Japanese culture has always had an influence on my life. Growing up my family used to take annual trips to the San Francisco Japanese Tea Garden every summer. I found my introduction to Japanese culture to be fascinating as it seemed I had transported to a secret garden in another world. I remember walking around the gardens marveling at the architecture of the small pagodas and design of the garden to be beautiful and unique, since then I have strived to learn more about Japan. When the chance to learn the language entered my life I jumped at the chance to learn it. I found a passion for the nuances within the language and its strong ties with the culture that you can only know from speaking Japanese.
While at CSUMB, not only have I improved upon my Japanese language skills through various language and grammar courses, but also through my interactions with Japanese students who have come to America to study abroad.I have also taken courses on the Japanese American experience during the late 1800s through the early 2000s, a broad history of Japan, social issues in Japan, and several other historic and cultural courses. The course on social issues in Japan has taught me the changing perspectives of renewable energy due to the 2011 tsunami and nuclear power plant, the different practices of women in the workforce stemming from the cultural background. These courses have also taught me to be open minded and understanding of other cultures, as well as understand the nuance of culture within language. My time at CSUMB has led me to be more globally competent so that I may thrive within the world.
I have also had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Okayama, Japan. It was a true immersive experience where I developed my speaking and listening skills within the classroom and outside. This experience will be a defining moment in my life as I was able to implement what I had learned from my major and put it to practical use. I used my base knowledge to enhance my learning of the language and culture within Japan and hope to continue to do so. I wish to use the knowledge that I gained during my time at CSUMB in my future career. I have to applied to and been accepted by the Japanese Exchange Teaching Program (JET) as an Assistant Language Teacher. Through this experience I hope to instill in Japanese students the same interest and understanding in another culture as well as continue to explore the unique culture myself. Upon completion of the JET program, I hope to continue my education in localization and translation and enter the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey.
While at CSUMB, not only have I improved upon my Japanese language skills through various language and grammar courses, but also through my interactions with Japanese students who have come to America to study abroad.I have also taken courses on the Japanese American experience during the late 1800s through the early 2000s, a broad history of Japan, social issues in Japan, and several other historic and cultural courses. The course on social issues in Japan has taught me the changing perspectives of renewable energy due to the 2011 tsunami and nuclear power plant, the different practices of women in the workforce stemming from the cultural background. These courses have also taught me to be open minded and understanding of other cultures, as well as understand the nuance of culture within language. My time at CSUMB has led me to be more globally competent so that I may thrive within the world.
I have also had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Okayama, Japan. It was a true immersive experience where I developed my speaking and listening skills within the classroom and outside. This experience will be a defining moment in my life as I was able to implement what I had learned from my major and put it to practical use. I used my base knowledge to enhance my learning of the language and culture within Japan and hope to continue to do so. I wish to use the knowledge that I gained during my time at CSUMB in my future career. I have to applied to and been accepted by the Japanese Exchange Teaching Program (JET) as an Assistant Language Teacher. Through this experience I hope to instill in Japanese students the same interest and understanding in another culture as well as continue to explore the unique culture myself. Upon completion of the JET program, I hope to continue my education in localization and translation and enter the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey.