The ability to
successfully learn with students who come from a culture or cultures other than
our own; entails developing certain personal and interpersonal awareness and
sensitivities, understanding certain bodies of cultural knowledge, and
mastering a set of skills that, taken together, underlie effective
cross-cultural learning and culturally responsive awareness.
The matrix of functions on
the role of enabling cultural diversity can be multi-dimensional, involving several
key stakeholders, ranging from teachers, students and the University support
staff. For example, teachers must become more fully student-centered and
inclusive of the voices and experiences of the students while students must
learn the truth about history even if it may be painful or produce controversy.
Every student must be prepared to competently participate in an increasingly
intercultural society. When students learn to recognize and appreciate the
differences they see in others, they learn more about themselves.
One of the key practices to
building cultural integration in Japanese Universities is anchored on the
pillar of building teams and working in groups. For the case of Nagasaki
University, in the water and Environmental Engineering Master course; a mixture
of students coming from Uganda, Japan, Kenya, Thailand, Senegal, Zimbabwe,
Vietnam, Peru and Korea are evenly distributed to each group. When students
from diverse backgrounds and experiences work together, the differences among
them enrich the group discussion and overall experience for the group.
It is also worthy to
mention that the individual skills that come with each of the group members
helps to supplement and compliment on the overall group kills and serves to
build the confidence of group members. For example, some of the students are
very good at Japanese while others are good at English. Continued interactions
among students has helped the non-Japanese natives to ably adapt to living in
Japan, where Japanese is the most commonly preferred language of communication.
On the other hand, the Japanese students get a chance to practice their English
language skills while communicating with the English-speaking students.
How about joining a
students’ club? Oh wow, this another amazing activity to join when in Nagasaki
University. So many clubs namely; dancing club, sports club, art and design
club; are open to new entrants. These are stress relieving moments to share and
learn from new students. Am getting good
at Zumba dance courtesy of the dancing club. It’s quite different from our way
of dancing back home in Uganda, but it was worth the try.
The University community of
Nagasaki is more involved and supportive through their Liaison centre for
international students. The diverse cultures in the students’ community are
valued and celebrated through get together parties, sports, motivational talks,
club gatherings and several other activities that involve outreach programmes
to high school students in Nagasaki.
I would therefore advise
everyone to embrace cultural diversity with positivity because the fruits are
more. The students can become unified by embracing the differences and thus
making their life in Japan memorable.
Writer:
Ronald Katalo
