Akiko

__A comparison of student life__ __around the world__

Hokkaido Musashi Junior College

English Literature Department

32138 Akiko Yasuda

◇ Introduction◇ My graduation report topic is “Student Life”. I chose this topic because I want to know more about student life in other countries and research some aspects of student life, for example, about a typical college day, part-time jobs, and interests. Furthermore, I would like to know how students spend their time in other countries. Also I want to know other country cultures in general.

◇ Method◇ First, I have researched the other student’s life style to use the Survey Monkey site. In the site, we can use it to post surveys very easily. Next, I sent many friends and IWE members the site URL that I made. IWE is the abbreviation for International Writing Exchange, an online writing course site. My survey has ten questions about school life, part-time jobs, and interests. I used multiple-choice questions on my survey. Finally, I rend over the data from the responses, then, I compared the data. I could get answers from 15 people in several countries. They are college students, and mixed female/male. The response include 1 in Argentina, 2 in the U.S.A., 3 in France, 1 in Ukraine, 5 in Japan, 2 in Korea and 1 in Senegal.

◇Japanese typical style college day◇ Using myself as a typical example of a college student in Japan, I will explain. I usually go to school by bicycle on fine days and by bus on rainy days. I study English at college on weekdays other than Tuesday because I have no classes on Tuesday. For instance, I study American literary history, English poetry, essay writing, etc. I like American literary history the most. In class, we study the American historical background through the American ☆１☆ literature and movies. It is very interesting for me to learn another country’s history. In our seminar class, we use a computer to connect to the IWE courses. We can make many friends all over the world. In addition, our writing skill is getting better because we communicate with each other through English on the site. My favorite time is lunch time with friends. Typically, we usually eat with friends at lunch time. We talk about anything, for example, about study, dreams, job-hunting, part-time jobs, and love. I can feel so easy talking and eating with my close friends. On my survey, I asked them about school life first of all. Q1. How do you usually go to school? Q2. Which subject do you major in? Q3. How many friends do you eat with at lunch time? You can find the results in Table1: School Life style below.

☆２☆ ●Table1: School Life Style● n:15 Subject resource native country Q1 Q2 Q3 A Argentina by bus

3 B U.S.A by car Art(film making) n.a. C U.S.A walk 3 D France by bus, train, subway Computer 1 E France by subway Culture 3 F France by subway Computer 6 to 9 G Ukraine by subway Education, **Language** 3 H Japan by train, bicycle 3 I Japan by bicycle 6 to 9 J Japan by bicycle 2 K Japan by subway 2 L Japan by subway 5 M Korea walk 1 N Korea by subway 2 O Senegal by bus Art, Computer, **Language** 4
 * Language**(English)
 * Language**(English)
 * Language**
 * Language**
 * Language**
 * Language**
 * Language**
 * Language**
 * Language**
 * Language**
 * Language**
 * Language**
 * Language**
 * Language**
 * Language**
 * Language**

◇ Discussion◇ As you see the Table 1, ten people go to school by public transport. It shows they live ☆３☆ far from the school as they can not walk to their school. Next, it also shows that people major in language are so many in this group. Specifically, ten people major in language. At lunch time, there are two students who eat alone. When I asked my seminar teacher about it, she told me the French students may not physically go to school since they use online classes. In the world, the technology has been developing, so now we have online courses. I think language is an important subject for us because the world population is becoming even larger large, and we need some common languages to communicate with people in other countries. The may be the reason that many students study language. Furthermore, I think the students who do not major in language at school may go to a language school in addition to their college studies, through I did not ask about this on my survey. Next, I researched how students feel about their school life.

●Graph1: Do you enjoy your school life?●

When I saw the Graph 1, I was surprised that 93 percent of the response said they feel satisfaction in their school life. This result show that they seem to have a good time now and they think to it is worth while to study. I strongly agree with their opinion.

☆４☆ ◇Japanese typical style Part-time job◇ After school is over, I have a part-time-job as telephone operator at a call center. This job is one of the popular part-time-jobs in Japan, because the pay is higher than other jobs. Many students in Japan also work at a convenience store, bar, shop or restaurant. I usually work five times a week, which it is more often than Japanese students in general. Because of this, I spend very busy days since I plan to go on a graduation trip with my friends, I must make money for the trip.

I asked the students about part-time jobs with the next question. ●Graph2: Do you have a part-time job?●

Graph 2 shows that only six students (40%) have a part-time job. More than half of the students do not have a part-time-job. I think it is difficult for students to have a part-time job. But there are 40 percent students who have a job in this group. Next, I researched the kinds of jobs. Q6. What is your part-time-job? Q7.How often do you work?

