＜英　語＞
Reason for study abroad:
With this program, I’m finally realizing a lifelong dream of mine. Since being introduced to its culture through video games and anime, I have had a lot of respect for Japan. Despite this, I’ve lived in the state of Illinois for my entire life, without ever leaving the country. As a linguistics major, it has been necessary to expose myself to all kinds of cultures. Not only will studying abroad give me real experiences with Japan, but it will also provide me with the experience necessary to travel and live abroad in the future.
Goals:
I want to make life-long connections during my time here. In doing so, I can keep up with my Japanese ability even when I return to the US. To do this, I will have to increase my confidence with the language. The best way to do that will be to practice as much as possible with as many people as possible during my time there.
What I will study:
My primary focus will be on learning the language in depth so that I can communicate more fluently with Japanese speakers. However, I will also be learning about other general topics through the lens of Japan. These topics include economics, history, and disaster relief.
Things I want to try:
I would like to try anything and everything that is unique to Japan, so long as it is not harmful to myself or others. Examples include various foods, onsens, historical sites, museums, and much more!
How I’m preparing:
Currently, I have been preparing by talking with Japanese speakers on language exchange apps. This has allowed me to get a feel for what it will be like to speak to new people in Japanese once I arrive.

*Attached is an image from my home university: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)

Japanese Study:
Upon entering this program, studying Japanese was quite intimidating. In the first few weeks, I was actually unsure if I’d be able to keep up with the material. Fortunately, I didn’t fall behind as I had made a habit of doing in previous years. This is in no small part due to the wonderfully patient instructors who taught me. I find that while my Japanese has no doubt improved, my general ability to learn languages has benefitted greatly as well.

Exchange:
Having lived in small-town, rural Illinois for my entire life before this year, any and all exposure to other cultures has been very enlightening. This is to say that my interactions with the other international students was just as eye-opening as with the Japanese students. It really feels as though I’ve learned so much more about the world in such a small amount of time, and that alone has proven to be a rewarding experience to me.

Extracurriculars:
While I could not manage to join any circles or clubs, I did find the time to work as an English Tutor with LOFT. The job was quite laidback, but it greatly helped with my confidence in interacting with the Japanese Konan students. I tend to be quite shy, especially when using a non-native language, so joining LOFT allowed me to interact with Japanese students so much more than I would have otherwise.

Lifestyle:
Thanks to my host family, who have been extremely accommodating, I quickly and easily became comfortable living in Japan. Most school days would last from 9:00 to 5:00, after which I would return home for dinner. This was the main opportunity for conversation with them on most days, as we would watch Japanese TV programs and comment on its content. Still, I did go on a few outings with them, such as restaurants and a rugby game.

Aspirations:
As rewarding as this semester was, I’m glad that there’s another left to go. I want to apply what I’ve learned and get past the surface of the Japan that I’ve been exposed to so far. As for what comes later, I’m still unsure. I came to Japan to test whether I would enjoy or even be able to handle living in another country, and it’s proven more than successful. Not only am I more enthusiastic about traveling to even more countries in the future, but I’d like to find a reason to return to Japan. I know for sure that I’m going to miss it.

*Attached is an image of myself taken at Ashiya Jinja

Japanese Study:
The classroom experience changed quite a bit this semester. As the number of students in our class increased, so did the pace of study. It was difficult to adjust, but the teachers remained incredibly patient with my pace of learning. Despite the hardship, I continued to learn. I often found myself using new grammar and vocabulary outside of class. Sometimes, I was able to use it as soon as the day we learned it. No matter how tough things became, reminding myself of this kept me motivated.

Other Studies:
My other classes consisted of an introductory Japanese sociolinguistics course and a course on ritual practices in Japan. Studying sociolinguistics was a convenient reinforcement for my major. Depsite being a linguistics major, this was my first sociolinguistics course. Not only was I able to review linguistic concepts from my past studies, but I also learned entirely new ways to think about Japanese, and language in general. On the topic of new experiences, the Japanese rituals class gave us first hand experience with some local ritual practices in the form of field trips in addition to learning about the history and meaning behind such practices. Much of the material covered in that class was unfamiliar to ordinary Japanese citizens. It often felt like a glimpse behind the curtain of Japan's elaborate and mysterious culture.

Extracurriculars:
I continued working as a tutor for LOFT this semester, as well as meeting regularly with a language partner to practice Japanese. Both gave me unique experiences and perspective that wouldn't have been possible in a classroom, so I'm glad I participated. LOFT allowed me to experiment with English teaching in a relaxed setting, while my language partner helped reinforce what I learned in class.

Lifestyle:
Since last semester, my day to day life hasn't changed very much. Most days are spent at Konan from 9:00 to 5:00. Classes don't usually occur for that entire time, but I try my best to stay busy at school until it's time for dinner at home. However, the mismatch between the schedules of the Japanese students and international students became much more apparent this year. While the Japanese students enjoyed a break of around 2 months, we still attended classes normally. More than last semester, it was difficult to be involved or socialize with the Japanese students. It became easier once they came back. Aside from this issue, I appreciated the stability of my life at Konan.

Future goals and plans:
In the short term, I'd like to assist the Japanese students at the University of Illinois in the same way the Japanese students in Konan helped me. If I can find a part time job that allows me to do so, that'd be ideal. If not, I still plan to make friends with the Japanese community on campus. As for later, I hope to return to Japan sometime after graduation. Whether by participating in the JET program, or by returning to Konan as a graduate student, I want to do more than come back as a tourist. Until that time comes, I'll make an effort to maintain my Japanese ability through interaction with the students in my university. Perhaps I'll even return to Japan on a short trip to keep up with the friends I made at Konan. Regardless, I'll always value my time here.

*Attached is an image of myself taken for our program's yearbook