2018 Activity Report
March Activity Report
31 March 2019
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Yair Alejandro Yebra Lara
Just like Japan, Mexico has four distinct seasons. The time of year is the same, summer is hot and winter is cold, but the temperature changes aren’t quite as extreme as Japan. In Spring, from March to April, the purple flowers of the Jacaranda trees bloom. When I look at them, I always think of the cherry blossom trees in Japan. There are not as many Jacaranda in Guanajuato as there are cherry blossoms in Japan, but there are many spots where they improve the scenery. This year, the Jacaranda bloomed in March, so I was able to see them.
At the Dubbing Workshop we played a game called “Sell That”. We’ve played this game many times in the last year, so today I would like to teach it to you all.
Looking at its name, this game is sort of self-explanatory. In this game, the player has to “sell” “that’ – “that” is not defined, so “that” can be anything, or rather, anything can be “that”. “That” can be something realistic and tangible, or something abstract and fantastic. It could be an umbrella, headphones that function as a teleportation device, or Doraemon’s Anywhere Door.
“Sell” then, of course, means exactly that. In this game, one person becomes the salesperson and explains the features and price of their product, their “that”. Since it is an improv game, other players (who are the audience) are allowed to ask questions and criticize the product. From there the conversations become quite funny, and sometimes even turn into fights, so this game is a good chance for students to practice their Spanish and Japanese. Sometimes I join in and make the students practice polite speech. While playing, the students also note down any mistakes they heard in the salesperson’s Japanese or Spanish so they can correct them afterwards.
Next time, I want to take a video of this game to show you guys.
February Activity Report
28 February 2019
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Yair Alejandro Yebra Lara
This month, students from the University of Guanajuato applied to study abroad at TUFS from August onwards, and two students were accepted for the next quarter.
The Dubbing Workshop, which has been running since its inception in August 2017, was able to resume activities on February 7. We have decided to meet every Tuesday and Thursday from 18:00-20:30 in Meeting Room 1 of the University of Guanajuato’s Language School. Some new members joined the Workshop (two Mexican and two Japanese students). There are also seven students who joined last August. I hope the students will enjoy having the opportunity to use Japanese you wouldn’t normally have the chance to.
This month we tried out various games and dubs. On the first day, since it was the first time we had gathered in a while, we did a few improvisation games (“that thing” game and “sell that” game), practiced translating and adapting, editing videos and reading out lines, and we even played “Werewolf”. We played Werewolf once in Spanish and once in Japanese. Everyone got really into the game, and some teachers from the Japanese department even joined in. I want to keep making the Dubbing Workshop fun and interesting for the students so I can both attract new members and motivate current ones to keep studying Japanese.
January Activity Report
31 January 2019
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Yair Alejandro Yebra Lara
Here at the University of Guanajuato, before the Jan-June semester starts, we have our winter break from mid-December until early/mid-January. This is a good time to travel Mexico, go sightseeing, and relax at home.
This year, there are 192 exchange students, so as always, we held a welcome event for them. 78 of these students come from 17 different countries (including Germany, Colombia, Spain, China, Argentina, France, South Korea, Sweden, Peru, Canada, Russia and Chile, etc.). There are also 43 exchange students from other universities in Mexico. From now on, these students will study at the four campuses of the University of Guanajuato.
Next month, I intend to recruit new members and resume the activities of the Dubbing Workshop. I look forward to seeing what kind of people will join our club, and what kind of dubbing projects we will attempt next. I think that we will have a lot of fun while also studying Japanese.
http://www.ugto.mx/noticias/noticias/14670-ug-da-la-bienvenida-a-121-estudiantes-de-intercambio
December Activity Report
31 December 2018
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Yair Alejandro Yebra Lara
Hi everyone. It’s Yair Yebra, coordinator of the Global Japan Office.
At the beginning of December, exams were held, and the month-long winter break started after that. Many exchange students here are going on vacations around Mexico and other countries. Most students at the University of Guanajuato come from the cities surrounding the region, so they usually go home for the holidays, and are temporarily replaced by an influx of tourists. Christmas is a very important celebration here. Some people spend it with their friends, but most people spend it with their families eating dinner and exchanging presents on the 24th. On this occasion, it is common for families living apart to gather and celebrate together.
