On September 14th, the JSL Course held a research presentation as post-learning activities following the Kamakura research trip conducted in July.

In July, after completing pre-learning, students visited Kamakura and took on challenges such as visiting temples and shrines and conducting interviews. After the research trip, students reflected on their pre-learning and actual experiences, and shared impressions of the temples and shrines that remained memorable, discoveries made through comparison with their own country’s culture, and things learned through interviews.

Based on this reflection, each group compiled their learning and insights into slides and practiced extensively until they had memorized the content, then gave presentations in Japanese. For the students, summarizing their own experiences and thoughts in Japanese and conveying them in front of a large audience is a major challenge. While nervous, we could see them earnestly communicating in their own words, showing photographs and helping each other among group members.

First they “learned” before the trip, then they “experienced” in Kamakura, they “reflected” on that experience, and finally they “conveyed” it in Japanese. Through this research trip, students deepened their understanding of Kamakura while developing the ability to express their experiences and thoughts in Japanese.