On Monday, February 2, 132 students from Tokyo International University will arrive on the campus of Willamette University and Tokyo International University of America.  This marks the 27th year since the program began in 1989.  In that time, over 2,600 students have enrolled in the one-year American Studies Program (ASP) at Willamette University.

The students are fully immersed as Willamette University students.  They will live in all of the residence halls on campus and the majority will have Willamette University roommates.

After a week of opening days activities, classes will begin on Monday, February 9.

There are several different ways you can get involved with the students.  TIUA offers a Tomodachi ("friendship") Program which matches community members with students and asks that they meet together at least once per month. There are several options this year, including a semester program (April-June or Sept.-Dec.) or for the entire year (April-December).   It is not a homestay program, but provides an opportunity for students to get off campus and share typical "American" experiences with local participants. For more information or application forms, click here.

We also offer a Language Tutor Program which is free to local community members. ASP students sign up to be tutors and languages include Japanese and occasionally other languages such as Chinese or Korean. For more information on this program, click here.

Last, but not least, we put on Kaneko Day Camp each August for local school kids from 2nd and 8th graders.  The camp is run by the students and is a great way to learn more about Japanese culture.  Click here for more information about that.

One hundred and twenty students were honored during the annual closing ceremony on Friday, December 12, 2014.  There was a certificate ceremony, as well as presenting some awards, in Hudson Hall on the Willamette University campus.  Afterwards, there was a reception party. The ceremony is the culmination of a year of intense study of English and American Studies courses taught by TIUA and Willamette University faculty members.

This 2014 class of students arrived for the American Studies Program at Willamette University in February. This program offers students the opportunity to take classes at TIUA and WIllamette University, as well as participating in various activities throughout the eleven months, such as volunteering with local charities, getting to know community members through the Tomodachi "friendship" Program, and interacting with Willamette University students as roommates and friends.

Attending the ceremony from Tokyo International University in Kawagoe, Japan, was President Hiroshi Takahashi.  In addition to President Takahashi, other speakers included Consul General Hiroshi Furusawa, from the Japanese Consulate in Portland, as well as President Stephen Thorsett and Dean Marlene Moore from Willamette University.  ASWU President Andres Oswill and Senator Hiromi Homma also spoke on behalf of the students.  Salem community members who participated in the Tomodachi Program were also invited.

To see some of the photos from the ceremony, please click here. For photos from the Reception, please click here.

Happy holidays and best wishes for the new year from everyone involved with the American Studies Program at Willamette University and Tokyo International University of America!  Please click here to see our card.  This year's card was created by Daiki Abe, ASP 2014.  Enjoy!

(photo courtesy of Camille Priebe, WU student)