SLIPPERY ROCK — Ten students from Japan called Slippery Rock University home last week.

Yukako Ishimaru, a Japanese language and culture professor at SRU who organized the program, said the students, who came from Saga University in Saga, Japan, were getting a lot out of the week.

“It’s been great,” Ishimaru said.

This was the first year for this program. Students were at SRU from Sept. 8 to Saturday.

While at SRU, the students attended two hours of English as a second language class each morning and then attended other classes during the afternoon.

The students stayed with host families rather than on campus. Ishimaru said that this gives students a better experience and allows them to interact more with American culture.

Hironori Hayase, a professor at Saga University, said that the program went well, especially considering it was the first time for it. “It’s more than I expected,” Hayase said.

He said he hoped that many of the Japanese students who came to SRU would return to the U.S. to study.

Soshiro Mizoue, 20, a sophomore at Saga, said he enjoyed his time in the U.S. and remarked on the differences between American and Japanese classes.

In Japan, students generally sit and quietly listen to professors, while in America, he noticed students often raise their hands and participate in discussions.

“It’s very different compared to Japan,” Mizoue said. His favorite class was Asian history.

Steve Miller of Connoquenessing hosted Mizoue. Miller, a substitute teacher in the Butler School District, said he found Mizoue and the other Saga students different from his students.

“Compared to American students, there’s a lot more respect,” Miller said.

As a foreign language teacher, he said he understood the trouble Mizoue might have expressing himself in English when Japanese is his first language.

“I know the experience he’s going through,” Miller said.

Miller took Mizoue to a movie and and Mizoue said he found the film, with no subtitles, to be something of a challenge to follow. “It’s hard work,” he said.

Miller also took Mizoue to a Pittsburgh Pirates game.

Arise Okabe, 20, a sophomore, said she enjoyed her week at SRU and noted the major differences between Japan and the U.S.

“It’s a very good experience for me,” Okabe said.

Sometimes, it’s the little differences that stand out. She noted that most American vending machines have opaque plastic fronts with printed advertisements, while Japanese vending machines have clear fronts that let customers see the products.

One day, her host mother made pancakes with blueberries in the batter. In Japan, she said that blueberries usually are served as a side with pancakes.

She said she would like to return to the U.S.

“It’s a very nice place,” Okabe said.

Mamiko Kuroki, 21, said her favorite class is physical education. She has been swimming since she was 5 years old and is a swimming teacher in Japan. She noted that she found American gym class to be similar to Japanese gym class.

She expressed an interest in returning to the U.S. to study, but she noted that she likely will graduate next year.

“So, I don’t know,” Kuroki said.

Ishimaru said she hopes the program happens annually and that some host families are able to participate for multiple years.