Mon.-Fri. (Eastern Standard Time, USA)
Two sessions per day (1 hour/session)
Many universities are scheduled to participate！
We will update this information as courses open.
Virtual Language Tables – VLT – Online International Exchanges
SOCIAL INNOVATION
SOCIAL INNOVATIONWhat is “Virtual Language Tables”?
Virtual Language Tables (Commonly known as VLT) is a place where students from Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU) / Osaka City University (OCU) and Osaka Prefecture University (OPU) and students studying Japanese at our partner universities/colleges in the U.S. can interact internationally online and enjoy learning about various cultures using English and Japanese in a casual way.
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Here is a video of a roundtable discussion among participants.
Please enjoy watching OMU students and students studying Japanese in the U.S. talk about their experiences at VLT.
What do students do at the VLT?
- Students from Japan and the U.S. talk casually about any topics.
- Students from Japan and the U.S. mutually support as Japanese / English conversation partners.
- OMU/OCU/OPU students can practice using English, while students from the U.S. can practice using Japanese, to improve their target language.
- Students engage in cross-cultural communication and learn about various cultures.
What reasons do students have for participating in the VLT?
For students at OMU/OCU/OPU, they…
- want to make international friends
- want to use English to improve their proficiency
- want to have an experience to volunteer
- want to improve communication skills
- are not confident speaking in English, but want to talk casually with overseas
- are shy, but want to change to be more active
For students studying Japanese, they …
- want to make international friends
- want to talk casually with students in Japan
- want to practice using Japanese to improve their proficiency
- want to improve communication skills
Students’ Voices from the U.S.
- I met people living on the other side of the world.
- It was an amazing experience!
- I learned more about Japanese culture and gained different perspectives.
- I improved my Japanese speaking proficiency.
- I realized how much more to learn to be able to speak fluent Japanese.
- OCU students helped students practice the dialogue check, which was great!
- I learned the importance of practicing Japanese with a partner.
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Students’ Voices from Japan*
- I found that once I took the first step, I could get by surprisingly well!
- I was able to give a thesis presentation in English, which was my goal! I could challenge myself because I got a little more comfortable speaking English thanks to the Language Tables!
- I was hesitant because of my limited English ability, but I learned if I have passion, I can communicate in English!
- I was shy, but I became more active!
- It was interesting to learn about American culture, especially learning things I didn’t expect!
- I noticed many attractive things about my own country, Japan!
- I have come to like Japan. I wanted to know more about my own country, too!
- I had a lot of fun talking with students from other countries at the Language Tables, and it was a precious opportunity for me to interact with students from other countries.
- I am so glad I was given an opportunity to be a leader! I’m sure there were some things I did not do well, but even with those things and the mistakes I made, it was a very meaningful time, and I learned a lot!
- I can now talk to students in the U.S. like they are my friends!