☆５☆ ●Table2: Part-time job type and frequency● subject resource native country Q6 Q7 A Argentina not applicable not applicable B U.S.A not applicable not applicable C U.S.A copy editor for the school newspaper, school's test center staff three or four days for newspaper, twice a week for the test center D France hostess in museum five times a week E France not applicable not applicable F France not applicable not applicable G Ukraine not applicable not applicable H Japan waitress at Chinese restaurant three times a week I Japan not applicable not applicable J Japan not applicable not applicable K Japan ice cream shop twice a week L Japan telephone operator four times a week M Korea not applicable not applicable N Korea teaching Chinese three times a week O Senegal not applicable not applicable

◇Discussion◇ As you see in Table 2, they work at several kinds of places, and they did not have particular common point. And it appears that they spend their free time working their ☆６☆ part-time job. Then, I asked N student about her part-time-job because I wanted to know why she taught Chinese. She responded in the online forum and told me that she is Chinese and a student in Korea. Also, I researched how they feel about their work. ●Graph3: Do you enjoy your part-time job?●

According to the survey results, the students all enjoy their part-time jobs. Two students responded very strongly that they feel enjoyment. I think it is very good thing for them because working with pleasure is more precious than making money.

◇ Interests◇ ◆Beauty◆ Recently, in Japan, the topic of dieting is popular. Though, it is very important and basic for us to eat. Also, the most of young people are interested in fashion. Many fashion magazines are published every week. ◆Music◆ I like listening to the music, so even when I have a little free time, I listen to my favorite music. I like pops because it makes me happy and gives a positive mind. My favorite ☆７☆ artists are HY, Miriya Kato and mihimaru GT. And recently, Japanese one of the most popular artists is Kumi Koda who has been awarded prizes, for how music and fashion. When I drive a car with listening to their music on sunny day, I feel so good and refreshed. I think music has great power. ◆Movie◆ Another interesting thing I do in my free time is watching the movies. I like going to the theater to watch movies, because there is a big screen with dynamic sound and beautiful images. These days, the videos and DVDs expand into the world. We can buy or rent them at a low price, but movie theater tickets are expensive, about \1800~about $20. In addition, my college has an audio-viewing room in the library, we can use the room to watch the videos and DVDs for free. Because of this, students at my college often use the room in their free time when they have no classes. Finally, I asked them about your interests, for example, beauty, music (kinds of or artist), movie (kinds of or title), sports (to play), and foreign country (to travel). ●Table3:Things of Interests● Subject Resource Native Country Beauty Music Movies Sports Foreign Country A Argentina n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. B U.S.A n.a. rap music Comedy basketball Canada C U.S.A n.a. Evanescence, Nickelback, Kutless Pride and Prejudice n.a. Scotland, Japan D France n.a. Tori Amos Miyazaki animations n.a. UK, USA, Portugal E France n.a. Faye Wong Gaichu(Akihiko Shiota) n.a. Europe and Korea F France n.a. pop and rock asian movies (Takeshi Kitano) soccer, ice hockey U.S.A. and England G Ukraine n.a. n.a. Catch Me If You Can ballroom dances n.a. H Japan diet Simon&Garfunkel Nada-sousou, World Trade Center dance, running, yoga Australia, America, Italy, France I Japan diet and make-up KUT-TUN, aiko Death Note Volleyball Italy J Japan natural aiko The Last Samurai baseball Fiji K Japan

Mr.children Umizaru tennis New Zealand L Japan fashion Black-Eyed Peas Ameri baseball England M Korea fashion pops Love Letter riding a bicycle Japan N Korea fashion Rain love story bowling Thailand, India, Japan, Korea O Senegal make-up I love sing Harry Potter dance, soccer England, France, Canada

◇Discussion◇ First of all seeing their results, I felt that Japanese culture is becoming familiar worldwide because there are students in foreign countries who like Japanese movies, for example, Miyazaki animation, Akihiko Shiota, and Takeshi Kitano. Next, it seems that Japanese ☆９☆

students like Japanese culture (music and movies). As compared with students inother countries, Japanese students look at their own culture with curiosity. I think it is connected with the development of Japanese culture.

◇Conclusion◇ I could find out about the student life in other country through this research. I knew it has many style with each. The most important thing I feel is to send a time preciously. I think time is only once, and how you study is more important than what you study. I have a few months in student life, so I decide to live without regret.

That is all. Thank you for reading.

☆１０☆

◇References◇ International Writing Exchange – IWE Round 51. Retrieved September 6, 2006 from http://www.writeit.fi/sys/course/view.php?id= 56 International Writing Exchange – IWE Round 52. Retrieved November 10, 2006 from http://www.writeit.fi/sys/course/view.php? id=61 Survey Monkey Retrieved October 25, 2006 from http://surveymonkey.com/