I am currently studying Japanese at Dalian University of Technology in China. During my studies, I have often found learning Japanese challenging, especially memorizing vocabulary and understanding grammar, and I feel that my Japanese proficiency still has room for improvement. I also realized that it is difficult to fully understand the expressions used in real conversations and the way Japanese is used in everyday life simply by studying in a classroom. For this reason, I wanted to take advantage of this exchange opportunity to study Japanese while actually living in Japan. By using Japanese in my daily life and communicating directly with people, I hope to better understand what I have learned so far and develop practical Japanese communication skills.
This exchange program is also my first experience of going abroad and living on my own. At my university in China, I share a dormitory room with three other students, and my dormitory and classrooms are relatively close to each other. Therefore, compared with my previous university life, I now have to manage many more aspects of my daily life by myself. Since coming to Japan, I have had to take care of things such as shopping, doing laundry, preparing meals, and managing my daily schedule on my own. I have even cooked for myself for the first time. Although these are ordinary parts of everyday life, they are all new experiences for me. Through these experiences, I hope to develop not only practical skills for daily life, but also the ability to think independently, make my own decisions, and solve problems when I encounter difficulties.
Since this is also my first time living in Japan for an extended period, I would like to use this opportunity to experience not only the Japanese language but also Japanese university life and culture. I am particularly interested in experiencing how classes are conducted at a Japanese university and how students study in their daily lives. I hope to discover the differences between university life in Japan and China through my own experience. In addition, by living in Kobe, a new environment for me, I hope to learn more about everyday life and Japanese society in ways that cannot be understood simply through tourism.
One of my main goals during my exchange is to improve my ability to express my thoughts and feelings naturally in Japanese. In particular, I want to use the vocabulary and grammar that I have studied in actual conversations and become more willing to speak Japanese, even when I make mistakes. I also hope to become more independent by learning how to deal with unfamiliar situations on my own. When I do not understand something, I want to develop the habit of finding information by myself or asking people for help instead of giving up.
I would also like to actively communicate with Japanese students and other international students. By talking about our different cultures, university experiences, and ways of thinking, I hope to encounter perspectives and values that are different from my own and broaden my understanding of the world. Therefore, my purpose for studying abroad is not only to improve my Japanese, but also to deepen my understanding of Japan through communication and interaction with different people.
I do not want this year to be simply a year of studying Japanese. I want it to be a year in which I can learn, live, communicate with others through Japanese, and grow as an individual. I hope to make the most of my experiences in Japan and use what I learn here in my studies at Dalian University of Technology after I return to China, as well as in my future growth and career.