Interviews with Graduate Students

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Park Jung Hoon

General Course of March 2013

Now “Japanese Education Course B”

Graduate Student

Outcome: Chuo University

Nationality: Korea

I chose the General Course

Japanese Education Course B

Course Guide

What lead you to want to study in Japan?

I have studied abroad once before. I have many Japanese friends who treat me like a close friend during my stay abroad. It’s probably because Japan and Korea are culturally similar. Before I served in the armed forces, I worked for a tax-free shop and have to deal with Japanese customers. It makes me realize it’s necessary to enhance Japanese cultural understanding in the future.

What were your reasons for selecting our school?

I enrolled this school through the Study Abroad Student Institutions in Korea. The tuition fees of this school are more expensive than other schools, but I still choose this school because of two reasons: it is the Japanese school which affiliated with Tokyo International University and its classes show the structured and systematic features of curriculum.

Did you find anything in particular difficult once you actually enrolled in school?

I started studying Japanese after I came to Japan. I had a hard time not being able to speak Japanese when I have just arrived, but once started getting used to speaking Japanese; life in Japan became very fun for me.

Do you have any memories from when you were in school?

I have remembered that I can’t communicate with classmates in Japanese fluently at first. We communicate just with simply Japanese, English and body language.

Could you please provide a message or some advice for future students planning to study abroad in Japan?

It will be better to have basic Japanese speaking and comprehension skills before studying abroad. It’s the most effective ways to improve your Japanese conversation skills.

After studying here, was there anything about Japan or Japanese people that you found shocking?

I’ve know that riding a bicycle is very normal in Japan. When I arrived I found that the number of people riding a bicycle was more than I expected. Even on a rainy day they often ride their bicycle with an umbrella. It’s also not uncommon to see parents are carrying kids by bicycle on the streets.

Please tell us about a place or store you often go to in Japan.

When I felt upset and distressed, I will climb the Mt. Takao, on the far western edge of the Tokyo Metropolitan District. Mt. Takao is good for a hike and has an amazing view of fall colors.

What is your favorite Japanese word or phrase?

「あなたは目的があってここにいます。この広い世界にあなたと同じ人間はいません。過去にもいなかったし、未来にもいないのです。あなたは何かの必要を満たすために、ここに連れてこられたのです。このことについてゆっくりと考えてみて下さい。」 (You are here for a purpose. There is no duplicate of you in the whole wide world. There never has been, there never will be. You were brought here now to fill a certain need. Take time to think that over.)

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