Rui Miura
Why did you decide to study at Brandeis University?
I decided to study at Brandeis University to experience living alone in a different environment and to learn in-depth about the climate and environmental policies of the world.
What was your first impression of Brandeis University?
At first impression, I was confused by the confusing building names. Many of the buildings were named after people that I had never heard of before, and it took me some time to memorize them.
Please compare Brandeis University and your University (Keio University) — academic life, student life, etc.
The main difference between Brandeis University and Keio University is the environment. The majority of students at Keio University are Japanese, but Brandeis is a diverse environment where I was able to meet people from different cultures. Another difference is that most students at Brandeis University live in dorms, while students at Keio usually commute from their homes. Living with others was an experience I couldn't have gotten at Keio University.
What is the best part of being a peer tutor?
The best part of being a peer tutor is being able to meet new people who are interested in learning about my country. Through the sessions, I was able to become friends with many of the students by talking about Japanese cultures, such as anime.
What is the most difficult part of being a peer tutor?
As a native Japanese speaker, I found it difficult to understand why students were struggling with certain grammatical rules. I noticed that some of the sentences and phrases that come naturally to me were confusing or challenging for non-Japanese speakers to comprehend.
Rui Miura leads a group tutoring session.