Undip Vocational Foreign Language Students Learn Japanese Culture with Akashi College Students, Japan

Semarang, September 3, 2024 – Applied Foreign Language students attended the Intercultural Communication class held at the Diponegoro University Vocational School Campus located in Pleburan, Semarang. The class was led by Nishida Minori, a student from Akashi National College, majoring in Civil Engineering, who is undergoing the Transfer Credit Program, a collaborative program between Undip Vocational School and Akashi National College, for one month in Indonesia.

Intercultural Communication, or intercultural communication, is the process of communicating or exchanging information between individuals from different cultural backgrounds. This understanding includes how cultural differences affect the way a person communicates, both verbally and non-verbally. Skills in intercultural communication are essential in an increasingly connected world, where cross-cultural interactions are becoming more common.

In this class, Basing students not only learn the theory of culturally appropriate language use, but also participate in various Japanese cultural activities. Nishida Minori teaches students how to write Japanese calligraphy, the art of origami, and introduces traditional Japanese games.

Regarding this activity, Nishida Minori said, “Thank you for organizing this class. It is a great opportunity to understand each other’s culture and establish good communication between cultures.”

This activity aims to provide students with a deeper understanding of how language is used in accordance with the cultural context. In addition, this class also provides insight into the different ways of communicating that are influenced by culture.

In line with the purpose of the activity, the students who participated in this class also felt enthusiastic and excited. They expressed that the opportunity to learn about the culture of other countries and practice it directly in class was a valuable experience and enriched their horizons.

With this class, it is hoped that Basing students can better understand the importance of intercultural communication and how culture affects language use in everyday life.

By: Alfin Rosyidha