The Impression through this program

Takuma Kamioka from Tokyo Institute of Technology

Purpose of joining this program

I would like to learn about Korean Culture Korean Language, Research activities of nano electron skin, English Conversation, My Family History.

As for Korean culture, I am interested in the etiquette of hierarchical relationships in Korea, where Confucianism is widely practiced, what kind of ceremonial manners are used for visiting graves, the etiquette and relationship between professors and stud ents in the laboratory, and the behavior and relationship between friends and family. I also hope to learn about the origins and economy of each. I have been gradually learning Korean for the past two months using Duolingo and reference books, and I hope to actively use this knowledge in my classes at Kaist and in daily conversation. I would like to find out where my interests lie through research activities in the laboratory to which I will be assigned. I believe that I will be able to make use of some of the prerequisite knowledge and points of view for the realization of electronics skins in Na in other research in the future. I also want to know what kind of differences there are between research activities overseas and those in Japan. Since I will be ab le to spend this month in the world of English and Korean, I would like to speak actively and get used to English even more.

Overview of this program

I’ll do the study below the mentor in the laboratory in KAIST during about a month. I was accepted in BIESL, which is the laboratory in KAIST, and did some tasks in there. Living place is the dormitory in KAIST . Every Wednesday, there is a Korean conversation class.

Impression

Through this program, I could experience the life as the student in KAIST . I did some activities in my host laboratory . The lab members we re so helpful fo r me, and it was so fun. Fu rth ermore, I found a lot of differences between two countries, but at the same time, I felt I don’t know the differences completely even among several areas in Japan, so after this program, I’ll search them, and I think I want to see them by my own eyes. And I felt that it’s important to know the cultures of each other for understanding and accepting. In my childhood, I can’t understand why my Korean people said to me eat much and slowly and you can leave them, because I was told by my mother that we shouldn’t leave f oods. But now, I know the reason why, it’s from their culture. I’m not sure whether I can say just that’s a difference of the culture or not, but thanks to knowing it, I can accept their acts smoothly and unsatisfactorily. And now, I have a lot of friends in other countries. It’ll make me more eager to learn English. Through this study abroad program, I became more able to ask and listen to others than before. I also felt that the intention to speak is more important than the language in conversation.

The favorite thing

I can t forget that I went out many times with other international students, Joshua, and Suhee. It was the only chance to go some where with them at the same tim . Also , every scenery in Korea was so beautiful and unforgettable. I like Busan the most.

Future Prospects

I was happy to be in a very comfortable environment where the people around me were kind. I would like to come back to Korea one way or another. Thank you very much for organizing such a program. It made me think more strongly that I would like to work abroad in the future. For that purpose, I will study English more from now on. I would also like to study abroad for a long period of time during the graduate school process.