Getting Close to the Community

As of January, 2010

Temple University, Japan Campus (TUJ) opened its doors in Tokyo over a quarter of a century ago in 1982. Thirteen years have passed since the move to our current location in Minami Azabu in Minato Ward, and we also opened a second campus in 2006 in Minato at Mita. More than 2000 students attend courses at these two campuses every day in the undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs.

TUJ also pursues various community-oriented activities with the overall goal of deepening exchanges between our students and staff and the people of the area. A major focus of these activities is the agreement on joint activities we concluded with Minato Ward in 2006.

Below are the main activities this agreement covers. As a university with students, faculty and staff from over 60 different countries and as a specialist in English-language instruction, TUJ's activities in this area are unique in their context and scope.

Helping Schools to Experience Different Cultures

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TUJ sends foreign students and staff to schools in the Minato ward to introduce their cultures to the schoolchildren. In addition to helping with classes, these students and staff spark interest in their native countries by wearing ethnic dress and using maps and pictures to bring their cultures to life in English and in Japanese. To date, we have given nearly 2,500 pupils at Minato schools a sense of countries such as Germany, France, Switzerland, Russia, Bulgaria, China, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Korea, Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Peru.

Assisting Minato Ward's Foreign Community

Minato has a very high percentage of foreign residents, many of them children. TUJ students with the same mother tongue provide elementary and junior high school pupils, whose first language is not Japanese, with support and guidance in Japanese-language learning and life adjustment. So far, for example, we have offered guidance to students from countries such as Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil, China, Iran, Bangladesh, Thailand and Cambodia. TUJ students guide children affectionately with their own experience when they came to Japan.

Supporting English-Language Education in Minato Ward

For three days during the summer vacation period, TUJ lecturers organize a training course designed to help English teachers at ward elementary and junior high schools improve their skills. A total of more than 120 teachers have participated in this course to date. All the lecturers have the degree of M.S.Ed / Ed.D. in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and are at the forefront of the English education field.

Providing Adult Education in English to Minato Residents

We have been holding lectures in English at the TUJ campus for the Minato-ku Citizen's University since 2007, which is part of Minato ward's adult education program. In 2009, lecture series, titled "Issues in Contemporary Japan," was conducted by TUJ professors in international relations, sociology, business and law school. Nearly 230 people - largest attendance ever - participated in these courses which were very well-received.

Offering Summer English Programs for Students in Minato Ward

TUJ offers summer English programs which allow junior high and elementary school students to essentially "study abroad" at the TUJ campus during their summer vacation. TUJ lecturers and foreign students, both with extensive experience, teach courses based on our original curriculum. Students are able to experience the enjoyment of learning English which is often lacking in traditional Japanese school classrooms. In 2009, more than 80 students in total participated in the programs and enjoyed a stimulating three days.

Opening the TUJ Library to Minato Residents

The TUJ library, which focuses on English-language publications, holds over 50,000 books and more than 1500 CD and DVD titles. It offers extensive collections in the areas of American studies, Asian art history, political science, linguistics and language teaching methodology. TUJ has opened the collection to teachers at Minato elementary and junior high schools, as well as to ward residents through the ward's libraries.

TUJ students, faculty and staff have also participated in the following activities in Minato:

• At "Minato-ward festival" held in October 2009, TUJ students exhibited their booth at the world gourmet area and participated in a stage performance involving song and dance. Children had fun playing Origami and ringtoss with TUJ art students. More than 100 students and staff from TUJ volunteered as festival staff mingled with citizens.
• A large number of TUJ student volunteers participated in cross-cultural exchange events at the Minato Takanawa Jidokan, including "Spring tea ceremony", "Star Festival", a Halloween party, and a Christmas party, oriented toward younger children.
• TUJ student volunteers have been participating in the "Houka-Go program" at Minato Higashi-machi elementary school since February 2008. They teach English to children and children teach Japanese to them. All TUJ students are happy to bond with their little brothers and sisters.
• In addition, TUJ students enjoyed carrying a portable shrine at a neighborhood association festival, playing baseball with the people of the area and so on. Those experiences will be their precious memories in Japan.