NCC volume9---September

North Central College Fall term 2006 started from September 11, and now I am in third week so it is getting busier and busier with lots of homework. I am taking three classes this term; Interpersonal Communication, Chinese, and Human Geography.


First, Interpersonal Communication, this class combines lecture, discussion, reading, exercises, group activities, exams, and a term project: record an actual conversation and analyze using specific communication concepts and theories. Even though it is third week, I am sure this class helped me to advance my communication competence by developing increased sensitivity in interpreting and participating in interpersonal interaction.


Second, Chinese, there are two reasons I thought I want to start studying Chinese. One is because here in the United States many people can speak more than two languages so I felt like I want to study more languages to communicate the people from different countries. The other reason is because last year I met an exchange student from Taiwan and we became really good friends, so I became really interested in Taiwan and Chinese culture. This is still a 100 level class so we learn simple sentences and how to ask questions, but I want to keep studying in Iwate as well.


Third, Human Geography, this class exposes me to a new and exciting way of viewing the world which we live in and help me to better prepare for the world stage. Last week we joined the activity called “invisible children”: Some college students from San Diego made this organization for the children who are sacrificed for the dispute in Sudan. We watched the movie they made and listened to the story about their experiences. Actually I was really surprised that college students started this organization and they are really helping the children by selling DVDs, giving them the opportunities to work in Sudan, and giving educational opportunities. I did not even know where Sudan is. I am really ashamed of my ignorance about the world. I am sure this class will help me to understand the world more.


I continue to be a member of International Club, Japan Club, Focus, and Voice of Praise (Gospel Choir) this fall term. However, this year is a little bit different, because I became an officer of International Club. So this year I plan the activities with other officers for the new exchange, international, and North Central College students considering educational aspects for better understanding of the cultures of other countries. This fall term we are planning to go to the state of Wisconsin for the retreat, have a Halloween Party, and have Buddy System and English Table for new international students. It is really fun to give my ideas and discuss for the better decisions and run this big club with reliable other officers. I am really proud of being a publicity officer of this club with amazing friends.

NCC volume8---August

My study abroad program is from January 3 to November 23. As you know to go to American college from January is very unusual. I chose this period just because I really wanted to go study abroad as soon as possible after my teaching practice. However, I think it was very good choice for me to come to North Central College from winter term. There are a couple reasons.

First, the main reason is that I can spend summer in the United States. During the school term, it is hard to spend time with friends, do extra activities, and go to Chicago or other places because we are always busy for the classes. However, during summer vacation I could do lot of things I could not do during school term. Of course, the weather is very good for traveling and outside is very beautiful with many flowers and green. It is the best time to stay around Chicago.

Second, I can spend more time in the United States. Usually other exchange students from Japan stay at North Central College for 9 months. However, in my case I can stay here almost 11 months, which is very good for me because I can spend as much time as possible in the United States

Third, I could work hard to catch up to other exchange students. When I first met other exchange students, they could speak English much better than me, so I worked hard to catch up with them. Also, they gave me lots of advice from their experiences of fall term, which helped me a lot.

However, of course, there are a lot of disadvantages to coming to North Central from winter. Here are some examples.

First, I came here on January 2 right before the day school starts so I did not have time to do orientations. Other exchange students told me that they had an orientation week before school starts and they did campus tour, library orientation, etc. It was very hard for me not to have an orientation week.

Second, I have to move my dorm twice, which is very hard. Usually exchange students live in the same dorm called Kimmel but my first dorm was different from other students, which was very good to have American friends but sometimes it was very hard. Also, I had to move to another dorm for summer and I have to move to next dorm for fall term. So I had to look for new roommate by myself. In North Central College, students can choose their next dorms and rooms, but to get better room we need a lot of credits. Fortunately, one of my friend suggested to stay with her next year so I could find my roommate, but it was hard for us to get good room because I had only 9 credit which is less than freshman. I will go back to Japan after fall term so my future roommate will have new roommate randomly from winter term so I feel sorry about this.

Third, it was hard to register classes. In North Central College, students register their classes in May for their next whole year. So when I registered my classes, some classes were already closed. Fortunately, I could get in the classes I wanted to take but I was always on waitlist and it made me so nervous.

For me the advantages of summer outweigh the disadvantages, but it depends on our goal of study abroad program and our schedule of college. I hope my opinion can help future exchange students from Iwate.

