Dr. Brian Dirck Traveling to Japan
BY KARA MARTIN ’21
1 MIN. READ
Anderson University Professor of History Dr. Brian Dirck has plans to teach in Japan this academic year; originally, he was to travel from August 2020 to July 2021, but the COVID-19 pandemic had other plans. Dirck first visited Japan back in August of 2018 for two weeks, and knew he wanted to go back.
“After looking into their programs, I found that they had a teaching program for U.S. History, but I don’t speak a word of Japanese.” He hopes he can improve his Japanese language skills before he leaves.
Recently, Japan implemented a travel ban, so Dr. Dirck will be anxiously waiting to see what happens. “If it doesn’t happen now, then I may have to go later.” But he has everything planned and ready to go, when the time comes.
Dr. Dirck will be teaching courses in U.S. History at the University of Tokyo and Kyoritsu Women’s University for students majoring in American Studies.
Dr. Dirck commented that his first time traveling to Japan was scary at first, due to some culture shock. Yet, he says that “You have to do something that scares you a little bit and step out of your comfort zone. Walking around in other people’s shoes is a good thing.”
Dr. Dirck is curious about what the country can teach him as an American, and hopes he can build strong relationships and stay connected. He wants to be able to come back to AU and say, “Hey, this is what this country sees when they see you guys.” He feels he might also want to teach abroad again after his travels to Japan.
Written by Kara Martin ’21, excerpted from a spring semester class project for the public relations course, Public Relations Writing.
Anderson University is on a mission to educate students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 60 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 20 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult and graduate programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized among top colleges for its business, computer science, cybersecurity, dance, engineering, nursing, and teacher education programs. Anderson University was established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God.