of study abroad. They are going to cafes, shopping and traveling.

There are many shops lined up around the university where I am studying abroad. There are many fashionable cafes in South Korea. And there are many bars around the university. So foreign students go with their friends to talk and drink at cafes and bars. Korean students drink alcohol almost every day. Also there are a lot of people hanging around outside. The atmosphere of the college town is different from those in Japan, so if you go to South Korea to study, you will be able to enjoy a different university life from Japan’s.

If you like South Korea, you can enjoy shopping. South Korea are very concerned with beauty. That’s why Korean cosmetics are attracting worldwide attention. Recently, Korean Cosmetics are very popular in Japan. Fashion is attracting attention as well as cosmetics. Due to the popularity of K-pop, the number of people imitating fashion has increased. If you are in South Korea, you can get cosmetics and clothes cheaper than in Japan. Recommended places for shopping in South Korea are Seoul and Busan. There are many places where you can shop.

South Korea is smaller than Japan. In other words, it is easier to travel in South Korea than in Japan. In addition, transportation facilities in South Korea are remarkably well developed and transportation costs are very low. Popular domestic travel destinations are Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island. Foreign students often visit amusement parks. Busan is famous for its sea, so you should go in summer. Jeju Island is a place rich in nature. There is an ocean and mountains. Therefore, playing in the sea in summer and mountain climbing in winter is good.

There are various kinds of entertainment where you study abroad. Have a good time with friends, shopping, and go on a trip somewhere. If you are going to study abroad in South Korea, why don’t you experience these ways of entertainment?

Effects of Studying Abroad on Students

Effects of Studying Abroad on Students

August 24, 2022

By Karua Ono

When you say the word “studying abroad” what comes to your mind? Many people might be worried about the cost. In fact, the cost of studying abroad is very expensive and we can study languages by not doing study abroad. Thanks to the Internet, we can communicate with people who live in other countries easily and we can study abroad online at our home country. However, there are many effects of studying abroad on student’s future.

First, studying abroad to study languages improve our language skill. Of course, it is possible to acquire language skills without studying abroad and we can get language certified by studying ourselves but by going to abroad, we will get used to listening to a foreign language by listening to it all day. Additionally, we can learn basic conversation from talking with native speakers and if there are students who is the same generation, we can learn trendy words. It is impossible to learn trendy words from a language textbook, so study abroad is the best way to acquire trendy words.

Second, the experience of study abroad become an appealing point when we do job-hunting. I think that there are a few people who have foreign education experience. If you have this experience, you can talk about abilities acquired by studying abroad, something impressive episode, and how good your language skills are. These episodes might be a hot topic when you have an interview at companies. Sometimes, there is a company incentive for people who have an experience of study abroad.
Third, an

other important effect of studying abroad is we can broaden our knowledge by experienced it. There are many people who have different cultures in foreign country, and it cause you to get a culture shock. I don’t think that having culture shock is but thing because this experience will be good for our personal growth. I have been to Croatia for three weeks and spending time with a local family. Then, I got a culture shock there. Getting a culture shock made me confused and it was difficult to accept a different culture. However, thanks to this experience, I could learn new things I didn’t know before.

To summarize, there are many advantages of studying abroad for students. Although the cost of it is expensive, I think it is worth experiencing study abroad. If you are wondering whether to try studying abroad or not, you should try it.

Negative Effects of SNS’s on Young Peoples’ Mental Health

Negative Effects of SNS’s on Young Peoples’ Mental Health

August 24, 2022

By Nao Yasutake

Today, SNS’s is an indispensable existence for young people. They look at their phones many times during a day. The connection with others on SNS is a very important thing for young generation. However, using SNS’s bring not only positive influences but also negative influences. There are many negative effects of SNS’s on young peoples’ mental health.

It affects to fall of young peoples’ self-esteem that checking other’s posts on Instagram or Facebook. Because you compare with your life and their life by doing so. Usually, people post on SNS’s only good things. For example, luxurious meals, trips, presents which received from someone. But people may feel that’s the whole of their lives that they posted. Therefore, you feel your life is not a satisfactory one than other’s life. Also, it is not good to compare the number of your followers with the number of other’s followers. It is not true that people who have a lot of followers are loved by many people. Decline of self-esteem sometimes cause mental illness like depression. So, you need to be careful.