NCC volume7---July Photos

1. Indiana Soldier & Sailer's Monument
2. Cubs Game --- we lost.... super sad
3. Relay for life --- i walked all night
4. NCC graduation --- i wanna wear gown!!!
5. Universitry of Notre Dame（in IN) --- the building was gold☆

NCC volume6---June

North Central College
Volume 6 --- July

　 Our summer vacation is from the beginning of the June to the beginning of the September. Almost all of the students went back to their houses right after the finals for part time jobs, so only a few students who are taking summer classes are here at North Central. At first, I was thinking about working on campus, but I did not get a job, because I thought I should do lots of things that I can do only in the United States during the summer. Basically, I did four things from the beginning of summer until now.
First, I went to Chicago to look around the city and went to famous places: Navy Pier, Lincoln Park, Six Flags, The Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Science and Industry, Cubs games, The University of Chicago, etc. During school terms I hardly could go to Chicago because I had lots of homework to do, so even if I live close to Chicago I did not know about Chicago well. Especially during summer there are lots of events or festivals in the city so I could enjoy walking around and know about Chicago.
Second, I went on a trip to the states of Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan to visit my friends and stay with them. I used Amtrak and bus to get there and stayed in their homes with their families. It was a great opportunity to see other states and try different food or see famous places. Especially in Indiana I met Amish people and tried their food and saw their houses; it was a great experience.
Third, I babysat a couple of times for people who were introduced to me by my host mother and my friends. Once, before the kid went to bed she asked me to read a book. So I read the book for her and she said, “Your English is different,” and she read the book for me. It was my best memory. I did not have lots of opportunities to spend time with little kids before especially foreign kids, so it was very good time.
Forth, I joined Camp Tawanchi, which is a camp for elementary school students, and I taught about Japan to 30 students for 2 hours. I told the basic information of Japan, taught how to use chopsticks and make paper cranes, and made some Japanese foods. They asked me lots of questions about Japan and they became interested in Japan so I think it worked very well.
At first I was really worried about the summer because I was the only exchange student who stayed here during summer and the International Office closed. I did not know what I could do and I thought I would be bored. However, through the help of my friends I have really enjoyed my summer. Now I am in Indiana. I will visit Canada soon with my friend by car. She is a Japanese major and she is really interested in going to Iwate. I wrote that many Japanese major students prefer to go to Tokyo or Kyoto and they are not interested in Iwate. But she said to me, “I want to see real Japan not like a big city like Tokyo or Osaka”. I was very happy to hear that. After I come back to Iwate, I hope I can do something for the students who come from North Central as they did for me and I hope many students are interested in Iwate.

NCC volume6---June Photos

NCC volume5---May

North Central College
Volume 5 --- May


１　World Relief
Every year more than 7,000 refugees come to the United States to escape from war, torture and persecution. They have no food, money, job, or friends, they may not be able to speak English; they have absolutely nothing. As you can imagine, this is a huge burden on the refugees.
The World Relief center located in Aurora, it works work with churches, individuals, and community groups in providing a range of services to the refugees and immigrants living in Dupage or Kane County. According to the website, World Relief provides the refugees with many services such as self sufficiency aid in their transition from their country to the U.S., a child and youth project helping the family and children cope with their new life, a human service liaison, meaning helping them attain access to public benefits, counseling, adequate education in order to learn how to be more self efficient, citizenship and immigrant services, transitional housing, and helping the families build a relationship with volunteers and churches. Each service helps these immigrants and refugees in adjusting to their new life.
I am working with the refugee K-3 kids after school from 3:15 P.M to 5:15 P.M at Davis Church located in Aurora every Monday. Basically I am helping with their homework, singing English songs, and playing word games to help their development of English.
Helping the refugees not only makes me a better person, but I also get the chance to be there and see how the children live their life. It gives me an idea of what they went through to be here today with us in the United States. I hope that in the near future more volunteers take time to help the refugee kids and their family as well for the better life here. A little help can make a difference in the refugee’s life. In Japan we do not have opportunities to know about these problems well, so I hope I can inform my friends. Definitely, I will continue this volunteer work until I go back to Japan.


