My motivation for studying abroad came from my desire to improve my Japanese and use it in real life. I believed that living and studying in Japan would help me develop my language skills more effectively than studying only in my home country. I also wanted to learn more about Japanese culture, ways of thinking, and university life through my own experience. Since the new semester started this month, classes have begun in earnest. In Japanese class, I have given a self-introduction and made a presentation using PowerPoint. I am also studying new grammar, reading texts, and practicing listening through news materials. Although I am still getting used to university life, I feel comfortable because the teachers are always kind and supportive. Through extracurricular activities such as workshops and visits to shrines, I have been able to learn more about Japanese education and culture. From now on, I would like to use Japanese actively not only in class but also in daily life, so that I can improve my Japanese ability and deepen my understanding of Japanese culture.

my classes have been going smoothly. My knowledge of Japanese grammar and vocabulary has gradually increased, and I feel that I am getting closer to the N2 level. However, I still find reading comprehension classes difficult. Although I have started to remember more grammar and vocabulary from the texts, whenever I see a long passage, my mind tends to go blank. My teachers have given me a lot of helpful advice, but I think the only way to solve this problem is to do a great deal of reading practice.

Recently, I found a way to enjoy reading practice. It is to read Japanese novels at the N2 level. I finished the novel I bought last month, and I think this was the best method for me. There are several reasons. First, because it is an N2-level novel, I can understand most of the grammar, vocabulary, and kanji. As a result, I can follow the story and enjoy the novel itself. Then I become more motivated to keep reading. When there are parts I do not understand, they become good points for study. In ordinary study, if there are too many difficult parts, it becomes troublesome to look up everything and studying stops being enjoyable. However, when I read a Japanese novel, I want to know what happens next in the story, so I can keep trying even when I find difficult parts. The novel I read was I Had That Same Dream Again by Yoru Sumino, and it was both interesting and very good practice. If younger students at my university ask me, I would like to recommend this way of studying.

Also, most of this semester’s classes finished this month, and I took my tests as well. My results were not bad. Next week will be the final class of this semester. I will continue to study hard until the end of the semester, and I also want to think about the next novel I will read.

Over the past ten months, I have had the opportunity not only to study Japanese language and culture at Sonoda University, but also to gain a wide range of experiences, including living in Japan, interacting with people, and working. At first, there were many things I did not understand and found difficult. However, by overcoming each challenge one by one, I believe I was able to grow as a person.
The most important thing I learned was the Japanese language. At Sonoda University, I was able to study Japanese more practically through classes covering grammar, reading, listening, and other language skills. The teachers were always enthusiastic and explained things clearly. The classroom environment was welcoming, and the university was well equipped with the facilities necessary for learning. Thanks to this supportive environment, I was able to continue studying Japanese with enjoyment, and I feel that my Japanese language skills gradually improved.
Another important area of learning was Japanese culture and daily life in Japan. Through my everyday experiences, I learned about customs that are highly valued in Japanese society, such as being punctual, practicing Ho-Ren-So (reporting, communicating, and consulting), and confirming details carefully. At first, it was difficult to put these practices into action in my daily life, but I feel that I gradually became accustomed to them over the ten months I spent living in Japan. Even after returning to Indonesia, I would like to incorporate these habits into my own life.
In particular, I feel that being able to communicate with Japanese people in Japanese, experience Japanese culture firsthand, and introduce Indonesian culture to Japanese people at an international student exchange event were all valuable experiences for me. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the teachers, friends, university staff, and everyone else who supported me throughout these ten months.
Ever since I was in high school, I had a strong interest in Japan and dreamed of studying there someday. However, at that time, my financial circumstances did not allow me to pursue this opportunity. After many years, I have finally been able to fulfill that dream. Being given the opportunity to study at Sonoda University and learn while actually living in Japan has been truly meaningful to me.
I would like to continue studying Japanese and further improve my language skills. After graduating from university, I hope to return to Japan and work there.
I want to apply everything I have learned and experienced during this study-abroad program to my future life. My goal is to become someone who can serve as a bridge between Japan and Indonesia. Even after returning to Indonesia, I hope to challenge myself by trying many new things and continue growing as a person.