Watching YouTube and checking other’s posts bring you a sense of being ineffective. Have you ever spent your day off to watch YouTube or check other’s posts? How did you feel at end of that day? Many people feel that they wasted their own time after used SNS’s a lot. Consequently, it makes your day non-productive, and that gives a bad influence to peoples’ mental health. There are cases that you can’t do things which you have to do like homework or housework by using SNS’s too much. Smartphone addiction is one of a problem of mental health. Today, a lot of young people have the problem.

Lastly, the most serious negative effect of SNS’s is negative emotions that can’t be controlled. Especially, lack of sleep by using SNS’s until late at night bring you negative emotions. For example, you get annoyed easily for your parent’s words if you don’t have enough time to sleep. The negative emotions can’t be controlled by yourself. In addition, you can’t get up in the morning if you use SNS’s until late at last night. The habit is very dangerous because your life might become day and night are reversed. It is one of a reason of social withdrawal and it is very difficult to change the habit soon.

To summarize, there are many bad influences of mental health who use SNS’s a lot. Using SNS’s brings some negative effects to people which fall of their self-esteem, waste their own time, and negative emotions that can’t be controlled. These are influences to young peoples’ mental health. Connections with others are important, but it is more important to protect your mental health from bad effects. You should learn good ways of using SNS’s for keep your mental health in a good condition.

Justification for Rating in Art Subjects

Justification for Rating in Art Subjects

August 24, 2022

By Riko Yamamoto

“I am not good at drawing” Some people say that in art subjects. And some people say that teachers should not rate works made by students. Unlike English lessons that we must remember a lot of vocabulary and math lessons that require comprehension, art lessons are very easy because it is a class that relies on our sensibility. Students tend to think that in art classes, they emphasize the skill of drawing and the presence or absence of originality. Thereby some people say that individual’s artistic concept should not be evaluated by others, and that some people are no good at drawing, so it should not be evaluated in art classes. So why is it still being evaluated in art classes? This time I introduce 3 reasons why teachers should give an evaluation in art classes, completeness of the work, knowledge of art, and beauty perspectives.

Giving an evaluation in the art class can improve the perfection of the work that students make. If they are not good at drawing or they who don’t like drawing, they will not try to draw properly when it comes to not evaluated. In a lesson where the students are lazy, there is no reason in giving the lesson. In such a class, students who are not good at drawing and dislike drawing will remain as they are. It is important to give an evaluation in terms of motivating students.

Art classes can be evaluated not only by the works made by the students, but also by the knowledge test. These knowledges are the knowledge about history in art. In other words, by giving an evaluation of art, we can be willing to gain historical knowledge about art. Drawing and making works may have few useful moments in our life, but I think that gaining knowledges about the history of art will bring depth to our future life. When we have to go to a museum for some reason, it is many times more interesting to look at a painting with a historical background than to look at a painting that you don’t understand.

The criteria for art classes are also whether we understand the perspective of beauty, and if we understand them well, the evaluation will be good. For example, being able to understand the properties of shapes, colors, materials, light, and the effects they have on emotions is useful even after graduating from school and becoming a member of society. (About learning evaluation) Evaluations should be made in art classes that encourage people to learn about such emotionally influential beauty perspectives.

Some students say that in art classes, individuality should be valued and teachers should not rate it. Certainly, it is not nice to be given a bad rating for our work. However, in art classes, the degree of perfection of a work is not the only evaluation. As mentioned above, it is also evaluated by the degree of understanding such as historical background and beauty perspectives. Of course, it is evaluated by the degree of perfection of the work, but if we are not good at making it, we can supplement the evaluation by the result of the knowledge test. Isn’t it easier to get a better evaluation than other subjects because I can be evaluated and supplemented from various points of view?

