外国人留学生向け情報

Interview 私費外国人留学生
留学生インタビュー

3rd year, Department of Cross-Cultural Studies, Faculty of Humanities
(Interview for 2024)

From Hong Kong

About Studying Abroad

What made you decide to study in Japan?

From an early age, I loved Japanese anime and idols. At the suggestion of my mother, I began attending a Japanese language school when I was about 14 years old. When I was in high school, I won a Japanese speech contest in Hong Kong and went to Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture for the next round of finals, but during my stay I fell ill and developed a fever. At that time, my homestay family took me to the hospital even though it was nighttime, and the Japanese high school students and staff were very kind to me. It made me want to know more about Japan, and I thought that I would like to study in Japan.

How did you prepare for studying abroad?

I taught myself the Japanese syllabary, and learned grammar and vocabulary at the Japanese language school I attended. I usually tried to listen to Japanese programs and music to look up unfamiliar words, and when I set my sights on studying abroad, I followed the JPUE (Japan University Examination) program to prepare for the exam. I had also obtained N1 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), but I was a little weak in conversation, so I prepared for various conversations and tests with Japanese teachers at a Japanese language school, especially for interviews. My tuition fees are covered by Seikei University's tuition reduction and exemption system for privately financed international students.

About Student Life

What is your current student life like?

My friend and I rent a room together and commute to Kichijoji, where the university is located. On my days off, I also go to live concerts of my favorite artists and stroll around Asakusa. The streets of Kichijoji are calm and fashionable, and I sometimes visit my favorite green tea sweets store with friends. I don't have a part time job at the moment, but with the increasing number of tourists from overseas, I am looking for a part time job where I can put my language skills and what I have learned to good use.

Did you have any problems while studying abroad?

In daily life, I don't have much trouble with language, but what I found difficult when I actually studied in Japan was the Japanese I use when chatting with friends, the so-called tameguchi (casual speech). The Japanese I had learned before studying abroad was basically keigo (honorific speech), so I found tameguchi to be more difficult than I expected. I can catch what people say, but it is difficult for me to remember trending words, so I practice by looking at social media posts so that I can say them myself.

How are you learning at Seikei University?

I was originally interested in the cultural differences between countries and wanted to study international culture, and one of the reasons I decided to study at Seikei University was because of its seminar-style learning from the first year. The seminars I attended in my first and second years really helped me develop my ability to summarize my thoughts and speak out in Japanese, as well as my presentation skills. In my third-year seminars, I plan to research the differences between Japan and other countries, focusing on Japanese history and culture. Right now I'm curious about schools. For example, club activities are very active in many Japanese high schools, but not so much in Hong Kong. I find it interesting to consider where such differences come from. I think I need to learn more about Japan and the Japanese language.

What are your dreams for the future?

After graduation, I would like to find a job in Japan. I am interested in working in localization, which is necessary when games originating from Japan are developed for the global market. Localization requires an understanding of not only the language, but also the customs and culture of the country, so I believe that what I learned at university can be put to good use. In the future, I would like to work and engage in activities that can serve as a bridge between Hong Kong and Japan.

Message to International Students Aiming for Seikei University

Perhaps some people are a little apprehensive about coming to Japan, and I was the same way before I came to study here. But when I came to Seikei University, I found that everyone is really kind and I have never had a bad experience here. And whenever I visited the Seikei Institute for International Studies, the staff there would show concern for me by asking me if I had any problems. I am sure that your study in Japan and at Seikei University will be a life-changing and enjoyable four years, so please take the plunge and give it a try.