２　First Exchange student from North Central
Hey! All of members of the English department!! Rejoice at the GOOD news!!! The first exchange student from North Central College is coming to our University!!!! (Yeeeeeh☆)

Name: Amy Butcher
Sex: Female
Age: 21
Grade: Junior
Major: Japanese
Minor: East Asian Study
Interests: Viola, Gospel, IWATE
Favorite movies:Serenity, LOTR, Donnie Darko, Love Actually, Harry Potter, The Dark Crystal, Ladyhawke, UHF, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Moulin Rouge, Watership Down
Favorite books:Dune, LOTR, The Dark is Rising Sequence, Ender's Game, Harry Potter, The Things They Carried, The Once and Future King

☆★Short Questionnaire★☆
Q1. How long are you studying Japanese?
I am studying Japanese 2 years.
Q2. Why were you interested in Japan?
I like challenging hard things. Japanese is totally different from English so I wanted to try. Also I am interested in Japanese culture.
Q3. What do you want to do in Iwate?
I want to see 石割桜.
I want to try わんこそば.
I want to make many friends in Iwate.
I want to try various kinds of fish. I love Sushi!
Q4. Do you have any concerns?
I want to make many friends in Iwate University, but I cannot speak Japanese well. So I am worrying about whether I can make friends or not. Also I want to do some kind of job, like teaching English to little kids or something like that.

☆★Message from Amy★☆
はじめまして。私はブッチャー・エミーです。三年生です。せんこうは日本語と東アジア学です。私のしゅみはビオラをひくことと、歌をうたうことです。私はドッググルーマーです。５年やっています。早く日本に行きたいです。楽しみです。友達をたくさんつくるぞー。やったー。

This is a GREAT opportunity for us to practice English with a native English speaker, make an American friend, and share Japanese culture to foreigner. I am so excited to meet her in Iwate University. She is a Great and Sweet girl and she wishes to make many friends in Iwate! I want her to make many Japanese friends and enjoy feeling cultural differences as I am doing here.

NCC volume5---May Photos

World Relief

NCC volume4---April

North Central College
Volume 4 --- April

１　Spring Class
This term I am taking 4 classes: Speech Communication, English as a Second Language, Group Process, and Oriental Brush Painting. I want to tell you about what I am learning in Speech Communication and Group Process.
First, is Speech communication. I am studying about public speaking skills that include research, preparation, and evaluation of speeches. According to the syllabus, this course will:
・ Help students become more effective oral communicators;
・ Increase the student’s understanding of speech communication as a means of influencing human behavior;
・ Aid the student in reacting logically and spontaneously to different types of communication behavior;
・ Enhance the student’s listening skills through study and application of critical listening theories;
・ Help the student understand and practice theories of selecting, analyzing, evaluating, organizing, developing and communicating information, evidence and points of view;
・ Prepare the student to be an ethical communicator.
We have 2 exams, and 5 presentations (Impromptu, Narrative, Informative, Persuasive, and Special Occasion). We also need to turn in the outlines of presentations, a critique, and a listening assignment. Last week I gave a Narrative speech for 7 minutes and I spoke about the cultural differences I experienced on my first day in the United States. I think I used my time well and developed my characters and the plot of the story. Also the speech had strong entertainment value. But my reflection is that there was no building of tension, because all examples were of equal weight. Next week I have an Informative speech, and I am thinking to talk about Japanese food. I want to select materials carefully and use them correctly.
Next is Group Process. This class introduces me to the formal study of group process, taking communication as the central variable. According to the syllabus, as a result of this course:
・ You should be able to identify the most important communication exchanges in a group.
・ You should be able to define the concepts and terms that help explain these exchanges.
・ You should be able to move beyond the textbook analysis to make informed, appropriate and responsible decisions about participating in group.
We have ample opportunity to develop group discussion and decision making skills through interactive exercises and projects like group exam, group paper, group service project and a “fishbowl” activity. Today I had a group exam, which consisted of multiple choice and true or false questions. We met many times to prepare for this exam so it was not so bad. As a group service project, we are going to join World Relief which is the organization to assist refugees, who have fled war, torture, and persecution. Every Monday we will work as after school homework club tutors and help children from K-3 study English and other subjects. Also we are thinking to gather old, unwanted picture books and sell them for donation.
I am enjoying my classes a lot because I am really interested in the classes. In winter term it was hard for me to read textbooks and follow the classes but I am used to studying hard and my English improved so it is not a torment any more. I hope I can do well on my Informative Speech next week.