*Translated by staff at OMU
Ongoing Virtual Language Tables
【14th Language Tables – Spring Semester 2026】
Program Period : February 3, 2026 – May 2, 2026
【13th Language Tables – Fall Semester 2025】
Program Period : September 3, 2025 – December 6, 2025
Mon.-Fri. (Eastern Standard Time, USA)
Two sessions per day (1 hour/session)
Partner Universities/Colleges in the U.S.:
University at Buffalo – The State University of New York (SUNY)
Hunter College – The City University of New York (CUNY)
Lehman College – CUNY
John Jay College of Criminal Justice – CUNY
Boston College
Fitchburg State University
Old Dominion University
Bridgewater State University
Andrews University
Adelphi University
Hofstra University
Northeastern University
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Boston
Brandeis University
Smith College
University of Utah
Georgia State University
The George Washington University
University of Wisconsin – Green Bay
University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
University of Wisconsin – River Falls
University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point
University of Tennessee – Martin
Swarthmore College
Tufts University
New York University
【12th Language Tables – Summer Semester 2025】
Program Period : May 28, 2025 – August 9, 2025
Mon.-Fri. (Eastern Standard Time, USA)
Two sessions per day (1 hour/session)
Partner Universities/Colleges in the U.S.:
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University at Buffalo – The State University of New York (SUNY)
Hunter College – The City University of New York (CUNY)
Lehman College – CUNY
John Jay College of Criminal Justice – CUNY
Beloit College
Boston College
Fitchburg State University
Old Dominion University
Adelphi University
Hofstra University
Northeastern University
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Boston
Brandeis University
University of Utah
Georgia State UniversityUniversity of Wisconsin – Green Bay
University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
University of Wisconsin – River Falls
University of Wisconsin – Stevens PointTufts University
New York University
【11th Language Tables – Spring Semester 2025】
Program Period : February 4, 2025 – May 2, 2025
Mon.-Fri. (Eastern Standard Time, USA)
Two sessions per day (1 hour/session)
Partner Universities/Colleges in the U.S.:
-
University at Buffalo – The State University of New York (SUNY)
Hunter College – The City University of New York (CUNY)
Lehman College – CUNY
John Jay College of Criminal Justice – CUNY
Boston CollegeFitchburg State University
Old Dominion University
Bridgewater State UniversityAndrews University
Adelphi University
Hofstra University
Northeastern University
University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Boston
Brandeis University
University of Utah
Georgia State UniversityUniversity of Wisconsin – Green Bay
University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
University of Wisconsin – River Falls
University of Wisconsin – Stevens PointUniversity of Tennessee – Martin
Swarthmore College
Tufts University
New York University
【10th Language Tables – Fall Semester 2024】
Program Period : September 4, 2024 – December 7, 2024
Mon.-Fri. (Eastern Standard Time, USA)
Two sessions per day (1 hour/session)
Partner Universities/Colleges in the U.S.:
- University at Buffalo – The State University of New York (SUNY)
- Hunter College – The City University of New York (CUNY)
- Lehman College – CUNY
- John Jay College of Criminal Justice – CUNY
- Boston College
- Old Dominion University
- Bridgewater State University
- Andrews University
- Adelphi University
- Hofstra University
- Northeastern University
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- University of Massachusetts Boston
- Brandeis University
- Smith College
- University of Utah
- Georgia State University
- University of Wisconsin – River Falls
- University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
- University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point
- University of Wisconsin – Green Bay
- OMU exchange students
【9th Language Tables – Summer Semester 2024】
Program Period : May 29, 2024 – August 10, 2024
Mon.-Fri. (Eastern Standard Time, USA)
Two sessions per day (1 hour/session)
Partner Universities/Colleges in the U.S.:
- Hunter College – The City University of New York (CUNY)
- Lehman College – CUNY
- Old Dominion University
- Northeastern University
- Beloit College
【8th Language Tables – Spring Semester 2024】
Program Period : February 6, 2024 – April 27, 2024
Mon.-Fri. (Eastern Standard Time, USA)
Two sessions per day (1 hour/session)
Partner Universities/Colleges in the U.S.:
- University at Buffalo – The State University of New York (SUNY)
- Hunter College – The City University of New York (CUNY)
- Lehman College – CUNY
- John Jay College of Criminal Justice – CUNY
- Manhattan College
- Boston College
