Virtual Language Tables – VLT – Online International Exchanges

SOCIAL INNOVATION

SOCIAL INNOVATION

What 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

【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)

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.