SRU Cultural Exchange Program with Saga University

Slippery Rock University hosted international students from Saga University this fall. The exchange included ten students from Japan who experienced life at SRU including classes, discussions and student living.

Slippery Rock students can also study at Saga over the spring semester for a similar cultural exchange opportunity.

The program’s advisor, Professor Yukako Ishimaru, hopes the exchange will expand students’ intercultural communication and global understanding, along with helping students develop their foreign language skills.

She believes that the program “brings international experience to campus and allows students to have that involvement without having to go abroad themselves”.

The students are also given discussion partners that are learning Japanese on campus, so both students can learn their desired languages with native speakers.

This “creates conversation and community while students are here,” Ishimaru said.

Many of the Saga students who decide to study abroad are learning English in some capacity for their education; this could be a major, minor or certificate back home.

This opportunity allows for them to engage with English speakers and enriches the cultural aspects of our campus.

Last May, the program introduced a new aspect of an “art exchange,” where students from both schools are able to present their artwork in the universities while visiting.

The gallery continued into this fall and was available for viewing in the Maltby Art Gallery. This helps to “connect people not just through conversation, but also through art,” Ishimaru said.

Ella Iyler, a sophomore bio-chemistry major with a minor in Japanese, studied abroad in Japan during the spring of 2024 and was hosted by a family there.

While there, Iyler had the opportunity to visit historical sites, shrines, and sit in on a few courses at Saga.

“The trip really allowed me to be immersed in the cultural experience.” Iyler said. “I think we could all benefit from talking to other people from different cultures and different countries.”

After returning to SRU, Iyler had the opportunity to be a host and discussion partner for Saga University students this fall.

“I think sometimes it can be easy to be self-centered in your culture and disconnect from other people,” said Iyler. “[Being a discussion partner] helps open your mind and worldview by allowing yourself to be more understanding of other people.”

Yurie Otsuka, a freshman science and technology major with a minor in English, visited SRU this fall for the cultural exchange and was hosted by Iyler.

While here, Otsuka had the opportunity to sit in on class lectures, learn about American culture and engage with a speech partner outside of Iyler.

Outside of the classroom, Iyler wanted to introduce Otsuka to new experiences while she was here, similarly to what her host family had done when she was in Japan.

“Being someone who was hosted first, to then hosting, I think was a really beneficial thing,” Iyler said. “I wanted to give Yurie the same experience that I had in Japan, but in America”.

As the two became friends, Iyler was able to give Otsuka experiences that were new and exciting to her.

“For example, we watched anime, went to the drive-in, painted pottery, played rhythm games and so on.” Otsuka said. “These were things we could not do unless we were together.”

While Otsuka engaged with a speech partner, she believed that the challenge was lessened as she talked with students who were also learning, rather than feeling nervous talking to teachers and adults.

Just like for Iyler, the cultural experience was eye-opening for Otsuka.

“By learning about other cultures, I not only gained a deeper understanding of them, but also came to appreciate the value of my own,” Otsuka said. “I hadn’t fully recognized this before, and it made me want to learn even more about my own culture.”

Otsuka also wanted to thank the SRU community for inviting her and other students to our campus, and for the experiences.

Both Iyler and Otsuka hope to study abroad again for cultural experiences along with opportunities for learning and deepening their understanding of the world.

The Cultural Exchange Program hopes to welcome more Saga students to SRU next fall, along with taking more Slippery Rock students to Saga University in the spring.