２ International Club
In April we have three international club events: Pancakes around the World, Six Flags and a Canoe Trip.
We had Pancakes around the World on April 9 at a Methodist church. The pancakes ranged from Europe (Russia, Sweden), Asia (Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, India) and America (USA, Colombia, Mexico). All pancakes were served with special jams, syrups, and fruit salad for only 5 dollars. All proceeds benefit the international scholarships at North Central College. We made Okonomi-yaki without seafood or meat for vegetarian. Okonomi-yaki was totally different from other country’s pancakes so it was very popular. Of course, we used Okahuku-souce and mayonnaise.
Six flags is a theme park which is located in the north-west part of Illinois State. We are looking forward to going to Six Flags and the Canoe Trip.

NCC volume4---April Photos

I want to tell you guys about how wouderful city Chicago is.
Chicago is a sister city of Osaka, and the population of the city is 2,900,000(The population of Osaka is 2,600,000). And Chicago is three times larger than Osaka.
Chicago is famous for skyscrapers. The highest tower is Sease Tower(You can see it on the right side of this picture). The height is 443m, and it is the third highest building in the world and the highest building in the United States. There are 110 floors and 12000 pople is working in the tower! The third highest building of Chicago is John Hancock Center. I went to there this week. And I took this picture from the top floor (floor 100) of this building! The night view was AWESOME!
I told you that Chicago is famous for skyscrapers. There are first, third, and fourth highest builings of United States in Chicago:D And the desigh of the buildings are so unique.
Chicago is also famouse for museums. I hope I can tell you about the museums soon.

NCC volume3---March

North Central College
Volume 3 --- March

１　Host Family
In the end of January I asked the International student adviser to find my host family, because I wanted to spend weekends and breaks with an American family. She found a nice host family for me. My host mother’s name is Rose. She is a nice woman and she is like my real mother. We usually meet twice a week. We do various things: cooking, going shopping, practicing English pronunciation, going to the church, etc. She taught me lots of things and helped me a lot. Through my host mother I made many friends of other generations. These days she asked me to do babysitting in her friend’s house. At first I hesitated because I cannot speak English well and I had never done it before. But she recommended it me because she thought that babysitting would be a nice experience for me and I can learn about American family life. The children were 3 and 8 years old girls. I made dinner for them, played with toys, and read stories before they went to bed. It was a nice experiment for me. Like this babysitting experience, after I met her I could do many things that I cannot do only staying on campus and hanging out with my friends. I hope I can tell them about Japanese culture too. I took lots of Japanese traditional stuff from Japan like Origami, Yukata and picture books. Next week I am going to make Sukiyaki for them. I hope I can tell them about the beauty of my country Japan.

２ Spring Break
　My spring break was awesome. I did lots of things. I visited my friends’ house in Ohio, and Indiana. I stayed at my host family’s house and had a home party and babysitting. I visited the famous places of Chicago and watched a Broadway musical called “Wicked”. The break was only 10 days, but it was full break for me. Many other International students spent their break in various ways. One of my Korean friend visited San Francisco, and an other Taiwanese friend visited New York. After the spring break we talked about Naperville where our campus is located. Naperville is very high class society so we think we were looking at the only good part of United States. But when we went to other parts of United States, some places were totally different from Naperville. There were many poor people or gangs and it was dangerous. We were amazed to see these situations and we realized how safe Naperville is. I hope I can see many things and meet many people during my stay in United States.

３　Spring Term
In winter term I took Education, Ceramics, and ESL. This term I am going to take ESL, Speech, Group Process, and Oriental Brush Painting. Winter term was my first term, but I am used to the life so this term I am going to take four classes to challenge myself. I really wanted to take Education classes but all of classes require field work and the content is too specific about the American Education System. Last term I took an education class, general part was very useful for me, but some part like making Portfolio for teacher’s certification I could not attend the activity. And I thought I should improve my English before I take 200 level classes. I want to try educational classes next fall term again.
To take American Educational Class, I realized the different points. At the beginning of the class we learned how to deal with cultural diversity and language diversity. In Japan we have never been told about those kinds of things. I thought this aspect is so American apple pie.

