THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN BERNARDINO SINCE 1965
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October 12, 2023
Fall 2023, Issue #2
IN THIS ISSUE Anthony Roberson from the SMSU
SB Firefighters Take Swift Action
Vegan Food Festival Comes to the IE
CSUSB Mens Soccer Captain Reflects
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Meet the Visionary Professor Makiko Amaya Empowering Students through Japanese Language Education students to engage not only in the classroom but also outside of it. I observe their growth through these activities, and they continue to thrive even after graduating from CSUSB. Recently, I received an email from one of my former students who was accepted by AEON, one of the largest private English conversation schools in Japan, offering English lessons across the country. He was thrilled to be chosen as an English teacher in Japan. As an instructor of Japanese courses, witnessing my students’ success beyond the classroom is the most rewarding aspect of my life. It’s the reason why I’m committed to giving my best effort in every single class.
Makiko Amaya describes the evolution of Japanese studies at CSUSB in an interview. Credit photo: Brianna Contreras. By Brianna Contreras Staff Reporter
Brianna: As a lecturer here at CSUSB, what is your favorite course to teach?
The voices of linguistic exploration can be heard in the air of every language classroom at CSUSB. You will’ll find that conversations and story swapping swapping of stories can echo through our walls. The atmosphere is filled with curiosity, and the urge to bridge cultures in hopes of fostering connection. In these rooms, you may come across Makiko Amaya, a professor of for the World Language and Literature department, who in a recent interview shared her pivotal roles in nurturing the growth of the Japanese learning program at CSUSB.
Makiko: That’s a difficult question for me because I do enjoy teaching all my courses. I teach all lower-division language courses; which are JAPN 1102, 1111, 1112, 2111 and 2111. I also teach JAPN 3100: Analysis of Japanese Culture through Film, which is an asynchronous online course, and I usually teach this course during summer session. I do enjoy teaching both kinds of classes. While teaching language courses, I observe my students’ growth not only in language improvement but also in their deepening understanding of the culture. As Japanese program faculty, we strive to provide a range of opportunities for
Brianna: Can you tell me more about when you came to CSUSB? Makiko: I arrived at CSUSB in the Fall of 2007, and at that time there were no Japanese classes available. In the Summer of 2007, we introduced Japanese 101, which quickly reached its capacity. Due to high demand, we opened a second section, which also filled up rapidly. This marked the beginning of our Japanese program. In 2010, as the program continued to grow, we introduced a Japanese minor and later a certificate in Japanese language and culture. Our program has been thriving, and we now have 8 instructors. I’m hopeful that our growth will allow us to offer Japanese as a major in the future. Brianna: Can you tell me about the JET program? Makiko: The JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) program is the only
government-supported program for providing services to teach English in Japan for over 30 years. This is not a study abroad program but a work abroad program. You will need to have a bachelor’s degree at the time of starting the JET program. Every year 10-20 students apply for this program from CSUSB, and usually 5-6 students depending on the year are accepted. Many of them who are accepted to this prestigious program are students minoring in Japanese at CSUSB, although the program doesn’t require Japanese language skills at the time of the application. I firmly believe that having prior experience in learning Japanese can greatly enrich the JET Program experience. Brianna: Aside from the J.E.T program, what are other ways students can study abroad? Makiko: There are two types of study abroad programs. One is IP, the CSU’s international program that is for students of all 23 campuses. Our current partner universities in Japan are University of Tsukuba and Waseda University, both of which are considered top universities in Japan. The second is a Seijo University program. Seijo University is a partner university with CSUSB. Seijo University is a small private university in Tokyo. I previously worked within the Seijo University system, which facilitated the connection and the initiation of the partnership with CSUSB. In the summer of 2014, I had the privilege of being part of a delegation to Japan along with President Morales, during which we visited Seijo University.
Brianna: Are there any projects or events that you’ve been a part of that you’re proud of? Makiko: I’m the advisor of the American X Japanese club, and it has been very successful. In May of 2019, they received at the start the Outstanding New Organization Award ‘ and Emerging Leader Award. The club has offered several activities and events, such as Japan Day, Japan Expo, Game Night, Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day), Happy Children’s Day and has contributed to developing initiatives that deepen the understanding of Japanese culture among CSUSB students and that enhance the awareness of U.S.-Japan relations. There are a lot of different kinds of opportunities on and outside of campus. For example,
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A virtual information session on the JET program will be held on October 11th. Credit: Makiko Amaya.