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International Student Interview Vol.6｜Life in Japan by Goandup

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International Student Interviews

Many foreign students dream of studying in Japan. However, actually living in Japan as a foreign student can be more challenging than one might imagine, with language and cultural barriers. Nevertheless, international students are growing and gaining invaluable experience day by day as they adapt to their new environment.

Goandup's International Student Interview Series spotlights international students currently studying in Japan and brings you their real voices. We hope you will feel the importance of cross-cultural understanding and international exchange through their real stories of their life in Japan, including their reasons for coming to Japan to study, the joys and troubles they experienced in their life in Japan, and their dreams for the future.

We hope that this series will provide new insights and encouragement to those interested in Japan and those considering studying abroad in the future. Please take a look at the real stories of international students studying in Japan.

▼Goandup Picks Click here for recommended articles!

Introduction of International Students

Name: Maria Gonzalez
Age: 22 years old
Hometown: Barcelona, Spain
Study Abroad: Universities in Tokyo
Study Abroad Duration: 1 year
Study Abroad Purpose: Learning about Japanese culture and business
Hobbies: Flamenco dancing, reading, traveling

Interviews with international students

Hello Maria. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. First of all, could you briefly introduce yourself?

Hello, my name is Maria Gonzalez. My name is Maria Gonzalez. I am from Barcelona, Spain. I am currently studying abroad for a year at a university in Tokyo, Japan.

That is wonderful. Why did you decide to study in Japan?

I was very interested in Japanese culture and business. In particular, I wanted to learn about the culture and work style of Japanese companies.

What is your life like at the university?

It is very fulfilling. The classes are interesting and I have made many friends. The campus is spacious and clean, and I think it is a great environment for studying.

Can you tell us about your classes and teachers?

The level of the classes is high and the teachers are very enthusiastic. The classes on Japanese business culture are particularly interesting, and many discussions are based on actual company case studies, so students gain practical knowledge.

Were there any surprises or difficulties in your life in Japan?

I still had a hard time with Japanese at first, but I gradually got used to it. Also, I was really surprised at how accurate train times are in Japan. It is totally different from Spain (laughs).

Tell us about your hobbies. What do you enjoy doing?

I love flamenco dancing, which I continue to do in Japan. I also love to read and travel, and spend my weekends exploring different places in Tokyo.

You are enjoying your life as a foreign student! Finally, please give a message to those who are thinking about studying in Japan.

Studying in Japan is truly a wonderful experience. You may be bewildered at first by the differences in culture and language, but I believe it will help you grow as a person. Please challenge new things and enjoy yourself to the fullest!

Thank you very much, Maria. I wish you an even more fulfilling study abroad experience in the future.

Thank you very much.

A Day in Japan for International Students

Here is Maria's daily schedule.

7:00 AM - Wake up

I get up at 7:00 in the morning. Every morning I take a shower and have breakfast. I don't have much time in the morning, so I just bake a loaf of bread and eat it.

8:00 AM - Prepare for class

After breakfast, we prepare for class. I review and prepare for the previous day's classes and head to the university at 8:30. It takes about 30 minutes by train, so I enjoy commuting to school.

9:00 AM - Class

Classes start at 9:00. Today we have a class on Japanese business culture. The professor's lecture is very easy to understand and there is a lot of discussion, so I look forward to it every time.

12:00 PM - Lunch

I eat lunch in the cafeteria with my friends. The cafeteria has a wide variety of dishes, all of which are delicious. Today I chose curry.

1:00 PM - Study at the library

After lunch, students study in the library. The quiet environment is ideal for concentrating on assignments and research.

4:00 PM - Flamenco Dance Practice

On days when I don't have afternoon classes, I take flamenco dance lessons as a hobby. It is more fun because I can interact with Japanese people. I have made many friends.

5:30 PM - Relax at the cafe

After dancing, I relax at a nearby cafe. I spend time chatting with my flamenco class friends or reading a book. Japanese cafes are very stylish and relaxing places.

7:00 PM - Dinner

I often cook my own dinner. I live in a shared house and today I made tacos with my friends. It is fun to be creative with Japanese ingredients.

9:00 PM - Relaxation Time

After dinner, I relax in my room. We watch Japanese TV dramas or make video calls with Spanish friends.

11:00 PM - Prepare for bed

Before going to bed, I prepare for tomorrow. I often write in my journal or read a book.I try to be in bed by 12:00 p.m. I try to be in bed by 12:00 p.m.

Recommended Japanese language study methods for international students

Xiaolong Li tells us how she is learning Japanese in Japan. If you are currently studying in Japan or plan to study in Japan in the future, please refer to this article.

University Courses and Textbooks

I attended Japanese classes at the university. The classes were very helpful in solidifying my foundation as I was able to learn grammar and vocabulary. I also used Japanese textbooks and studied hard every day.

Talk a lot with Japanese friends

Conversation with friends is really important. By actually using what I learned in class, it came naturally to me. Many of my friends in the flamenco class are older than me, so I also learn how to use honorific expressions.

Utilize Goandup Nihongo+.

I especially recommend Goandup Nihongo+. Thanks to this program, I was able to learn Japanese efficiently. I like the fact that I can learn at my own pace. If I have any questions, I can get immediate support.

Get a taste of Japanese culture

Watching Japanese dramas and anime is also a great way to learn Japanese. You can learn natural conversational flow and intonation. I especially like Japanese business dramas, which helped me learn how to use language in business situations.

Study a little bit every day.

I think it is important to continue to be exposed to the Japanese language, even if it is just a little bit every day. Even if it is just memorizing words or writing short sentences, continuing to do so will lead to considerable results.

About Goandup Nihongo+

Goandup Nihongo+ is an online Japanese language learning service that offers Japanese language materials and Japanese speaking lessons with Japanese people for a monthly subscription of 500 yen.

Particularly popular are the Japanese online speaking lessons, which start at 30 minutes per lesson, allowing you to practice speaking one-on-one with a Japanese person, and to develop your speaking and listening skills in the time you have available.

To learn more, check out the article below.
▶︎ No Need to Study Abroad Anymore? Goandup Nihongo+, an Online Japanese Learning Service

For those of you who want to further your studies at a Japanese language school

The Japanese language attracts attention from around the world for its rich expressiveness and profound culture. From movies, music, and literature to everyday conversation, learning Japanese is not only a way to acquire a new language, but also a gateway to a deeper cultural understanding and a broader perspective.

For those of you who want to study Japanese more seriously, enter higher education in Japan, or find a job in Japan, taking your Japanese language skills to the next level is the first step in turning your dreams into reality. There are approximately 700 Japanese language schools in Japan with various characteristics, but it is not easy to select the best school for you.

Therefore, we will do our best to help you choose the perfect Japanese language school to realize your goals and dreams! If you have any questions or concerns about Japanese language schools, please feel free to contact us using the inquiry form below.

We will provide you with the best support to meet your Japanese language learning goals. We hope that our support will make your Japanese language study more fulfilling and fruitful.

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    Finally.

    We hope that through this series, we have been able to motivate those of you who are interested in Japanese culture and language and dream of studying abroad to do so. We sincerely hope that by proactively engaging in language study before and during your study abroad, as you do with our online Japanese lessons, you will have a more fruitful study abroad experience. Studying abroad is a great opportunity to discover a new you and expand your world.

    In this series of interviews with international students, we have collected valuable stories from international students with diverse backgrounds. Please check out the stories of other international students!

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