４　I think …
I think I do not know everything about Japan. When I take part in Japanese table I am asked about Japanese culture every time. They asked me why Japanese people say we do not have religion. They asked me the population and area of Iwate, Morioka, and Japan. They asked me the origin of Japanese traditional events like Setsubun, and Hinamatsuri. Every time I cannot give exact answers. When I asked about the population of Chicago or the origin of St. Patrick’s Day, etc to my friends almost all of students can answer. I realized how I do not know about my own country and culture.

NCC volume3---March Photos

Birthday Party!!
Today is my roommate's 20th B-Day!! Woooo :D We decorated our room and went dinner :)

NCC volume3---March Photos

My Host Mother
She is sooooo KIND and NICE!!! She is like my real mother :) I meet her twice a week! We cook together, we go shopping, we go to the church, we do lots of things!!

NCC volume3---March Photos

Spring Break
I visited one of my friend's house during spring break. He is a Japanese major and he went to Kyoto as an exchage student. So he can spenk Japanese very well. He learned 能 and 茶道 in Japan!! I watched his 能, it was amazing. (I could not believe!!!) He knows about Japan much more than me :) A couple days ago I was asked about Japanese religion, but I could not answer at all. I need to know about Japan more...
Why do Japanese say, "I don't have religion" when they are asked about their religion???

NCC volume3---March Photos

Farewell Party
One of my Japanese friend is going back to Japan for graduation ceremony... So we did the Farewell Party for her!! We rented a party room of Chicago style pizza restaurant! And we ate awesome pizza and did games like Big Booty and Mafia!! It was so amazing time :D
I will miss her a lot...

NCC volume2---February Photos

CHICAGO(>_<)



















International Festival☆
I tought how to make paper cranes and did acchimuite-hoi.



I made a huge paper crane with International club members!!!



International club members!!!



My best friends I have met here at North Central.

NCC volume2---February

North Central College
Volume 2 --- February


１　Dorm
There are 11 dorms on campus.
・ Kimmel Hall
- Many International students are living in this dorm.
- There are private showers, toilets, and kitchens.
・ Peter & Paul Hall
- I am living here. There are no international students, but I can spend time with American students and can make many friends, so I think it is good for me to live here.
・ Student village
- Many Japanese students are living in this dorm.
・ Seager Hall
・ Rall Hall
・ Geiger Hall
・ Townhomes
・ Seybert Hall
・ Ptterson Hall
・ Ward Hall
・ Blue House
※ Room Features:
Air-Conditioning, TV, Network/Internet connections, twin bed, desks, chairs, dressers, window blinds, room phone, sink. Many international students ask roommates to share a fridge, microwave oven, DVD player, etc. And we can also borrow bath & hand towels, sheets, pillow, bedclothes, etc, from the International Office.
※ Building Amenities:
Washers and dryers

I am living in Peter & Paul Hall with my roommate Katie who is really nice, kind and funny. We are all good friends, so we often plan birthday parties, watch movies, and go outside to eat Japanese and Chinese food. I really like spending time with my friends. We are planning to do volunteer work together and send valentine’s cards to soldiers who are going to Iraq.
But sometimes it is difficult to live with American girls. For example, they are all night owls, so they make noise at midnight. I have to get up early for a morning class, so they annoy me. At first I hesitated to ask them to be quiet, and endured every night. But this week I tried to ask them to keep silent after 12. As a result, they acceded to my request willingly. They speak their mind plainly and also they want friends to speak their mind plainly. At first I felt a loss but now I decided to say my opinion clearly to my friends.


