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24Round Table Talk | GSICCSLiu: In my “zemi” on linguistics, we present our work-in-progress week by week, to get ideas from the research of others and feedback on our own. We also do social things like holding a welcome party for newcomers, and celebrating when people graduate. Law: You get feedback on your research topic not just from the professor but from others in the group? Tith: Yes! Other members are very helpful and constructive during presentations, though it is also good to meet the professor one-to-one for individual consultation. Law: Is there much diversity regarding research topics within your seminar in international relations? Tith: Absolutely! I am interested in promoting children’s right to education, while my friend from China studies the South China Sea dispute, and my friend from Europe studies trade issues. Others focus on press censorship, protecting human rights in natural disasters, and foreign aid in developing countries. Law: So the diversity is not only thematic, but also regional. Doesn’t that sometimes lead to conict within the group? Tith: We learn a lot from one another. We present different topics, and bring our own reading materials for class discussions, so the diversity of background and opinion benets all of us. I’ve always found it a positive experience. Bhola: The strong point of the “zemi” is that we all contribute in a casual environment open to new ideas and suggestions. In my seminar on media, we have students from several different countries in the Middle East: Israel, Bahrain, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. But there’s no tension, and everybody is able to have their say. III. Beyond the ClassroomLaw: Can we talk about other activities on and off campus: clubs and circles, international organizations, teaching assistant and research associate jobs, and also work opportunities outside the university? Liu: I work as a teaching assistant (TA). My TA experience is not only about supporting the professor in the classroom -- it also allows me to meet undergraduate students from other schools. Bhola: A TA job is a good way to build up relationships with professors. But I also do other jobs off campus: working at an anime company, editing for English-language tests, modeling, translating, tutoring, and mentoring high school kids. Many of these opportunities have come from recommendations from my “sempai”, my seniors. Law: I’d also like to touch on the role of the Intercultural Communication Center (ICC) regarding overseas students. Tith: ICC organizes things like cultural nights focusing on particular countries, volunteer activities to help Japanese primary and high school students learn more English, plus off-campus tours like museum days exploring Japanese culture. There are also more individual activities focusing on language and cultural exchange. Law: Ms. Tith, I know you have landed a job at a Japanese company on graduation. Congratulations! What was job-hunting like? Tith: It wasn’t that difcult at all, because I had been to the Waseda Career Center. It offers consulting to support job hunters. I don’t speak very good Japanese, but they could still help me nd a company that ts my experiences and skills. Law: So it’s not true that you have to be a native speaker of Japanese? Tith: In the interview, the Japanese trading company found me a good t for their company; GSICCS has certainly helped me hone my communication skills as well as increase my specialist knowledge. Bhola: The most important thing is that GSICCS is a fun, friendly, small, but comfortable space for you to t in, whatever your language background, whatever your culture.Dr. LAW, GrahamFrom United Kingdom,Associate Dean, Directed Research: Culture and MediaBHOLA, Hayley MaximeFrom United Kingdom / Grenada, Doctoral program, Directed Research: Culture and Media LIU, Yili From China, Doctoral program, Directed Research: Speech Communication and Language AcquisitionTITH, Pagna From Cambodia, Master’s program, Directed Research: International Relations

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