In conclusion, there are many advantages to evaluate in an art class. Art classes have different evaluation perspectives then other classes. Whether it works good or bad depends on the person. However, the ability to create works, the understanding of the history of art, and the perspective of beauty that are cultivated in art classes are very important in future life, and I think that they will be acquired more by being evaluated.

Effects of Keeping a Pet on Family

Effects of Keeping a Pet on Family

August 24, 2022

By Tomoka Izumi

Do you know the positive effects of keeping a pet? Especially good if you have a family pet. Some families may think it is difficult to take care of a pet if they have one. And some families may think that having a pet won’t change anything. But There are many effects of keeping a pet in the family.

The first positive effect is that families heal when they have pets. Family includes both adults and children. And each may have their own stresses at school or work. However, having a pet in the family may reduce that stress. Pets heal us just by looking at them. And interaction with pets has a positive effect.

The second positive effect is that pets become playmates for children. I think pets make good child playmates in families with children. I think it’s a good idea to have a pet, especially if you have an only child in the family. Children who are only children may feel lonely because there are no children their own age at home. I am sure the family would be happy to have a playmate for such a child. And since the pet grows up with the child, the child will feel like he or she has a real sibling.

The third positive effect is that it brings us closer together than we would ever be as a family. When you have a pet, the whole family must take care of it. Families need to make sure their pets are fed properly, and they need to take care of their toilets. Also, pets sometimes need to be bathed and taken to the hospital. If a family gets a dog, they need to take it for a walk. Those are hard work, and the family needs to work together. I think doing something together as a family brings families closer together. And the whole family gathers around the pet. When petting or playing with pets, I think it brings the family closer to each other. I think that would naturally bring the family closer together. I also got closer to my parents when I got a cat. I used to have trouble knowing what to talk about with my parents, but now we always talk about a cat.

To summarize, if a family has a pet, there are a lot of positive effects. Would you like to keep a pet for your family?

Ways for Study Abroad Students to Overcome Culture Shock

Ways for Study Abroad Students to Overcome Culture Shock

August 24, 2022

By Hina Inoue

In today’s globalized world, it became common for students to experience studying abroad. Study abroad is a great opportunity for students to broaden their thinking. However, there are times when students fail to understand cultural differences and they experience culture shock. How can students overcome culture shock in foreign countries?

Culture shock is the feeling of severe anxiety when someone is placed in an environment that is very different from the familiar one. They become impatient because they cannot understand what is happening around them. They also feel alienated and blocked out, which can affect their interpersonal relationships. Culture shock can become stressful and lead to long-term negative feelings. Students who study abroad are exposed to many cultural differences. If their culture shock is too great, they may need to give up studying abroad and leave for their home countries.

The first solution to overcoming culture shock is to accept culture shock as a natural consequence of study abroad. Study abroad students¥ are foreigners, and it is natural to feel uncomfortable with the host culture. Culture shock is a stage in the process of adapting to a new culture. Therefore, there is no need to be overly anxious about culture shock. By doing so, the culture that made you feel uncomfortable in a foreign country will become familiar to you before you know it. Eventually, you will be willing to experience and accept the new culture. It is also important to realize that you do not need to accept all the differences. Everything you see is new and shocking, but you don’t have to agree with them. By recognizing that it is natural to experience culture shock and that you don’t need to like everything about the host culture, the stress will be relieved.

The second way to overcome culture shock is to talk to friends and family. Conversation with family members and friends from the same country will relieve the stress of culture shock. This is because even in the midst of a confusing situation in a different culture, people who share the same culture can be a source of comfort. During study abroad, a place where people can vent these anxieties will become a mental refuge for them. It is reassuring to know someone understands your feeling that you are feeling uncomfortable. Talking honestly about your feelings with family and friends can help change the difficult situation.

Culture shock is part of study abroad. But knowing it is possible to overcome culture shock can help students complete their study abroad programs. They can overcome culture shock by understanding that it is natural to experience culture shock and by sharing the feelings of discomfort with friends. Experiencing new cultures makes people anxious, but they also help people grow. Enjoy coping with different cultures by knowing solutions.

What will happen in five years?

What will happen in five years?

