Questions:
Initially, I didn't actually choose to be a Japanese major. I like to tell this story to most people that ask me why I had chosen to be a Japanese major instead of something more practical, like business or medicine. Anyways, when I first transferred to CSUMB I was an anthropology major. I took my first Japanese class at Monterey Peninsula College with Ogaki sensei and I fell in love with the language. It challenged me cognitively, which forced me to want to learn the language. Every time I learned something new, or did poorly on a test I found myself wanting to get better, for the first time I was being challenged in my studying, and I found that very enjoyable. I wanted to get better, I wanted to know everything. Although, when I transferred to Japan, I wasn't planning on becoming a Japanese major; i still planned on being an Anthropology major, but as I set through the Anthropology departments introduction, I found the major to really be lacking in Anthropology classes. The entire major was sociological based, rather than Anthropology based. I then decided to skip the school tour and go to listen to the Japanese department introduction. At this point I had been thinking of doing a double major, but really couldn’t decide on what I wanted to do. When I went to the room, I walked into the room and was instantly introduced to Saito-sensei. Since I was not expecting to talk to the head of the department face to face, I was at a loss for words and really just sat there while she told me what classes I was going to be taken, and after that I signed up my classes and Saito Sensei changed me to a Japanese Major. I didn't regret my choice then and I don’t regret it now. But this is my story on how I became a Japanese Major.
I learned a lot from this major, not just in the cultural and language aspect that this major teaches, but as a person. When I started really studying the language I found that I suffered from language anxiety, thus making it really difficult to speak in front of People; even with this though I wanted to become better. Thus, I started learning the differences between introvert and extrovert personalities and started working on becoming an extrovert personality. I wanted to learn Japanese and nothing was going to stop me from doing that.
Considering that my language anxiety seemed to be fairly bad, I learned probably the most important aspect that’s come to define me in this major, and that’s persevering through hardships. I always felt stressed during test, and when I couldn’t grasp something it would be very difficult for me. No matter how much I wanted to give up, my desire to continue learning was stronger than that anxiety. Thus, I’d strive on believing that I could do it. I never failed a test, but I don’t think I ever passed a test with 100%. My test scores aren’t what I’m proud, the fact that learning Japanese is one of the most difficult things for me, but I’m now graduating from the Japanese department I feel a lot of pride in myself and I’m really happy that I never gave up.
These past three years have been leading up to this one point, everyone knows it’s coming, and still, when it comes the entire student body is extremely stressed. The thing that I am the most proud of, is my capstone project. I did my capstone project on how studying abroad affects language acquisition. I worked hard on this capstone that I have ever worked on anything before; furthermore, I felt more anxious during this project that I have ever felt before. However, during this project, I never felt like giving up. I wanted to continue on, I wanted to do my best, and I wanted to show that I could do it. When I gave my language assessment and was one of the four students to pass the first time, It was the happiest part of my life I’d ever felt in this major. I worked harder than I had ever before, I had prepared more than I ever had before, and even though my anxiety level was still really high while I was giving my presentation, when Saito-senei said I passed I couldn’t help but throw up my hands in glee. Passing that speech and being praised on my Japanese by my teachers, it was the best day I think I’ve ever had.
I’ve been planning out my future for a long time now. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, but this major has taught me never to settle for second best. After studying under Saito-sensei, there are two things that I want to continue in the future. One: I want to continue studying Japanese. I want to know everything about Japanese; whether its language that’s no longer used in today’s society, or the way the Japanese language is changing, I want to continue learning. No matter what, I will always continue learning Japanese. Two: I want to continue with my studies getting a masters degree in second language acquisition and continue on to get my Ph.D. Through this major I’ve found that I have more potential than I was allowing myself to show. I believe that I can get my PH.d that is my new goal that I want to develop in the future.
- Why you chose the Japanese Language and Culture major?
- What have you learned from this major? What was your initial goal and how has that evolved?