Moving on, every year on the first Sunday of December, students studying Japanese at the University of Guanajuato travel to Mexico City for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). This was a good chance for students to check their abilities and find new motivation for their studies. As in previous years, students went to sit a range of the levels from N5 to N1. Everyone is putting all their efforts into Japanese. I also went to take the test this year.
Interview with MATSUMOTO Mikihisa (TUFS)
This month I also interviewed TUFS student Matsumoto Mikihisa. I asked him about his life in and impressions of Guanajuato.
1- Please introduce yourself
My name is MATSUMOTO Mikihisa, and I am a fourth-year Spanish major in the TUFS School of International and Area Studies. I’m a member of the soccer club.
2- Why did you choose to study abroad in Mexico?
There was a scholarship program, and my upperclassmen recommended it.
3- What has been the best thing so far since you came to Mexico?
All the students are kind, so it’s easy to make friends.
4- Have you had any troubles during your exchange?
I lost my phone and my wallet.
5- What will you miss about Mexico and the University of Guanajuato when you return to Japan?
My friends and my girlfriend.
6- Will you recommend studying abroad at the University of Guanajuato to your lowerclassmen at TUFS?
Yes, I will. The reason for this is that the people here are so nice, so it is easy to fit in.
Matsumoto also did an internship at a high school in Guanajuato as an assistant Japanese language teacher, so I talked to him about this experience.
“At my internship, I went to a Mexican high school to assist Professor Yair in her Japanese class. Most of the time I acted as assistant to Professor Yair, but I also taught pronunciation, fixed the students’ kanji/hiragana/katakana names, and made and marked tests. I learnt two big things from my internship. The first is the difficulty of education. It was hard to motivate a class of a fixed number of students who were being made to study Japanese. I tried my best to do so by incorporating games and Japanese songs into the classes. The second thing I learnt was the difficulty and beauty of the Japanese language. When students asked me to explain things such as abstract words, or the nuances of particles such as “te” “ni” “wo” and “wa”, I found it very hard to answer them. This is one of the responsibilities of a native Japanese teacher. At the same time, I found it amazing how Japanese has enough vocabulary to express the exact nuances of abstract words.
November Activity Report
30 November 2018
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Yair Alejandro Yebra Lara
Hello everyone. This is Yair Yebra of the Guanajuato GJO. This month, I want to talk about the festival most representative of Mexico, the Day of the Dead.
Every year in Mexico, the Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1 and 2. On the 1st, we celebrate children who have died, and on the 2nd we celebrate all the dead.
Have you all seen the movie “Coco”? If you have, then it’s easy to imagine what this festival is like. During the Day of the Dead, Mexican families celebrate the memory of their deceased relatives and friends by creating altars to them. It is said that through this the deceased can come back and spend a little time with their families. It is also said that this holiday is a time to show respect to your ancestors by remembering them. Every year, the University of Guanajuato builds a giant altar dedicated to a prominent figure in history. It really is a great sight to see. Next year, it might be good to build an altar for a prominent figure of Japanese history.
Interview with MITOBE Yuuki (TUFS)
I also interviewed TUFS student Mitobe Yuuki. I asked him about his life in and impressions of Guanajuato.
1- Please introduce yourself
My name is Mitobe Yuuki, I’m a third-year student in the TUFS School of Language and Culture Studies.
2- Why did you choose to study abroad in Mexico?
Mexico seemed like a really interesting and different place to me. Guanajuato is safe, and the scenery is beautiful. However, I was having trouble deciding where to go right up until I applied.
3- What has been the best thing so far since you came to Mexico?
Meeting Mexican people, of course, and meeting many people studying Spanish from all around the world.
4- Have you had any troubles during your exchange?
Nothing in particular.
5- What will you miss about Mexico and the University of Guanajuato when you return to Japan?
The laidback lifestyle. I think Japan is too restless.
6- Will you recommend studying abroad at the University of Guanajuato to your lowerclassmen at TUFS?
