[NEWS] Fifteen Timorese Students Interacted with the Hasegawa Seminar Students (28th June 2012)



 On 28th June 2012, the fifteen Timorese students visited the Hosei University and the Hasegawa seminar students welcomed them.
 Upon arrival of the Timorese students at Hosei University, five Hasegawa seminar students guided them around the Ichigaya campus. Prior to their visit to Hosei University, the Timorese students had visited the Matsumoto University in Nagano Prefecture, enabling them to compare the structures and students of the two Japanese universities.
 After the campus tour, the Hasegawa seminar students numbering sixteen and the Timorese students had an informative discussion following opening remarks made by H.E. Mr. Isilio Antonio de Fatima Coelho da Silva, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to Japan and Professor Hasegawa. The students talked particularly about the following topics: (1) the issues related to national education and languages in Timor-Leste and (2) Japanese educational system. Two Timorese students made speeches on the brief history and the educational system in Timor-Leste. The Hosei students were interested in knowing about the implications of selecting specific languages that are used as official and working languages in Timor-Leste. Concerning the second topic, Mai Nakasendo, Vice-Head of the Hasegawa seminar, explained the current Japanese educational system to the Timorese students. The Timorese students seemed to be interested in the problems related to English teaching in Japan and the present political situation in Japan.
 After the formal meeting, both Timorese and Hosei students exchanged their views and built their friendship over informal dinner.

(Sayuri Maruyama)

 All seminar students really appreciate to JENESYS (Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths) for introducing our website and this cultural exchange in their site: the Japanese article and the English article.