In recent years, Japanese colleges are increasingly becoming popular after raising their ranks on global best-ranking university charts. With prestigious schools such as Waseda and Keio slowly climbing the charts, it seems times are looking bright for Japan’s education and subsequently, for business.
Though Japan is undergoing a rapid exchange with foreign students and a rise in international programs, its college education is still underdeveloped. As a student who is currently studying in such environment, I feel college is less than the open, bountiful institutions they claim to be. Furthermore, I am sure they do not offer the needs and chances for students in order to become the “great thinkers” or ideal shakaijin (“member of society” in Japanese) many expect them to soon bloom into.
From what I have experienced and heard from other students, the biggest flaw in Japanese college education is the absence of discussion – the students frequently have no opportunities to speak up nor present their opinions. Japan still clings onto its traditional teaching style: the students are made to learn, word for word, from the teacher. No chances for discussion.
It has greatly disappointed me to hear from numerous voices, many of whom have come from international backgrounds, that they were upset with the teaching methods of their professors. It is common for American and other foreign universities to encourage their students to think on their own, instead of simply jotting down key points uttered by their teachers.
As a result, many exchange students who have come to Japanese colleges were taken aback by such detached classes. They have come all this way, only to study, or rather listen, in such a limited educational environment.
A typical lecture class goes as follows: students come to the classroom, remain silent throughout the entire semester, then later finish off with a written exam. Absolutely no activities or even questioning.
This raises the question: what is the point of studying if we are made to simply repeat whatever we are told?
Of course, a teacher’s fundamental role is to provide knowledge to its students, but this does not justify the lack of interactivity. Students, like the exchange students previously mentioned, wanted to do something; to talk, discuss, and hear others’ ideas. Learning is not only about gaining knowledge – it also concerns with what to do with the knowledge. Education is worth if it helps one think and apply knowledge to use.
It is a universal belief that college is a vital gateway in life that leads to (supposedly) one’s dreams, goals, and such. However, ambitions and great thinkers will go to waste if Japan’s colleges remain the way they are right now. In order to progress, students must be given the opportunities to freely think. That way, there will be more minds willing to question and step forward.