For me, studying Japanese was something that I had wanted to do since I was a child. My mom is Japanese, which makes me half, and from that I started gaining interest in Japanese language and culture. Moreover, my mom didn't know any Japanese and my grandmother had all but forgotten her Japanese, so I felt like it was my duty to learn about our family's history and culture.
From this, I started taking classes in high school and took all the way through AP level. While looking for colleges, I stumbled upon CSUMB on accident while looking for schools with Japanese programs. Upon entering the university, I began taking upper division classes (based on my history in high school) and was well on my way though the program during my first year (MLO 1). Another inciting thing about the Japanese program at CSUMB that I found was that the major required you to spend time in Japan (MLO 5). This, honestly, was one of the biggest factors in choosing CSUMB over any other school.
There are so many different things that I learned throughout this major. The biggest one being how to have confidence in myself and my speaking abilities. Although I know that I am not fluent in any way, I still feel as though this program gives way to making students feel as though they can always keep learning. My initial goal was this: speak Japanese fluently. However, after studying for many years and also studying in Japan for one year, I realize that fluency doesn't come easy. I understand now that sometimes, fluency can mean just being able to function and survive in another language. Therefore, my goal is no longer to speak "fluently," it is now to be confident in all that I do in the Japanese word and workplace.
I have several areas that I am proud of, as well as areas that I'm not so proud of. One thing that I'm definitely proud of is my capstone. Although it was a very difficult journey for me to create a finished product, I think that my capstone is something that I can look back at in many years and know that hard work really does pay off. From picking a topic that I thought was "safe" to realizing the vast unsafeness that was "Perceptions of 'Multi-Raced Children' in Japan and The United States," I grew so much as a student (MLO 4). We go through many trials during the capstone process, from having things rejected to rewritten, to taken out all over again, we carry on. Something else that I'm proud of is my overall experience though the Service Learning program. Although it was hard for me to on many days, I realized the importance of multiculturalism though this experience. From Service Learning, I was also able to have confidence in knowing that I am capable of teaching children - and thus - gave myself confidence in applying for and receiving a position in the JET program.
As I mentioned, there are things that I am not proud of. These mostly are the sleepless nights I spent while procrastinating on assignments and things of the like. If I could go back, I would improve that drastically. However, program-wise, I don't think that there is much to improve upon. Of course, a bigger variety of classes would be great, however with the size faculty that we have I know that it is far fetched.
From this, I started taking classes in high school and took all the way through AP level. While looking for colleges, I stumbled upon CSUMB on accident while looking for schools with Japanese programs. Upon entering the university, I began taking upper division classes (based on my history in high school) and was well on my way though the program during my first year (MLO 1). Another inciting thing about the Japanese program at CSUMB that I found was that the major required you to spend time in Japan (MLO 5). This, honestly, was one of the biggest factors in choosing CSUMB over any other school.
There are so many different things that I learned throughout this major. The biggest one being how to have confidence in myself and my speaking abilities. Although I know that I am not fluent in any way, I still feel as though this program gives way to making students feel as though they can always keep learning. My initial goal was this: speak Japanese fluently. However, after studying for many years and also studying in Japan for one year, I realize that fluency doesn't come easy. I understand now that sometimes, fluency can mean just being able to function and survive in another language. Therefore, my goal is no longer to speak "fluently," it is now to be confident in all that I do in the Japanese word and workplace.
I have several areas that I am proud of, as well as areas that I'm not so proud of. One thing that I'm definitely proud of is my capstone. Although it was a very difficult journey for me to create a finished product, I think that my capstone is something that I can look back at in many years and know that hard work really does pay off. From picking a topic that I thought was "safe" to realizing the vast unsafeness that was "Perceptions of 'Multi-Raced Children' in Japan and The United States," I grew so much as a student (MLO 4). We go through many trials during the capstone process, from having things rejected to rewritten, to taken out all over again, we carry on. Something else that I'm proud of is my overall experience though the Service Learning program. Although it was hard for me to on many days, I realized the importance of multiculturalism though this experience. From Service Learning, I was also able to have confidence in knowing that I am capable of teaching children - and thus - gave myself confidence in applying for and receiving a position in the JET program.
As I mentioned, there are things that I am not proud of. These mostly are the sleepless nights I spent while procrastinating on assignments and things of the like. If I could go back, I would improve that drastically. However, program-wise, I don't think that there is much to improve upon. Of course, a bigger variety of classes would be great, however with the size faculty that we have I know that it is far fetched.