I would strongly recommend. There’s no aversion to Japanese people here, so It’s an easy place to live.
Classes for this semester ended this month, so everyone in the Spanish course had a party and broke a piñata. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. However, there will be exams from December 3-7, so all the students here are still studying hard.
October Activity Report
31 October 2018
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Yair Alejandro Yebra Lara
Recently, particularly in central regions of Mexico, the kind of Japanese proficiency expected from learners is diversifying as more Japanese companies enter the Mexican market. Because of this, and based on ideas such as “I want to provide a place where learners can cooperate with each other instead of completing their Japanese learning individually” and “let’s make an opportunity for learners to present their Japanese skills and their other skills, such as design, imagination and composition skills, and expertise”, the first “Purezen México” was held last year. This year, 27 contestants competed in 12 teams across 3 categories to the topic of “Mexican Tourism”.
This was a very good chance for Japanese people living in Mexico to gain information on local tourism in Japanese from people who were raised here. Everyone’s presentations were very good. On top of introducing unknown aspects of Mexico to Japanese people living here, they also introduced parts of Mexico that even Mexican people don’t know.
The International Cervantino Festival, a performing arts festival held every year in October, was also held this month. This year, India and Aguascalientes (Mexico) participated as special guests. This festival attracts tourist from all over the world, including Japan. There were many top-tier acts from around the world, one act I watched was YANAIHARA Mikuni’s play, “A Quiet Day”. I was really satisfied to have been able to see the beauty of a Japanese play. I look forward to next year’s Cervantino.
https://www.facebook.com/PurezenMexico/
September Activity Report
30 September 2018
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Yair Alejandro Yebra Lara
Every year in September, an International Academic Fair is held by the University of Guanajuato’s Division of Economic-Administrative Services. Universities from all over the world, including Japan, participate in this fair. This year, the following universities participated.
Participants
Chiba University of Commerce JAPAN
Kyoto University of Foreign Studies JAPAN
Ming Chi University of Technology TAIWAN
The Montanuniversitaet of Leoben AUSTRIA
Soka University JAPAN
Université de Franche-Comté FRANCE
New Mexico Tech USA
Yamagata University JAPAN
University of Arizona USA
University of Warsaw POLAND
Université de Bordeaux FRANCE
Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería de Perú PERU
Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos PERU
Salem State University USA
Southern Oregon University USA
Universiti Putra Malaysia MALAYSIA
ENSCM, Chimie Montpellier FRANCE
Universidad Nacional de Colombia COLOMBIA
California State University, Fresno USA
Nagaoka University of Technology JAPAN
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies JAPAN
University of New Mexico USA
NESO HOLLAND
FIDERH MEXICO
FUNED MEXICO
CAMPUS FRANCE FRANCE
Bordeaux Métropole FRANCE
Universidad de Lima PERU
Britsh Council UK
Each university sets up its own booth, and students can ask them questions and consult with them about their universities.
More information about this event can be found here.
Many students interested in Japan visited the TUFS booth looking for information on exchange programs, and talked with the booth coordinator about life in Japan and the preparations necessary for study abroad in Japan. Perhaps these students will go on exchange to TUFS. There was also a presentation on TUFS, in which the booth coordinator introduced the university, and talked about the experiences and benefits of studying abroad in Japan.
Also, the Dubbing Workshop has been actively working on polishing their Japanese and Spanish. Next time I want to show you all their latest project.
August Activity Report
31 August 2018
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Yair Alejandro Yebra Lara
While it has been summer vacation here at the University of Guanajuato from June until August 7, the students started returning in August, and many exchange students, from both Japan and other countries, also came. A welcome event was held for everyone starting in the new semester. The students gave presentations on their own cultures, the president of the university gave a speech, and everyone ate Mexican food together. From now on, the exchange students will study at the university’s four campuses.
The Dubbing Workshop resumed activities, and many students spent the long break producing their own dubs and playing games in Japanese and Spanish, so they are ready to teach any new members. We are all looking forward to our activities this semester.
I want to introduce a game we have been playing at the Dubbing Workshop called “that thing”.