２　Class
Students here speak their mind. When they cannot understand what the teacher is saying, when they have questions, or when they have other ideas, they always speak their mind. So class often consists of heated debate. And they never withdraw until they understand. In Japan it is usual to listen to professor’s lecture silently, but here if we do not say our own opinion, it means we are not interested in the class and we are bored. So every professor gives me a chance to give my opinions in the class. For example, in education class my professor sometimes asks me about the Japanese education system, or lets me compare Japanese and American education system. It was really hard for me at first, but now I am happy because this means that I am a member of the class, and can give my friends other viewpoints of Japan. My next goal is to give my opinions without being asked by professors.
We have a large quantity of homework. This week I have to write two papers, to read hundreds of assignments, to prepare for mimic moral teaching, and I have a quiz. It takes a long time to complete my assignments. This is natural in USA. So the library is always full of students. And they study hard by competing with each other. I realized that our job is studying hard, and I thought their diligence is a good example for us to follow. Last night I talked with my friends about tuition fees. My friends said to me, “In the USA some students work a couple years to save money before they enter the colleges, and some students borrow huge scholarship for college by themselves. So we desire good quality of education, and we study hard.” I thought they are independent from their parents, and by paying money by themselves they can make a strong effort.
I really feel the lack of my computer skills. I have never used Power-Point in my class before, and also teachers seldom use it. Here many teachers use it and we have to use it for our presentation. And also I did not have enough knowledge of how to use excel. So to complete my paper I had to learn how to use Power-Point and excel at first. It is usual to have enough computer skills here, so I am really surprised. I thought I have to acquire the ability to use computers well as soon as possible.
I think the students of USA are a little untidy, because they eat and drink during classes, and they chew gum even if they are doing presentation. I thought Japanese students have virtue, so I am proud of our attitude toward classes.


３ Future Student
One of my friends will go to Iwate University next fall term. She is really excited to go to Iwate. North central College has partnership with some Japanese Colleges: 青山学院大学, 神田外語大学, 京都学院大学. Tokyo and Kyoto are very famous cities so many students like to go to there, but they do not know about Iwate and also they have negative images about Iwate. So many students who are studying Japanese hesitate to go to Iwate. I was really sad when I heard about that. I want them to come to my University and learn many things. I do not know how to express my feelings, but I think we can work actively with international students to make positive images of our University. I hope the exchange student program positively affects many students and we can continue this partnership actively.

NCC volume1---January

North Central College
Volume 1---January


１　Class
This is my class schedule for winter term.

credit
schedule
Class size
Content

English as a Second Language 2
MWF 12:00-13:10
5
To communicate with native speakers and write papers in correct English, we are doing various things. For example, reading a short story and making a summary, listening to news, doing words game, etc.

Introduction to Education
TTH 8:00-9:50
32
I learned about the tasks and rules of being a teacher, the knowledge teachers need to have, effective teaching, the complexities of teaching, the characteristics of professionalism, etc. Remembering the Illinois Professional teaching Standards is especially challenging.

Ceramic
S 8:00-12:15
12
I learned how to make bowls and vases using a wheel this month. Next month we are going to make ornaments with clay, and go to a museum.

At first, I was taking three classes: English as a second language, Introduction to Education, and Cultural regions of the world. But it was too tough for me to understand what the teachers were saying and hard to complete all of my assignments. I have to read hundreds of textbook pages a day, complete my papers, and prepare for presentations and quizzes… Therefore, I decided to drop geography, and take a ceramics class for fun. To understand the classes, I tried many things.
① Sitting in the front row(in front of teacher’s desk)
② Going to professor’s office after the classes
③ Making friends who are taking the same classes
If I ask help, many people give me advices and help me. Nowadays I can understand my classes and complete my assignments and get good scores, and I also can make time to sleep and talk with my friends. Next term, I want to take more challenging class, like Cultural regions of the world.


２　Daily life
・ Japanese club
Japanese club is organized by students who are studying Japanese. They are doing many activities to learn about Japan and study Japanese every Wednesday.
For example:
- We watched “紅白歌合戦” eating Mochi.
- We did origami and karaoke.
- We went to Japanese supermarket and made Japanese food like Okonomiyaki and Nikujyaga.
- We are going to do Setubun-Party next Wednesday.
I was surprised at the students’ earnest attitude toward studying not only Japanese grammar and vocabulary but also culture. I thought we can also do something to know about foreign countries in our University.

・ International Club
International club is organized by international students. In North Central College, there are many international students from Korea, China, India, England, Mexico, Russia, etc. We had a New Year Party, and now we are planning an international festival. Japanese students are going to wear Yukata, make some Japanese food, and teach Origami and how to write names in Chinese characters. Through this club activity, I can meet various kinds of people, so I can learn many things.
I thought Korean and Chinese students speak English much better than Japanese students. They can communicate with native speaker well and their pronunciation is far better. Someday, I want to ask my friends about how to teach English in their country. They will give me good advice, and I will be able to compare the differences between how to teach and learn English in other Asian countries and Japan. I want to bring these experiences to my teaching.