Class Schedule

College in Japan (or at least in Oita) is different than at home. At San Francisco State (and indeed at every other college I've been too) classes are different lengths, some short and others long. Some classes you have once a week, some every day. But they're all different, which takes some keeping track of. Here, though, it's like high school. Every day there are six periods, each exactly an hour and a half. Lunch (one hour) comes between periods 2 and 3. All that's missing is a bell.

The other difference is that each class is only in session once a week. You could conceivably have 20 classes in a semester. Thank God I don't have that many. My program doesn't offer any classes on Monday, nor after 4th period for the most part. This results in a pretty relaxed schedule.

Schedule

Tuesday
1st period: Japanese 3A (Grammar)
2nd period: Free
3rd period: Free
4th period: Japanese Pop Culture

Wednesday
1st period: Japanese 3B (Conversation)
2nd period: Free
3rd period: Grammar & Discourse
4th period: Intercultural Communication

Thursday
1st period: Japanese 3C (Reading)
2nd period: Free
3rd period: Introduction to Japanese Culture & History
4th period: Current Japanese Society

Friday
1st period: Japanese 3D (Writing)
2nd period: Free
3rd period: Tutor Session
4th period: Free

All of the morning classes are taught entirely in Japanese. This is both great and confounding. The first day of each of those classes was pretty rough. I never learned the words for "tardy" or "absence" or "class credit" or anything like that. Even the syllabus is in Japanese! I spent a few long hours looking up all the kanji on those handouts. Now that we're moving along it's getting easier, though I do still lose my place occasionally.

All of the other classes are taught in English (except one, more of which will be covered in a bit). The afternoon English classes are lectures about various aspects of Japan, such as culture and history, or on the language. The Grammar & Discourse class is especially interesting, looking at the language from a linguistic viewpoint, and exploring how the structure of the language affects culture.

The class I'm most excited about is Current Japanese Society. Taught in both English and Japanese, the class will cover current social issues in Japan such as the declining birth rate and aging population. What will be the greatest challenge will be responding in class and on paper in Japanese. Up to now, I've really only experienced Japanese conversationally. Now I'll have to approach topics in a different way. The teacher is also very enthusiastic and supportive, which is great.

In the evenings I do homework and get to bed pretty early. I get up around 6:30 and catch the 8:30 train to school. By the end of the day I find myself to be pretty exhausted. Happily exhausted.

Tomorrow we've got a field trip to a flower park and a famous suspension bridge. Pictures, of course, will be posted.