First, you choose an A and a B. A thinks of a specific item (i.e. a cellphone) B also thinks of a specific item (i.e. a salmon) A and B then start talking about their items, assuming the other is referring to the same item. From here, of course, the conversation becomes confusing and hilarious.
Example: A: Ah! Oh no, I left it at home. B: What, you were going to bring it? A: Yeah, you usually bring it with you? Don’t you do that B? B: No, I wouldn’t bring it to school. I just leave it in the fridge until I eat it…
The other players, who are not A or B, then try to guess what each person is talking about. Once someone guesses both items, the game ends. The aim of this game is to practice using Japanese or Spanish. Through this, students can learn to communicate their ideas in either language, even if they make mistakes.
July Activity Report
31 July 2018
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Yair Alejandro Yebra Lara
Here at the University of Guanajuato, the summer vacation lasts from June until August 7. It is a good chance to travel around Mexico, go sightseeing and relax at home.
Most of the students studying here come from other places, so everyone goes home, the whole vibe of the city changes, and the students are replaced in the meantime by tourists.
Just as last year, Dia de la Cueva (Cave Day) was held on July 31, so I went with the new exchange students.
Dia de la Cueva is a special day that happens once a year in Guanajuato. It is a party that only happens in the traditionally Christian Guanajuato. On this day, people climb the Bufa hills and look out over the scenery of the city. It might even be the most important party of the year for Guanajuato. While you’re allowed to climb Bufa at any time of year, this is the only day where people sell food and various goods in the hills, and there is always a big turnout. It is just like a festival.
This month I also interviewed another TUFS students on exchange at the University of Guanajuato.
1. Please introduce yourself
My name is KUGE Haruhi, I am a third-year student in the Spanish department of the School of International and Area Studies. I started my exchange here in the winter quarter of my second year.
2. Why did you choose to study abroad in Mexico?
I came to Mexico for a one-month short visit in the winter quarter of my first year, during which I felt that the food, temperature and people all suited me. Also, since it’s Guanajuato, you don’t have to worry too much about public safety, so I felt it would be a good place to endeavor in my studies.
3. What has been the best thing so far since you came to Mexico?
Probably the sightseeing and quality control. I’ve also been able to study some disciplines they don’t offer at TUFS.
4. Have you had any troubles during your exchange?
Not particularly.
5. What will you miss about Mexico when you return to Japan?
Mostly the people and fruit.
6. Will you recommend studying abroad at the University of Guanajuato to your lowerclassmen at TUFS?
I will. Everyone here is generally friendly towards Japanese people, so you can study without feeling too much stress.
June Activity Report
30 June 2018
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Yair Alejandro Yebra Lara
Here at the University of Guanajuato, summer vacation lasts from June until August 7. It’s a good chance to travel around Mexico and do some sightseeing, or to just relax around the house. Most of the students studying here come from other places, so everyone goes home, the whole vibe of the city changes, and the students are replaced in the meantime by tourists.
We also had the last Dubbing Workshop of the semester! We were able to finish the two dubs we practiced. The final product can be viewed through the link below! https://youtu.be/d2PqdEBy9ZA The Dubbing Workshop was very fun this semester.
In other news, a group of students going to TUFS in September and I taught students in Salvatierra, Guanajuato, about Japanese culture, politics and prices, and TUFS programs such as La-Cep.
I also interviewed one TUFS student who is on exchange here at the University of Guanajuato.
1. Please introduce yourself
My name is MATSUMOTO Mikihisa, and I am a fourth-year Spanish major in the TUFS School of International and Area Studies. I’m a member of the soccer club. I’m a student of Professor IMAFUKU Ryuta’s cultural anthropology seminar.
2. Why did you choose to study abroad in Mexico?
I have three reasons for choosing to study in Mexico. One, under the Inter-University Exchange Project, I was able to get a scholarship, which helped a lot. Two, I have been to Spain once on holiday, and wanted to see the cultural and linguistic differences between Spain and Mexico. And three, the upperclassmen in the soccer club strongly recommended Mexico, and after hearing their stories I really wanted to come here.
3. What has been the best thing so far since you came to Mexico?
The best thing about Mexico so far is the warmth of the people. I’ve really come to like this unique atmosphere where you can become friends right away.