July 29, 2021

A New Trend in School Uniforms

By Sao Hikino

I predict that Japanese students who need wear same school uniforms in each schools will be less than now, and they will select to wear skirts or pants freely regardless of gender in the future. I have two reasons. First, all people should think about LGBTQ. LGBTQ is necessary factor that all people live without sex discrimination. There is the tendency that more Japanese people start to understand them than before. So, if many Japanese people continue to think about LGBTQ, they will notice the possibility that human rights are violated by the school uniform systems. Second, more women start wearing men’s clothes, and men start wearing makeup than five years ago. Young people begin to think that we can wear everything regardless of gender. If many young people have the idea, schoolgirls may wear a typical Japanese school uniform for boys, and schoolboys may wear skirts in each school.

Japan will go cashless

By Kurumi Okajima

I think a cashless system will spread in Japan more than now, because a large number of people are starting to use electronic money in Japan now. Cashless payment is very convenient. If you have it, you don’t need to carry cash with you. Also, cashless systems will solve the labor shortage in Japan. It is thought that an unmanned cash counter is one way to make up for labor shortages in Japan which suffers from declining birthrate. So, a cashless system will spread in Japan in five years.

People will lose jobs

By Jinki Sakashita

I predict that in five years, the form of work will change. This is because AI and ICT technologies, are developing at a furious pace. If this goes further, human jobs will be lost to machines. For example, a desk job such as a bank or city hall will no longer be necessary. I think that if automated driving technology is developed, there will be no need for train and bus drivers. In this way, I can predict that the world will become more convenient, but if this happens, many people will not be able to find work. In other words, there is a danger that machines with no labor costs will take over human jobs in five years.

A Food Revolution

By Tomoki Onishi

What I think will change in the next five years is our food life. For one thing, the population is increasing in the world. So more and more people will suffer from starvation. We can expect that we will need far more foods soon if these situations get worse. A new food has been produced, food made from bugs. One example is “Euglena” cookies, which are made from plants, insects, and dried worms. Some of us might never try these products, but others are willing to take them when we have nothing else to eat. Our lifestyles have adjusted to the environment in the past, so it is possible that we will see a revolution in foods in the near future.

The Use of Honorifics With Non-Japanese

November 7, 2020

By Keilyn Henneberry, Gotsu Senior High School

Japanese children are taught from a young age to respect others by using honorifics. However, non-Japanese who live in Japan, such as ALTs (Assistant Language Teachers) and international students, are not taught the same rules. This could lead to serious problems for Japan’s society and International relations. The honorific ‘san’ is the most common honorific to be used in Japan, for teachers, it is ‘Sensei’. However, while ALTs are taught to use these, they are not taught to expect them to be used with them.

I noticed the ALT at my school was not being treated like other teachers. She is spoken to by only her first name, without an honorific, by both teachers and students. Teachers use honorifics to other teachers even when they are not around. However, when they mention the ALT’s name, they don’t use honorifics. From that behavior students learn not to use honorifics for ALTs.

One classmate, an international student from Taiwan, was called on by the teacher without honorifics even though the teachers always used honorifics with Japanese students. In classes, all students are called on with honorifics such as ‘Suzuki-san’. However, international students are referred to by first name without honorifics by both teachers and students. Teachers always use honorifics with their students, so why not with international students? In addition, my own brother who is a Japanese American was called on by his teacher without the honorific ‘san’. This is not only a problem towards international students but also non-Japanese and mixed-race children growing up in Japan.

Additionally, my own father, who is a professor at a university, deals with this on a regular basis. His students often call him ‘Henneberry’ instead of ‘Henneberry Sensei’ or ‘Mr. Henneberry’. This illustrates many university students continue this behavior which they learned in primary and secondary school.

In most cases, when Japanese people don’t use honorifics, it is with family members and close friends. This is a form of intimacy referred to as ‘Yobisute’ in Japanese. However, can we call it intimacy when Japanese teachers speak with non-Japanese colleagues without honorifics?

