By Barry Moskowitz
Queens, NY – As their students sharpened their English skills, a
team of professors from one of Japan’s most prestigious
universities visited St. John’s University on Feb. 11 as part of a
thirty-year-old exchange agreement.
The four professors traveled to St. John’s Queens campus from Kokushikan
University, Tokyo. Before meeting with several of St. John’s
administrators and faculty, the Japanese educators toured
classrooms where twenty-one students from Kokushikan are learning
English.
Taking a brief leave from Kokushikan, the visiting students are
enrolled in the three-week Intensive English Program (IEP)
at St. John’s. As part of the program, the students are living with
current St. John’s students in residence halls on the Queens
campus. St. John’s also treated the visiting students to a tour of
Manhattan and a Broadway show.
“This is a very special step in our long path toward a stronger,
reciprocal relationship with Kokushikan University,” said Dr. David
Blanchard, associate director of Transfer Articulation Agreements
at St. John’s. St. John’s and Kokushikan have had a formal exchange
agreement since 1975, Dr. Blanchard noted.
Dr. Blanchard joined St. John’s administrators Yvonne Chang,
Office of International Relations, and Dr. Sheila Hackner, director
of IEP, in welcoming the visitors. The Kokushikan professors
were Professor Kageaki Kajiwara, dean of “School of Asia 21”; Dr.
Ohnuma Katsuhiko, director, International Center; and Professor
Tokubumi Shibata.
We invite you to share the excitement of this visit by exploring
our Photo Gallery.