4. Have you had any troubles during your exchange?
I haven’t had any troubles during my exchange so far. It was a little stressful when I had to move houses and find new accommodation, but with the help of my Mexican friends I was able to find something.
5. What will you miss about Mexico when you return to Japan?
While I’m not yet quite sure what I’ll miss when I go back to Japan, it will most probably the reggaeton music and parties. This is because there are not many parties in Japan where you can drink and dance to reggaeton.
6. Will you recommend studying abroad at the University of Guanajuato to your lowerclassmen at TUFS?
Yes I want to. Guanajuato is a student city, so it’s very easy to make friends with both Mexican students and exchange students from all over the world, and I think they would enjoy the parties and trips you can experience with them. Also, you can walk almost anywhere in Guanajuato, so it is a lot cheaper to move around in than other large cities. Lastly, I also think they should see the vibrant cityscape.
May Activity Report
31 May 2018
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Yair Alejandro Yebra Lara
This month I will report on the activities and interesting occurrences in Guanajuato this May.
In Mexico, May is a month full of holidays. May 1 is Labor Day, a holiday for workers. On May 5, in 1862, the Battle of Puebla took place after the French Army landed in Veracruz in April and headed for Mexico. On this day, which was thereon called Cinco de Mayo, Mexico won against the French after many battles and repelled their forces. It’s funny how Cinco de Mayo is celebrated all around the world, but it’s a different kind of day in Mexico so people here don’t really celebrate it. Cinco de Mayo is even celebrated in a few places in Japan. At these celebrations you can eat Mexican food and sing Mexican songs. There is one such celebration held every year in Tokyo. http://www.cincodemayo.jp/
May 10 is Mother’s Day, the same as Japan. May 15 is Teacher’s Day, and while it is not compulsory to do so, classes on this day are cancelled. May 23 is Students’ Day, and while it is also not compulsory to do so, classes on this day are sometimes cancelled. This year, afternoon classes were cancelled.
We also held the Dubbing Workshop this month! This month we mostly continued practicing Japanese from scenes of Fullmetal Alchemist, which we started last month. Many of our meetings were cancelled due to public holidays, but we plan to finish this particular dub next month. The spring semester is already over, but everyone here at the workshop will keep working hard to show you the final product next month.
April Activity Information
7 May 2018
Global Japan Office Coordinator
Yair Alejandro Yebra Lara
For April’s activities report, I will talk about the interesting things that happened in Guanajuato this month. First, there was Semana de Pascua. Semana Santa (holy week) and Semana de Pascua (Easter) are traditional holidays in Mexico where the death of Jesus Christ is commemorated. There are 84,000,000 Catholic people in Mexico, which is 82.9% of the country’s population, and so it can be said that these are very important holidays for Mexican people. Because of this, schools in Mexico close during the Semana Santa and Semana de Pascua periods. It is a two week break from March 26th until April 9th (Semana de Pascua occurs in the second week). Because many companies also observe this holiday, Mexicans use this time to go on family vacations and relax. During this break, Mexico’s beaches get very crowded. Since the events held in these periods are quite unique, it is a good chance to learn about Mexican Catholicism, and so many tourists visit Mexico during this time.
In other news, Haruhi Kuge, a TUFS student on exchange at the University of Guanajuato, visited the high school I teach Japanese at. Kuge talked to the students in Japanese, and played a game of “Werewolf” with them. It was a very enjoyable opportunity. The students are looking forward to Kuge visiting again.
We also had a dubbing workshop this month!
This month we mostly continued what we started last month, practicing Japanese through scenes of Fullmetal Alchemist. Last month the students picked a scene from a Japanese animation, listened to the dialogue, and then dubbed it. A lot of difficult words came up in the scene, but we finished eventually. This month we decided on the cast, but the students decided they wanted to swap roles after each line they dubbed. The Mexican students practiced their lines in Japanese. There are still a lot of words they can’t pronounce well, but I still intend to close this workshop in May.
Click this link for videos and pictures of our practice. https://youtu.be/kq9R7p8-Gi8