I had an opportunity to talk about this topic online with a group of English teachers and ALTs working all over Japan. Every single one of them had experienced this at least once in their lives in this country, and most of them experience it on a regular basis. One ALT shared her experience at her school, where there were two ALTs. While the other ALT was referred to as Sensei, she was not. She was told that the Japanese teachers assumed it would be too difficult for students to pronounce her last name, so the Japanese teachers did not offer the students the opportunity to use honorifics with her. Therefore, students were instructed to use her first name only. However, she eventually succeeded and convinced the teachers that they were taking a learning opportunity away from the students. The students now use her family name with the ‘Sensei’ honorific.

Each of us can stand up to this issue. For example, when my brother’s teacher called him ‘Henneberry’ and not ‘Henneberry-san’, he ignored the teacher until the teacher said ‘Henneberry-san’. Just like the ALT above, my brother stood up for himself to be referred to with the correct honorific. However, this is not enough to resolve this national problem.

To solve this issue, first, people must acknowledge that this is happening in our society. A lot of people are not even aware of this issue. When I spoke about this to my friends, they were surprised that this was even a problem. This problem has been hard to recognize because of a lack of cross-cultural understanding. It was easier for me to recognize this issue because I have two cultural backgrounds; my mother is Japanese, and my father is from the USA. I see American culture through Japanese eyes and I also see Japanese culture through American eyes. Therefore, this lack of honorifics with non-Japanese stands out clearly for me.

However, ALTs are not fully aware of the honorifics culture in Japan. They are taught to use honorifics when speaking with Japanese people, but not taught to expect honorifics to be used for them. Therefore, they do not realize that they are being spoken to in such an intimate or disrespectful manner. They must be taught to expect the honorifics ‘san’ or ‘Sensei’ to be used with them as well.

This issue will have negative effects on Japan’s society and following generations. By not addressing this issue, Japanese people will continue this cycle of “accidentally” disrespecting non-Japanese. As such, MEXT (Ministry of Education, culture, sports, science and Technology) must change the educational system on how to teach Japanese honorifics to ALTs and people coming from different countries. They must be taught to speak to Japanese people with respect and to expect the same in return. In addition, teachers and students must be taught to use honorifics with ALTs and non-Japanese. Why do non-Japanese people have to fight for such respect, when Japanese people do not have to? Without policy change, this problem will not go away. We all must learn to be better. We must all learn to speak to each other with respect, regardless of race or natural origin, and MEXT should establish policy changes to ensure this.

U-Shimane Go Online

U-Shimane Go Online

July 13, 2020

U-Shimane Go Online

by Mariko Eguchi

After the Ministry of Education in Japan suddenly issued a notice on March 24, 2020, allowing the Japanese universities to go online, professors and students as well as administrators are experiencing a new mode of teaching and learning.

Despite Japan being technologically advanced, the education sector still favors the traditional methods of delivering knowledge: the teacher explaining ideas in front of the blackboard in a classroom. However, the default teaching was denied due to the serious health risk posed by the corona virus pandemic. It was impossible to stick to the familiar teaching style. Nonetheless, the decision to go online was very confusing to everyone.

The teachers and students of the University of Shimane experienced for the first time a shift from face-to-face education to online education. Except a few courses, all the classes are taught either synchronous online teaching or asynchronous on-demand teaching. Both teachers and students have a lot to say about this new mode of education. The followings are students’ perspectives toward their online experiences.

Learning effectively without stress

By Reina Yamane

Recently, a lot of university’s professors give some lectures on the network because of the coronavirus. I think online education is good because students can learn comfortably without stress.

First, we can take a lecture at home. This solves the risk of being late to the classroom, because we do not need hurry in the morning to catch a bus. It is so comfortable for me to stay home all day.

Second, online study is easy for some students to present their opinions to other students. If someone is called on during class in the classroom, she should speak in front of everyone, but some students may feel pressure, and she might not be able to say anything.

However, online participants can comment in the chat box, speak using a microphone, send stickers during online lessons. In online lessons, students don’t have to worry about what others think about themselves.

It is true it is hard to meet friends face to face, but I can contact other classmates even when we are apart. When someone feels lonely, we can meet during online classes and hear the voice of others. It brings a sense of security.

