Since I was a child, I have had a deep interest in Japanese anime and always thought “Someday, I want to visit Japan.” Because of that, after graduating from high school, I decided to study Japanese and chose the Japanese Language Major at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education. I have been majoring in Japanese for about three years, but every time I try to speak in Japanese, I often get nervous and struggle to express my thoughts clearly.

I also took the N2 level of Japanese Language Proficiency Test, but my listening and speaking skills were still not strong enough, so I failed the exam. In the future, I want to become a professional interpreter, but I realize that I still have a long way to go before I can make it happen unless I figure out how to improve my weaknesses. Since I’m in my country, most people around me only speak Vietnamese so I don’t have many opportunities to practice Japanese and my skills haven’t improved as much as I’d hoped. That’s why I chose to study abroad in Japan, where I can live surrounded by native Japanese speakers. Studying abroad will allow me to improve my conversation fluency and responsiveness, then I can gain the confidence to speak Japanese more comfortably.

Moreover, Japan is a country that has experienced many hardships such as earthquakes and tsunamis, but it always recovers and continues to develop rapidly. I admire this strong and resilient spirit of Japanese people and want to learn from it. Even though I failed the N2 test, I believe that if I study hard in Japan, I will definitely grow. Through studying abroad, I want to improve not only my language skills but also learn about Japanese culture, values, people’s politeness, and their sincere attitude toward work so I can grow into a more mature and well-rounded person.

Additionally, interacting with international friends will expose me to a variety of cultures and values, helping me to broaden my perspective. I want to step out of my comfort zone, take on new challenges in a new world, and live an independent life.

After returning to my country, I plan to graduate from my university and look for a job where I can use my Japanese skills as a working adult. Through my study abroad experience, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of Japan and the Japanese spirit. I chose Japan because I want to learn everything about Japan through real-life experiences - something that books and movies cannot provide. Studying abroad in Japan will not only improve my Japanese skills, but also become an important milestone in my future.

I am very grateful for the opportunity to study abroad at Kobe Shinwa University - where I’ve had many unforgettable experiences.

First, I would like to describe my daily life in Japan.
Since I live in the dormitory, the manager always provides me with delicious, plentiful meals.
I also feel safe and secure at the dormitory, so I can eat and sleep well without any anxiety. The surrounding area has many slopes, so it takes a little time to get around, but thanks to that, I can take many more walks and improve my health. On top of that, the local residents are very kind, so I don’t feel lonely or find it difficult to adapt to life in Japan.

Second, my academic experiences at Kobe Shinwa University.
While learning Japanese grammar, vocabulary, and how to write reports, I was also able to study many interesting subjects like calligraphy and economic psychology.
In the International Culture Specialized Seminar course, I had the opportunity to give many solo presentations for the first time, receive proper feedback from my teacher, and reflect on my work, realizing that I need to work harder. As a result, my study plans and future plans are gradually becoming clearer.
Besides the main classes, I am sincerely thankful to my teacher at Kobe Shinwa University for enthusiastically teaching me a kanji class suited to my level.

Third, my experiences with Japanese culture and people.
Thanks to the extracurricular activities organized by Kobe Shinwa, I was able to experience a variety of activities, including enjoying cherry blossoms for the first time, visiting Kobe Maritime Museum, Kobe Port Tower, Himeji Castle, and watching Bunraku puppet shows.
I also used my scholarship to take several trips, experiencing Japan's nature, culture, and people. I was able to see the beauty of Japan, just like in the movies I had watched as a child.
These experiences not only deepened my understanding of Japanese culture, but also helped me broaden my connections with others.
When I first started, I hadn't made any friends yet, but my teachers were always there for me, comforting and encouraging me, which made me feel safe and stronger. Since then, I've had the opportunity to interact with friends from many countries, including China, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, and I've made international friends, which has made my classes and life more interesting.

As a result, I would like to make the most of the remaining semester as an exchange student at Kobe Shinwa University, studying harder, gaining more experiences, and creating many memories. I also want to work even harder for the future.