I was drawn to the beauty of the Chinese language and decided to major in Chinese. Through my university studies, I have acquired a solid foundation; however, I strongly feel that my speaking ability is lacking, and I have had limited opportunities to engage in daily conversations in Chinese. For this reason, I wish to immerse myself in China, where I can learn the living language and further develop my practical communication skills.
Changchun, Jilin Province, where I plan to study, is known as a region where relatively clear and standard Mandarin is spoken, despite the prevalence of strong dialects in many parts of China. Since dialects can sometimes pose a barrier to communication for learners, I believe that being in this linguistic environment will allow me to acquire natural and advanced proficiency in Chinese, including accurate pronunciation, a rich vocabulary, and expressive ability.
In addition, Northeast Normal University hosts relatively few Japanese students but attracts many students from diverse cultural backgrounds. This provides a valuable opportunity not only to improve my language skills but also to deepen my intercultural understanding and broaden my perspective through daily interaction and shared experiences.
Furthermore, I have a particular interest in China’s diverse cultures and forms of social life, especially the role of faith and cultural traditions in local communities. Jilin Province is home to significant ethnic and cultural diversity, and I believe that by living and engaging with people there, I can gain insights not only into the language but also into the social and cultural contexts in which it is rooted. Deepening this understanding will help me clarify the direction of my future research, particularly for my graduation thesis.