I started studying Japanese as a second foreign language when I was in high school. I have to admit that it was very challenging at first, but the more I studied the language and Japan’s culture, the more invested I got. Additionally, during my school years, I have participated in various exchange events, thus allowing me to communicate with a lot of Japanese people. These events have helped boost my interest in the Japanese language, and at the same time, they have given me a great impression of Japanese people and culture. All of that contributed to my decision to choose the Japanese department at university.
Even now as a senior at university majoring in Japanese, my knowledge is still nowhere near as good as native speakers and I have not had the chance to gain a lot of knowledge about Japan’s culture. Therefore, I have been really looking forward to an opportunity to study abroad in Japan during my college years.
To me personally, studying in Japan is such a precious opportunity; it is one of those fortuities that may just happen once in a lifetime. To make the most out of this chance, I am striving to achieve three objectives during my time in Japan. The first one is to seize the opportunity to expeditiously improve my Japanese proficiency. Aside from conversing and training my Japanese within the university campus, I also aim to elevate my communication skills through daily exchanges at public locations such as supermarkets or train stations. My second goal is to acquire a deeper apprehension of Japan’s culture and society, which is the foundation of my favorite language. As a quite adventurous person, I am really excited to check off some of my anticipated activities on my bucket list such as “navigating and riding the Shinkansen” or “going on a picnic and eating lunch while viewing cherry blossoms”, and overall enjoying thoroughly my time in Japan. Lastly, I would like to seize this chance to interact with the locals and widen my network of friends from over the globe.

Time flies so fast. It has been 5 months since I came to Japan for the study abroad program. Since I came here, I have been living my life to the fullest and at the same time gaining many new and exciting experiences in Japan.

Going to Kobe Shoin Women’s University was definitely the best decision of mine in my preparations for studying abroad. Considering that at Shoin, not only can you improve your Japanese by balancing the four essential skills, but you can also take specialized classes such as "Applied Japanese Teaching Methods" and "Introduction to Media and Literature", and have the opportunity to directly experience Japanese culture through courses like "Ikebana".

A big factor contributing to the fact that I am currently able to live comfortably and enjoy my life in Japan as I am now is the many Japanese teachers and friends who have taken care of me and supported me during my time here. I’m not entirely fluent in Japanese and that has caused me to not be able to convey everything I wanted to say, but everyone always listens patiently.

Studying in Japan gave me the opportunity to experience new things. For the first time in my life, I experienced cold of minus 10 degrees and saw snow. What's more, thanks to the HUMAP scholarship, I no longer have to worry about money. Besides Kobe, I have traveled to Osaka, Kyoto, and Hokkaido so far. The scenery in Japan is so beautiful that it cannot be expressed in words.

I only have 6 months left of my time here studying abroad in Japan. I want to make the most of it by studying Japanese more to be able to pass the N1 Japanese Language Proficiency Test and experience more sides of Japanese culture, not only in Kobe but also other prefectures such as Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Nagoya.

The year-long exchange program came to an end in the blink of an eye. Every day felt like a dream, and I had a lot of fun. Despite the short duration, the program taught me many things and gave me various experiences.
When I arrived in Japan a year ago, I was filled with worries. However, I have grown a lot since then. My listening comprehension and conversation skills have improved greatly, and I feel more confident speaking with my teachers and Japanese friends without worrying about grammar mistakes. I have also had the opportunity to experience the unique cultural features of Japan, such as flower arrangement and tea ceremony, and witness the changing of the seasons with beautiful autumn leaves and cherry blossoms. Studying in Japan has allowed me to make friends with incredibly kind people, and I am grateful for their kindness. These experiences are precious and will be unforgettable in my life.
I am grateful to HUMAP for enabling me to live a fulfilling life in Japan without any financial concerns. Moving forward, I am determined to strive for self-improvement. Upon graduating from Vietnam University, I plan on giving my all to come back to Japan or Kobe as a Ph.D. candidate.