- What areas are you most proud of through your learning in this program.
- Describe what areas you want to develop in the future.
Initially, I didn't actually choose to be a Japanese major. I like to tell this story to most people that ask me why I had chosen to be a Japanese major instead of something more practical, like business or medicine. Anyways, when I first transferred to CSUMB I was an anthropology major. I took my first Japanese class at Monterey Peninsula College with Ogaki sensei and I fell in love with the language. It challenged me cognitively, which forced me to want to learn the language. Every time I learned something new, or did poorly on a test I found myself wanting to get better, for the first time I was being challenged in my studying, and I found that very enjoyable. I wanted to get better, I wanted to know everything. Although, when I transferred to Japan, I wasn't planning on becoming a Japanese major; i still planned on being an Anthropology major, but as I set through the Anthropology departments introduction, I found the major to really be lacking in Anthropology classes. The entire major was sociological based, rather than Anthropology based. I then decided to skip the school tour and go to listen to the Japanese department introduction. At this point I had been thinking of doing a double major, but really couldn’t decide on what I wanted to do. When I went to the room, I walked into the room and was instantly introduced to Saito-sensei. Since I was not expecting to talk to the head of the department face to face, I was at a loss for words and really just sat there while she told me what classes I was going to be taken, and after that I signed up my classes and Saito Sensei changed me to a Japanese Major. I didn't regret my choice then and I don’t regret it now. But this is my story on how I became a Japanese Major.
I learned a lot from this major, not just in the cultural and language aspect that this major teaches, but as a person. When I started really studying the language I found that I suffered from language anxiety, thus making it really difficult to speak in front of People; even with this though I wanted to become better. Thus, I started learning the differences between introvert and extrovert personalities and started working on becoming an extrovert personality. I wanted to learn Japanese and nothing was going to stop me from doing that.
Considering that my language anxiety seemed to be fairly bad, I learned probably the most important aspect that’s come to define me in this major, and that’s persevering through hardships. I always felt stressed during test, and when I couldn’t grasp something it would be very difficult for me. No matter how much I wanted to give up, my desire to continue learning was stronger than that anxiety. Thus, I’d strive on believing that I could do it. I never failed a test, but I don’t think I ever passed a test with 100%. My test scores aren’t what I’m proud, the fact that learning Japanese is one of the most difficult things for me, but I’m now graduating from the Japanese department I feel a lot of pride in myself and I’m really happy that I never gave up.
These past three years have been leading up to this one point, everyone knows it’s coming, and still, when it comes the entire student body is extremely stressed. The thing that I am the most proud of, is my capstone project. I did my capstone project on how studying abroad affects language acquisition. I worked hard on this capstone that I have ever worked on anything before; furthermore, I felt more anxious during this project that I have ever felt before. However, during this project, I never felt like giving up. I wanted to continue on, I wanted to do my best, and I wanted to show that I could do it. When I gave my language assessment and was one of the four students to pass the first time, It was the happiest part of my life I’d ever felt in this major. I worked harder than I had ever before, I had prepared more than I ever had before, and even though my anxiety level was still really high while I was giving my presentation, when Saito-senei said I passed I couldn’t help but throw up my hands in glee. Passing that speech and being praised on my Japanese by my teachers, it was the best day I think I’ve ever had.
I’ve been planning out my future for a long time now. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, but this major has taught me never to settle for second best. After studying under Saito-sensei, there are two things that I want to continue in the future. One: I want to continue studying Japanese. I want to know everything about Japanese; whether its language that’s no longer used in today’s society, or the way the Japanese language is changing, I want to continue learning. No matter what, I will always continue learning Japanese. Two: I want to continue with my studies getting a masters degree in second language acquisition and continue on to get my Ph.D. Through this major I’ve found that I have more potential than I was allowing myself to show. I believe that I can get my PH.d that is my new goal that I want to develop in the future.