Why Do We Think Japanese Universities Are Boring?

This semester, I visited two American universities with my class. I could attend classes there for a short time, and talk with students there. Even at MFWI, I can experience American university education style, that's why I study much harder than when I lived in Japan. Not only I, but also other students at MFWI feel that studying in the U.S. is more fun, even if they study much harder than in Japan. Why do we think Japanese universities are boring?

First, American classes show us students' independence. At EWU, the earliest class starts at 8:00 a.m. It lasts just for 1 hour, but it's really early. In Japan, I usually leave my house at this time! Most Japanese universities have a different time schedule. At MWU, the first class starts at 9:00 a.m. and finishes at 10:30. Most students finish all their classes around 4:00 p.m. On the other hand, the American schedule varies depending on the teachers. Some classes last one hour, some last two hours. American students must pay attention to the time the class starts.

To take Japanese university classes is a piece of cake. To enter the university is really difficult, so most high school students go to an optional cram school. However, once we enter university, we feel free and we don't need to study hard. In Japanese universities, teachers call students' names or pass the name list to take roll to be sure whether students attend or not. However, unfortunately, some students ask their classmates to write their name down in spite of increasing the risk of flunking out, because they can't or don't want to attend, but they don't want to lose their participation score. In America, they can't do it, because teachers know their students' face and name, because many classes are small, and also it is important for teachers to have a close relationship with their students. Most Japanese teachers know that there are just some students who are super active and ask questions a lot. Also, most Japanese students don't do their homework by themselves. They copy their friends' homework. Sometimes they don't do homework, because teachers don't check it and it isn't graded so much. We can follow the classes because teachers manage the classes by adapting them to such lazy students.

This is the reason why Japanese students sleep during the classes. Our classes are old-fashioned: teachers are speaking and writing notes on the black board, and we copy it. That's all! It is difficult for them to ask questions and give their opinions, because teachers keep talking, so students feel far away from teachers. On the other hand, in America, students are required to give their opinions, so they are more casual with teachers.

In conclusion, American students have the responsibility to manage themselves, such as their schedule and to give their opinions, so the class attitude is different. However, Japanese universities are rigid which means we have the same schedule and just listen to what teachers say and copy the black board, so we cannot help being passive. I suggest Japanese teachers and students should be more open and make stronger relationships.