Since I was young, I was attracted to Japanese anime and manga, and I became interested and learned Japanese from high school days. After that, I felt the charm of Japanese and continued to study Japanese at university. By learning Japanese, we can understand the culture and values behind the language.
And, the acquisition of the Japanese language is indispensable in order to facilitate the learning and the life in Japan smoothly. Another reason for studying abroad is to expand international horizons. It is very important to interact with people with various backgrounds in a modern society where globalization is going on. I would like to improve my multicultural understanding and international communication skills through studying abroad in Japan.
I want to do my best to study pedagogy while studying abroad in Japan. I want to learn the basis of Japanese educational system and education theory and acquire knowledge about pedagogy.
I'm studying Japanese at college, but I feel that Japanese learning from textbooks is difficult to use in everyday life. So, I want to improve my communication skills by actually speaking Japanese in this year.
It has already been more than six months since I came to Japan. I made a lot of experiences and thoughts for the last six months. There are many valuable experiences not only to improve professional content and to improve Japanese language skills but also to experience Japanese culture.
In this first half year class, I learned not only the improvement of language skills but also the knowledge of Japanese history, Japanese Linguistics and sociology. At first I felt confused about the Japanese environment, but thanks to the warm support of the school, the teacher, and the classmate, I was able to become accustomed to the new class and the living environment gradually, and it is full of gratitude.
During this time, I was able to interact with foreign students from various countries and spread my horizons by touching different cultures. Moreover, through the life in Japan, I had many unique experiences. It is a memorable and memorable memory such as seeing the Cherry Blossom Festival with the friend who celebrates the Spring Festival together with the foreign student who is overseas with the foreign student from various countries.
I want to make more wonderful memories during the next learning period, meet many people, and learn a lot of knowledge seriously.
This past year passed by so quickly. In the first semester, I had the opportunity to take part in an exchange activity at Ono Municipal Shimo-Tojo Elementary School, where I introduced Chinese culture and elementary school life to a first-grade class. The children were so energetic, and I will never forget how excited they became when we talked about pandas.
At Hyogo University of Teacher Education, I took courses such as Elementary Japanese Language Education, Japanese Linguistics, and Japanese Literature, which helped me deepen my understanding of the language and improve my Japanese skills. In addition, I also challenged myself with classes like Children’s Literature, International Politics, and Sociology, allowing me to study from multiple perspectives.
I also visited the kendo and tennis clubs, experiencing aspects of student life unique to Japan. I built close connections with fellow international students and my friendship family, creating many wonderful memories through trips and events. I visited Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Tokyo, enjoyed cherry blossom viewing in spring, went on anime pilgrimage tours, and even joined a long-awaited live concert—each of these was a valuable experience.
Through this year, I not only improved my language skills and academic knowledge but also realized the importance of human connections and cross-cultural understanding. By continuing to take on challenges even in the face of difficulties, I was able to feel my own growth. I believe this experience will be a precious asset that will support me throughout my life.