Eight students and faculty members from Tokyo Metropolitan University visited Parkland College from October 29–November 3 for an educational and cultural exchange designed to strengthen English language skills and provide a firsthand look at American higher education and culture.
The visiting delegation included Professor Hiroyuki Nomoto, Associate Professor Kota Takehara, graduate students Yanjun Zhang and Xuan Zhang, and undergraduate students Rio Yamashita, Karin Watanabe, Minami Ito, and Shino Ota.
"Even though it was short time, I could see the students had changed themselves to be more active and participative in communication with others," Professor Nomoto said. "We want to continue these excellent exchange activities with Parkland College."
During their visit, the group experienced a variety of aspects of campus life. They visited Parkland classrooms, participated in cultural conversations with Parkland students, toured campus, and explored Parkland's agricultural facilities.
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Parkland's Japanese Culture Club helped make the visit especially memorable by creating opportunities for students to connect outside the classroom. Visiting students shared lunch with club members, visited Curtis Orchard together, and experienced an American Halloween tradition by joining a Parkland faculty member's family for trick-or-treating.
These activities provided opportunities for students from both institutions to practice communication skills, share cultural perspectives, and develop connections extending beyond the classroom.
"I learned that social harmony is very important and means a lot in their culture," said Parkland student Mylin Bruhn, part of Humanities 103: Cultural Values in the Eastern World. "I found this interesting because harmony is not a typical concern for cultures in the United States."
Parkland student Charles Reynolds, also in HUM 103, added: "Many students spoke on places worth visiting and I especially appreciated Yanjun's presentation as she provided seasonal options for someone visiting. I also enjoyed learning about the snacks you could find in Japanese convenience stores."
The visit reflects Parkland College's ongoing commitment to international education and creating opportunities for students to engage with different cultures and perspectives.
"International experiences like these help our students develop a broader understanding of the world," Parkland Study Abroad Coordinator Jody Littleton said. "They also give our campus community the opportunity to learn from people with different backgrounds and experiences."