Saving money and energy

By Yutaro Mitsu

Online education has good points. First of all, as you do not need to go to school, financial burden of going to school is reduced. For example, expenses such as gasoline of a motorcycle or the bus fare became needless. Students can save transportation cost.

Also online education saves the physical strength. Going to school is tiring because students live downtown, but the university is located on top of a hill. Staying at home is more comfortable.

Difficulty in online communication

By Ruura Fukunaga

Japanese colleges currently use online class to prevent coronavirus infection, but online class is not necessarily a good way for teachers and students. In my view, the face-to-face class in the classroom is better for several reasons.

First of all, teachers and students are not well-prepared for online lessons, because they experience online class for the first time. So, we must learn to use computers. I often hear teachers and students, “It is hard to do classes through computer.”

In particular, it seems hard for teachers to prepare online lessons. Furthermore, it is difficult to communicate each other. Teachers cannot tell how well students can understand the lecture. It is difficult for students to ask questions, too. If there is a way to stop the coronavirus crisis, I want to take classes in the classroom.

Disadvantages of Online Lectures

By Saki Suyama

Although there are some advantages to being given lectures online, I prefer being taught by teachers at the university to being given lectures online. In my opinion, studying from teachers in the same classroom definitely enables us to concentrate and to spend a more meaningful time for several reasons.

First of all, it is hard for students to prepare each lecture’s handouts in advance. Students have to download them and print them. If some students don’t have a printer, they must go to Media Center or a convenience stores.

Also, we are under a big stress from being seen by others. Many people are shy, so they feel very uneasy to be seen so, they turn off their cameras, and shut down the important channel of good communication. If students turn off the video, teachers can’t see students’ faces, so teachers can’t know if students really understand what teachers said. So, we can’t communicate with each other well.

Classes and COVID-19

Classes and COVID-19

July 13, 2020

Victoria Thomas, University of Shimane

This semester has been a new and bewildering experience for students, staff, and faculty at the University of Shimane. Not only are classes online, but also social events are cancelled, employees are allowed to work from home, and people are maintaining social distance. This situation is stressful for students, staff, and faculty alike. As a teacher, I will explain the situation from my perspective.

My teaching adaptations for COVID-19 actually began at my previous teaching post in America. At me previous institution, we were in winter term from January to March, so we had to make sudden changes to our classes near the end of the term. The administration tried to avoid disrupting our schedules, but in the end, instructors were given four days’ notice to move final exams completely online. The situation was chaotic for everyone, but we adapted and finished the term.

I then moved to Japan to start my position at the University of Shimane. At the end of my two weeks of quarantine, I emerged to find a relatively calm situation. Some people were saying that classes would be in person; others claimed that they would be moved online. The starting date of the semester was extended twice, over a month in total, and we were officially informed at the beginning of May that classes would be online, starting May 11th.

My Intermediate English/Paragraph Writing course was not too difficult to move online, as I have previously taught online writing courses. In video classes, I give short lectures on PowerPoint, and we work on writing exercises together. If the students cannot attend the day’s lecture due to technology problems, they can read the PowerPoint on Moodle and the pages from the textbook, and I answer questions by email or Zoom. The homework for each week is listed in the syllabus and organized by week on Moodle, so my students can find their assignments for the week without having to contact me.

My Communication classes are also partially accessible on Moodle; however, they require more creativity for speaking and listening. The English teachers had to find ways to lead in-class speaking activities online, giving all students as much time as possible to speak English and engage in listening activities. After exploring the technology options with Steve Henneberry, Melissa Huntley organized several technology workshops for the new faculty to help us understand Moodle and Zoom so that we could use them effectively in our classes. Due to coronavirus, some students are not on campus, so even Extensive Reading had to be moved online; this project was organized by Eleanor Kane.

The other difficulty in Communication courses was to avoid giving students too much work. Since video classes are unstable for some students due to their internet situation, I moved some listening and vocabulary activities outside of class time (onto Moodle) so that students had more flexibility and control over their work, but due to that same internet instability, speaking and listening activities take much more time. This is my latest challenge to resolve: how to reduce student workload.