The Center for Cross-cultural Exchange
In 1994 the Sapientia International Language Education Center (SILEC) was founded to support the teaching and study of foreign languages as well as study abroad. SILEC has grown into an active center offering a wide range of classes and activities open to all STU students. Throughout the school year we help students improve their English, French, Spanish and Japanese language skills through speech and recitation contests, TOEIC and TOEFL prep classes, and self-study in our CALL classrooms. We are especially proud of the extra-curricular conversation classes taught by our assistant teachers from our sister schools in the U.S., France and Spain. STU has also been coordinating short- and long-term exchange programs with our sister schools around the globe for 25 years. Several times each year we also host workshops and lectures for the benefit of our teaching faculty. In recent years these have included such things as workshops on the use of moodle and CALL and a special introduction to the Russian language by a well-known teacher of English from Vladivostok.
In April, 2008, SILEC reopened as The Center for Cross-cultural Exchange. While our ongoing commitment to foreign language education will remain strong, we are investing new energy into our Study Abroad programs in order to provide even more opportunities for our students to experience cross-cultural exchange. Our IC-USTA partnerships offer a wealth of opportunities for STU students to study overseas. Our short-term Cultural Experience Programs, the first of which was held on our campus in February, 2008, serve as an opportunity to bring together students from IC-USTA member schools worldwide. Additionally, new programs are being created to give our students opportunities for internships and volunteering abroad, for which they will be granted STU credit. We hope that every STU student will make The Center for Cross-cultural Exchange a part of their college experience.
For more detailed information about the Center for Cross-cultural Exchange, see:
http://www.st.thomas.ac.jp/campuslife/language.html
Sister Schools
St. Thomas University has been involved in international student exchange for 25 years. The Center for Cross-cultural Exchange arranges a wide variety of programs with the following sister schools and other official affiliates:
- Loras College (Iowa, U.S.A.)
- Washington State University - Pullman campus (U.S.A.)
- Canterbury Christ Church University (England)
- Brighton University (England)
- Université Catholique de L’Ouest (France)
- León National University (Spain)
- Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca (Spain)
- Alcala University (Spain)
- Salamanca National University (Spain)
- Suzhu Kagi Gakuin (China)
- Ling Tung University (Taiwan)
In addition, in April 2007, St. Thomas University, Japan, became an official member of the International Council of Universities of St. Thomas Aquinas (IC-USTA), a worldwide network of Catholic universities aspiring to the ideals of the renowned 13th century saint and scholar, who has become the patron saint of schools and education. Current members include over 40 universities which literally span the globe. Partnerships are encouraged in such areas as faculty and student exchange, library exchange, and the creation of online courses. STU-J is currently negotiating contracts with several member universities for short- and long- term student exchange. We welcome groups of students from other IC-USTA universities to our campus for Cultural Experience Programs.
Cultural Experience Programs
St. Thomas University organizes short programs for students from IC-USTA partner schools to visit Japan and experience Japanese culture. The aim is to give students from overseas a taste of both traditional Japanese arts and of life as it is lived in contemporary Japan. Elements of the programs include:
- a short homestay with a Japanese family
- excursions to local places of interest (temples, gardens, factory visits)
- chances to interact socially with Japanese students
- lectures on Japanese culture
- basic-level Japanese language lessons
- hands-on experience of traditional arts (tea ceremony, flower arranging)
The core program (described above) can be combined with a longer stay in Japan for sightseeing or relaxation.
We are seeking partners outside Japan who are willing to host similar programs for our students.
Japan Experience Program for Aquinas Students
For further information: <stujmail@st.thomas.ac.jp>.