- Old Dominion University
- Bridgewater State University
- Andrews University
- Adelphi University
- Hofstra University
- Northeastern University
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Brandeis University
- Smith College
- Fitchburg State University
- University of Utah
- Georgia State University
【7th Language Tables – Fall Semester 2023】
Program Period : September 6, 2023 – December 9, 2023
Mon.-Fri. (Eastern Standard Time, USA)
Two sessions per day (1 hour/session)
Partner Universities/Colleges in the U.S.:
- University at Buffalo – The State University of New York (SUNY)
- Hunter College – The City University of New York (CUNY)
- Lehman College – CUNY
- John Jay College of Criminal Justice – CUNY
- Manhattan College
- Boston College
- Old Dominion University
- Bridgewater State University
- Andrews University
- Adelphi University
- Hofstra University
- Northeastern University
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Brandeis University
- Smith College
- OMU exchange students
【6th Language Tables – Summer Semester 2023】
Program Period : June 2, 2023 – August 16, 2023
Mon.-Fri. (Eastern Standard Time, USA)
Two sessions per day (1 hour/session)
Partner Universities/Colleges in the U.S.:
- Hunter College – CUNY
【5th Language Tables – Spring Semester 2023】
Program Period : February 7, 2023 – April 28, 2023
Mon.-Fri. (Eastern Standard Time, USA)
Two sessions per day (1 hour/session)
Partner Universities/Colleges in the U.S.:
- University at Buffalo – The State University of New York (SUNY)
- Lehman College – The City University of New York (CUNY)
- Manhattan College
- Hunter College – CUNY
- John Jay College of Criminal Justice – CUNY
- Boston College
- Fitchburg State University
- Old Dominion University
- Bridgewater State University
- Andrews University
【4th Language Tables – Fall Semester 2022】
Program Period : September 1, 2022 – December 10, 2022
Mon.-Fri. (Eastern Standard Time, USA)
Two sessions per day (1 hour/session)
Partner Universities/Colleges in the U.S.:
- University at Buffalo – State University of New York (SUNY)
- Hunter College – City University of New York (CUNY)
- Lehman College – CUNY
- John Jay College of Criminal Justice – CUNY
- Manhattan College
- Boston College
- Old Dominion University
【4th Language Tables – Fall Semester 2022】
Program Period : September 1, 2022 – December 10, 2022
Mon.-Fri. (Eastern Standard Time, USA)
Two sessions per day (1 hour/session)
Partner Universities/Colleges in the U.S.:
- University at Buffalo – State University of New York (SUNY)
- Hunter College – City University of New York (CUNY)
- Lehman College – CUNY
- John Jay College of Criminal Justice – CUNY
- Manhattan College
- Boston College
- Old Dominion University
【3rd Language Tables – Summer Semester 2022】
Program Period : June 6, 2022 – August 17, 2022
August 19, 2022 USA / August 20, 2022 Japan (Closing Session & Party)
Sun.-Thu. (Eastern Standard Time, USA)
One session per day (30 minutes or 1 hour/session)
Partner Universities/Colleges in the U.S.:
- Hunter College – City University of New York (CUNY)
- Lehman College – City University of New York (CUNY)
【2nd Language Tables – Spring Semester 2022】
Program Period : February 7, 2022 – May 13, 2022
May 20, 2022 USA / May 21, 2022 Japan (Closing Session & Party)
Mon.-Fri. (Eastern Standard Time, USA)
Two sessions per day (30 minutes or 1 hour/session)
OCU/OPU: 61 students, a cumulative total of 646 students (undergraduate and graduate students)
Weekly shift system
Students in the U.S.: 356 students,* a cumulative total of 811 students
＊ Participation in one slot = 30 minutes counts as one person. However one slot = 60 minutes for Lehman College.
Partner Universities/Colleges in the U.S.:
- University at Buffalo – State University of New York (SUNY)
- Hunter College – City University of New York (CUNY)
- Lehman College – City University of New York (CUNY)
- Manhattan College
【1st Language Tables – Fall Semester 2021】
Program Period : September 7, 2021 – December 10, 2021
December 17, 2021 USA / December 18, 2021 Japan (Closing Session & Party)
Mon.-Fri. (Eastern Standard Time, USA)
Two sessions per day (1 hour/session)
Number of Participating Students:
OCU: 48 students (undergraduate and graduate students)
UB: 305 students (undergraduate students)
Partner Universities/Colleges in the U.S.:
- Osaka City University
- University at Buffalo (UB) – State University of New York (USA)
If you are interested in participating in our Language Tables
or have any questions, please contact us via email or contact form.
Contact
COIL Promotion Office, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan
Email: gr-las-coil_@omu.ac.jp
Contact Form
* In April 2022, Osaka City University and Osaka Prefecture University merged into a new university―Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU), which has become the largest public university in Japan.
