I chose to study Japanese at CSUMB because I have always been fascinated with Japan and its language. Japanese music has always fascinated me and through listening to those hypnotic melodies, it has become my dream to speak Japanese fluently. That coupled with my desire to help shape young minds has led my to hope that I can someday work in Japan as a teacher. CSUMB has became the base for which I can build and grow in order to eventually accomplish these goals. Experiences unique to this campus such as, service learning, and experiences unique to my life, study abroad, and my capstone project I have given me the skills to explore and appreciate a multitude of different cultures.
At the start of my Japanese career at CSUMB, like many others, I was eager to learn a new language but I was extraordinarily terrified of making mistakes and sounding foolish. I would often find myself dreading being partnered with the wonderful Japanese students that would assist our classes. That being said, as the semester progressed I became more comfortable speaking Japanese and making mistakes around native speaker (at least in a casual setting). My speaking ability improved overtime along with my fellow classmates. This can be attributed to all of my opportunities to speak with Japanese students in and out of class. Classes that helped me achieve this were mostly my MLO 1 courses. That being said I believe every Japanese class helped me develop a better understanding of the language in some way or another. MLO 2/5 and my desire to get a more holistic understanding of the Japanese culture brought me to Japan in my junior year of university. In Japan I was able to completely immerse myself in the language and improve my understanding of not only how things are said and done but more importantly WHY things are said and done. During this time, I was given the opportunity to observe and attend festivals, partake in traditions, and share aspects of my own culture. I used Japanese in everyday life and grew further outside of the classroom in ways I never thought possible. I traveled Japan to experience as much as the country had to offer. From the breathtaking sculptures at the Sapporo snow festival to the clear waters of Okinawa's tropical beaches, I once again fell in love with Japan. I met amazing people that helped me realize that as different as our cultures may be, we are all human and we have in us an innate sense of love and a want to be understood. My time abroad will forever remain as one of the most influential times in my life. I developed academically as well as mentally, and for that I will always be grateful to the vast amount of friends and acquaintances I had the opportunity to meet during this time. During my final semester at CSUMB I had the chance to explore MLO 4 in several of my classes. They taught me methods of researching and about technology, each class built on the one before to develop a solid understanding of how to preform and develop my research topic for my final capstone project. My Capstone project (seen on my page) was perhaps one of the hardest things I've ever done in my entire life. The Japanese department worked meticulously in and out of class in order to assist me in any way they could. It was their and the help of my amazing capstone partner that I was able to complete my research project and present it to my friends and family with pride. California State University Monterey Bay has helped me not only develop my knowledge of Japanese culture but of communication, understanding, and the importance of creating an open minded world. The Japanese department itself has opened my horizons and allowed me to become an active member of our global society. Education can never be taken from you and so I know that everything I have learned will stay with me for the rest of my life. These valuable life skills I now posses will be a constant asset as I move on to the next chapter in my life. |