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Using language to craft connection and advance internationalization
Morgan H.
International Affairs Officer
Internationalization Promotion Section
Tohoku University International Support Center
Tell us about your current role.
I’m an International Affairs Officer in the International Support Center, so I do a range of things. My main job is to translate university materials, such as speeches and presentations, from Japanese into English. I also teach a professional development training organized by the center and the Human Resources and Planning Department on Business English. I occasionally lend a hand at larger events when we host international guests as well.
My section is in the Global Affairs Department, and as English speakers and translators, we support the university’s communication with its many international partners, promote the use of English as the university’s second official language, and also help create an even more international work culture within the university.
What does a regular workday look like for you?
Every workday can be a bit different, but I usually get in around 8 or 8:15 and read the news or study Japanese before work starts at 8:30. I first go through emails and review the tasks my supervisor has prioritized for the team. In the mornings, I try to tackle the most detail-oriented translation tasks or do a final check on drafts I finished the previous afternoon. Then from 12 to 1, we have our lunch break, and I like to eat outside and catch up with my co-workers. I also like to take a walk around campus because it’s so beautiful, especially in the fall and spring. In the afternoons, I make headway on longer-term translation projects and do some creative work, such as brainstorming activities for the Business English training I teach.
What's your favorite part about your job?
I love translating speeches in particular because it’s kind of like a puzzle: how can I accurately convey the message of the original Japanese, in a way that feels authentic and comfortable to the presenter, while keeping the intended audience in mind– that kind of intellectual yet creative piece is very interesting to me. I also really love teaching the annual Business English training. I get to meet amazing employees from across the university and work with them on their English language skills.
How has your role evolved or changed since you joined Tohoku University?
I think that, with the new members who have joined our team, I’ve been given more opportunities to provide feedback and share thoughts on our training and recruitment processes. In addition, with the Business English course, I started with two classes, but over the past three years I’ve gotten to teach more classes and skill levels. I was also able to propose and teach an additional advanced level course. My background is originally in language education, so I really appreciate the way that my supervisors have encouraged me to bring that experience to my work and contribute to the university’s efforts in this area.
Why did you decide to join Tohoku University?
I think there are so many reasons to join Tohoku University. For me personally, I was excited by the direction it wants to head in as a global institution. As it has become the first University for International Research Excellence, I think that it’s a really exciting time to join as well. In addition, I really liked the people I interacted with during the interview process. I was impressed with how welcoming they were and how we could work together in both Japanese and English. Sendai is also such a great place to live; you can enjoy a high quality of life without the high cost of living you see in other major cities in Japan. Ultimately though, I wanted to work in a community with interesting people and where I’d be doing work that felt meaningful and challenging. I’m really glad that I was hired and proud that I’ve gotten to contribute to the university’s internationalization efforts.
What impact do you and your team have on Tohoku University?
When I think about our team’s impact, I think about the connections we strengthen– between Japanese students and international students through the campus event posters we translate, between employees through the memos and pamphlets we translate, as well as between staff and international guests through the presentations and speeches we translate. Our work helps to raise the quality of these connections, and I like to think that the impact of these connections then ripples outwards, leading to positive change.
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