Page.
the Edhor
Tuesday, April 30,1996
Japanese Students Respond To Editorial
Letter to the editor
ESL Office
In the last issue (Volume 64: Issue 5)
of Clarion, you carried Sarah
Rogers’ article “We Americans Should
Listen More Often.” It described her
experience with Japanese students and her
ihoughts about improving communication
between American and Japanese smdents.
The article stirred up discussion among
the Japanese students in our ESL class.
Here we provide some of the responses
concerning the issues raised in Sarah’s
article.
Ayako said that she agreed with
Sarah in that American smdents should
listen more. “It does not mean that
American students should be more
interested in Japanese. I just want to say
t all people, wherever they are from,
should take opportunities to know about
other countries. Since I came to this
country, I have found many cultoral
differences, such as in sharing a ride or
participating in class activities. I did not
know these differences until I actually
live here. The information we get from
TV or reading is not necessarily
reliable.” Manabu always wants to
involve himself in the American school
life and learn more about American
culture. He said, “We are all different.
We can never fmd anybody who is
exactly the same as you are. However,
no matter how different we are, we can
always fmd something in common. We
should not have a bias or be prejudiced
because of our differences. Try to talk to
different people and get to know them as
Sarah does, and you will fmd something
interesting you have not known. ”
In spite of their desire to
communicate with American students,
they have difficulties to do so effectively.
English is so different from their native
language, and it takes courage as well as
effort to overcome the psychological and
linguistic barriers. Saemi, sweet but shy,
revealed her feelings and concerns, “It is
still difficuU for me to keep talking with
American students. I cannot always
understand all they say, so I don’t know
now to respond to them. Even if I want
to talk with them, I cannot explain things
fully in English. Besides, I worry that
American smdents may not be interested
Teachers Made A Difference
To the editor.
I’m a third year student here at
Brevard College, and like many students,
1 would be attending Community College
if it had not been for Brevard. After my
senior year in high school, I hated school
and my teachers. They spoke, and I
listened. Because of this, the classes were
very boring.
After graduation many of my
teachers thought I was crazy for trying
college, and I think my parents thought so
too. Well, I came to Brevard and started
school, and I will always remember my
teachers (professors) for that first
semester. They really made a difference.
At the end of my freshman year, my
GPA was a 3.3. I was really proud that I
accomplished this, but I could not take all
the credit. If the teachers at Brevard
College had not stuck their hand out for
^ 1 might be working at a burger place.
Well, I want to get to the point.
This week I heard that some of the
teachers at Brevard College are leaving
will not retorn to Brevard College
next year because more Ph.D’s are
needed. Now, you can call me an idiot,
when did an piece of paper become
niore important than a warm heart and
helping hand? After all, this is the basis
learning, not a piece of paper.
in what I say.” Sharing the same
feelings, Yukiko said that some
American students regard her as a quiet,
serious and uninteresting person because
she seldom talks. “Actually I like to talk,
and I am very active and talkative when I
speak Japanese.” She is very frustrated
for not being able to say what she wants
to. She said, “I should study English
harder to improve my language skills. I
don’t want Americans to think we
Japanese students are dull. And I want a
lot of Americans to read Sarah’s article.”
Interestingly, our Japanese smdents
have different ideas about why they chose
to come to school in America. Yurie
agrees that Japanese students come to
school here because it is less expensive
and competitive than the schools in Japan.
Rie, however, does not agree with that.
“I don’t think American schools are
cheaper or easier to enter. In fact, I
passed the college entrance exams in
Japan.” Miki also passed the entrance
exams in Japan, but she chose to come
here to see a new world. “If you
consider the expenses of going back home
for winter or summer vacations, it is not
While at Brevard I had four
English teachers: Miss Chapman, Mrs.
McBride, Mrs. Jackson and Mrs. Miller.
None of these teachers have a Ph.D. This
didn’t hurt my English background; it
only helped it. Now, I know that Brevard
College is growing, and it is great to be a
part of this, but I have to wonder: in
which direction are we heading if great
teachers have to go?
I would like to thank my
teachers here at Brevard. Mrs. Chapman,
thank you for everything that you have
helped me with. I will always remember
and try to use the knowledge you gave
me. Mrs. Jackson, thank you for the
understanding and the helping hand that
^ Mr. Burger, who will retire
after this year, I just want to say thank
you for showing me that there can be
excilement in Histo^, and HI
remember Ihe ‘special guests I hope
youfmdthalp.erodae.yl^ « ?ou for
the great classes at Brevard College
To me, there are more important
thmgs in teaching than a documented
niece of paper, and although it may be
Liportant, it is not the only way smdents
learn.
Thank you,
Scotty Setser
The Pertelote staff would
like to remind all students to
pick up their yearbooks
before May 3.
The Clarion Executive Staff
Editor
Jon Ostendorff
Asst Editors
Erica Broadway
Heidi Rodenbaugh
Art Editor
Angie Clark
Photograghy
Anita Clark
Kris Caswell
Typesetting/Design
Rhonda L. Parker
Advisor
Rhuemma Miller
cheaper at all to study in America. Also,
we cannot take a part-time job because of
our foreign stodent visa. And I don’t
have time to work because it takes much
more time to study in a foreign
language.” Tamaki thought, “It may be
easy to enter an American college, but it
is certainly not easy to do well in school
work, because we have to use a foreign
language and live in a different culmre.
As to the expenses here, I even don’t
want to think about them. What attracts
me here is I can try new things which
may not be able to do in my own country.
There are more opportonities in
America.”
However, everyone agreed with
Sarah that Japanese smdents are no more
different than other students in America.
They have similar interests and similar
hobbies. Because of their temporary
language difficulty, they appear more
quiet and need to be approached and
encouraged by American stadents.
The Clarion Editorial Policy
The Clarion is the
Student newspaper of Brevard
College. Our editorial page
does not necessarily reflect the
opinion of The Clarion staff,
faculty advisor, or the
Administration or staff of
Brevard College.
Letters for publication
must contain author’s signature.
Letters can be deposited
in The Clarion box in the
bookstore, the white box on the
lobby wall of MG, or Ms.
Miller’s office, room 110 in
MG.
Letters are welcome
and appreciated.