Expanding your options for the future


Yuko Endo
Shibuya school

I really want people with strong determination to come here

But, although I said "determination", it doesn't have to be that big a thing.

Everyone comes to Japan, and study Japanese language while you start your life in Japan, right? Your Japanese will quickly get better. And living in Japan is difficult at first but it will be fun more and more. You will be able to make a lot of friends in Japan. Your options for the future will start to change from before you come to Japan.

For example, people who have a dream to become a diplomat and work at the United Nations in the future might be dissapointed after being able to use Japanese fluently because they will not get to your dream easily. On the contrary, you might be more and more lured by the idea of keeping the fun relationships you have with friends you have made in Japan, especially because there is this sense of freedom of not being in your own country. That makes international students' life in Japan not just difficult but also very fun.

As your options keep changing, by the time you graduate, you might be advancing your education in Japanese universities and colleges, work in Japanese companies, or go back to your home countries for work which you can apply your Japanese language skills. The record of education advancement and employment like these can be easily seen as a "result". As it is easy to see things that way, you will often become determined to study just "Japanese language for higher study" or "Japanese language for job-hunting". For example, you will try to increase your vocabulary counts for Japanese language qualifications or entrance examination.

Of course, determination to improve your Japanese skills like those are important. However, I really want you to think about why you want to improve your Japanese skills if you can. It is fine if it is a concrete reason like "I want to apply Japanese in so and so kind of job" or vague reason like "I want to become a connecting bridge between countries". It is also fine even if it is just a small interest or a feeling of wanting to be in touch with Japanese language on a daily basis. If you have a strong determination which is not swayed by short-term profits or pleasures like this, in the process of studying Japanese there will be changes in the possibilities for your future and you will find the best alternative for yourself without hesitation. You will also be able put your efforts into studying without finding it too difficult. As the better the choice, the easier you will see it, this will lead you to "having more good choices" for the future.

Language is not a tool for getting qualifications or passing tests, but primarily exists for communication between people. Also, by using the language, you will be able to build your own society and life in the place you live. By thinking seriously about where you want to settle and what kind of person you want to become, you will be able to study with ease and it will help you in education advancement and job-hunting "as a result".