A Brief Cultural Exchange Experience Retrospective
You might have noticed that throughout the years, Mt. A has had a special relationship with Japan. Mt. A has long standing ties with Japan which have lasted over a century. The first Japanese students started attending Mt. A campus in 1890. Today, the University boasts its own Department of Japanese Studies, welcomes many Japanese international students, and offers exchange programs both to and from Japan. Additionally, the student-run Japanese Cultural Society regularly hosts events for those who wish to learn about and engage with Japanese culture.
There is also a program Mt. A hosts every year known as the ‘Mount Allison Semester Studies in English’ (MASSIE), where students from Japanese universities spend either the summer term or fall term in Canada. The program is a fifteen week exchange offered in the summer (May-August) and Fall (September-December). The main goal of the program is for international students to hone in their English language skills and learn more about Canadian culture. One of the ways this is done at Mt. A is through the use of volunteer conversation partners. The program is a great demonstration of the diverse environment Mt. A as an institution and its students try to foster.
The MASSIE program was first established in 2000 as a partnership between Mt. A and Kwansei Gakuin University (KGU). It was originally known by a different name: Mount Allison Sophomore Semester in English. The program’s original intent has remained primarily the same, offering Japanese students an immersive English language and cultural experience in Canada. However, as the program reaches its twenty-fifth year anniversary, it has expanded to include many more institutions and participants. Now, the program includes Ferris University in the United States, Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts in Kyoto Japan, Toyo-Eiwa University in Yokohama Japan, and others.
The main goal of the MASSIE program is to enhance students’ proficiency in academic and conversational English. To achieve this, the program includes a combination of classes, cultural immersion, and community engagement. For example, a staple of the MASSIE program is a trip to P.E.I. to visit the Anne of Green Gables Museum. Anne of Green Gables by Canadian author Lucy M. Montgomery has become very popular and well known in Japan, which the MASSIE students tend to always be excited about!
The MASSIE program emphasizes cross-cultural exchange, volunteerism and community integration. This is where conversational partners come in to assist MASSIE students while creating new friendships. They not only provide an opportunity for MASSIE students to practice their English skills, they provide a direct avenue for making exchange students feel part of the Mt. A community, learning about not only Canadian culture but also from all parts of the world due to other international students who often volunteer to help organize and run the event.
Why should you, as an Mt. A student, participate? While students’ primary role is helping MASSIVE program students feel included and improve their language skills, you also have the opportunity to foster friendships, and learn or practice Japanese as well! Furthermore, the program is full of volunteering and leadership role opportunities. Mt. A students serve as residence assistants and program volunteers, gaining valuable leadership experience and cross-cultural competencies. One of the most fun things about the MASSIE program is the weekly field trips, financially covered by the organization, both Mt. A and MASSIE students are invited to. Exploring many key spots in the maritimes, such as the city of Hallifax, Prince Edward Island, local beaches, etc.
The MASSIE program, in its 25 year run has become an inter-cultural collage and has expanded beyond Canada and Japan. An inspiring example of learning from different cultures and fostering meaningful relationships and impressions that will last long after students graduate.