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JIN Tuo （China）
Completed the program in March,2009
Enrolled into the Graduate School of American Studies
Major: American Studies
Japan is the country which has been in contact with my mother country, China, for more than a thousand years. On September 12th, 2007, I finally trended on the land, and even now, I can stillvividly remember the mixed feeling of nervousness and excitement.
I was majored in linguistics, so I realized that if anyone wants to understand a country, the very first step is to learn her language and understand her culture. So I decided to enroll the Bekka program in Doshisha University, which was located in a formal capital of Japan, Kyoto. There are a lot of programs provided in Bekka, besides all levels of language classes, especially, there are also Japanese cultural classes which you could actually experience, such as Japanese cooking, the tea ceremony, flower arranging, koto, traditional plays as well as Japanese cultural heritage. I was totally fascinated by the beautiful natural scenery and the unique culture of Kyoto. Moreover, something made me more surprised was that I studied here with students from all over the world. Communicating with each other every day, I realized many different cultures and broadened my view to the more brilliant world.
In the past one year, I got lots of advice from the teachers in Bekka, and received the recommendation for starting my major in the Graduate School for American studies in Doshisha. From this spring semester, I began my first term of my master degree. Classes and seminar presentations are extremely hard though, I am living a plenitudinous life.
Wherever I am, whenever it is, I could say proudly that the life in Doshisha Bekka was the most precious and shining experience in my life, because from here, I stepped towards to the world, and set forth an exciting journey to make my dream come true.
KIM Eun Ah （Korea）
Completed the program in March,2009
Enrolled into the Faculty of Letters
Major: Japanese Literature
Whilst welcoming my second spring at the Doshisha University and upon looking back at the year of 2008, which I spent as a student at the Bekka Program in Kyoto, I believe it was the year blessed with amazing encountering. The Bekka Program is the meeting point for people of wide ranging age and nationalities, who gather to experience Japan in Kyoto, the city woven together out of thousand years of history. Through the Bekka Program, I not only learnt the Japanese language but could participate in learning the Japanese culture at first hand. Such were the reasons why I chose the Doshisha University out of many other Japanese universities. Kyoto is a city that retains its traditional composure in the world that is rapidly changing. In particular, the Doshisha University Imadegawa Campus is situated near the Imperial Palace and it is beautiful with cherry blossoms in spring and red autumn leaves in autumn. Furthermore, the Program includes students to enjoy the best of Japan by putting together a calendar that is packed with Kyoto’s specialties such as participating in the city’s three main seasonal festivals, traditional cultural experiences, and also taking part in university’s student societies. It was two years ago that I decided to study abroad. I had studied Japanese for three years upon entering a Korean university; but I set out my goal to study at Doshisha University when my feelings for obtaining a job relating to languages in the future and also to learn more of Japanese language and literature grew. The Faculty of Letters at the University was a place where the famous Korean poet, Yun Dongju, once studied. Such history also attracted me to the University and provided a firm ground upon which I chose to enter the Doshisha University. I was given countless help at the time when I was preparing to take an entrance examination for an admission into the under-graduate school from the Bekka program. However, what were more gratifying for me were the encountering with kind teachers who cared about me even after examinations had finished, and with those friends with whom I shared memorable conversations of our dreams and encouraged each other to make our dream come true. And it is with those valuable encountering that my horizon expanded and nurtured me with the world-vision stretching to a far.
Jeffrey Blagdon （Canada）
Completed the program in March,2009
Enrolled into the Graduate School of Economics
Major: Applied Economics
I had already been living in Japan for two years when I decided to apply to the Bekka program in 2007. I had been studying Japanese on my own in my spare time while working as an English conversation teacher when I decided it was time to take my Japanese study to the next level. I wanted not only an intensive Japanese language program to prepare me for life in Japanese society, but also an opportunity to experience Japan's history and natural beauty. After comparing various schools and programs, I decided on Doshisha University in Kyoto.
When the program started I was immediately impressed with both the quality of the teaching staff and the variety of courses available. The lessons are constructed with a focus on natural acquisition, so you get exposed to the same grammar and vocabulary several times over the course of many lessons. The locataion of the Imadegawa campus is excellent. Being just a few minutes away from the center of Kyoto means there's always something to see or do during your time off. And if you ever feel like a change of pace, all of Keihanshin (the greater metropolis of Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe) is just a short train ride away.
Since completing the Bekka program, I have successfully entered Doshisha University's Graduate School of Economics as a master's student. I believe that my year at the Bekka was indispensible in preparing me for life in a Japanese classroom and life in Japanese society in general. I'm looking forward to seeing what future Japan holds for me after graduation.
CHANG Ya-Hwei （Taiwan）
Completed the program in March,2009
Enrolled into the Graduate School of Culture and Information Center
Major: Culture and Information Studies
I got to know about the Graduate School of Culture and Information Center through the internet last year and I decided without any hesitation to set the goal of entering the course. However, I chose to study the Japanese language at the Bekka Program first because I had felt that my Japanese is not fluent enough to assist me at my command and had felt it would cause a great disadvantage once my graduate study begin. So my life in Japan began with an anxiety in my bosom in April 2008, the time when the wind was carrying the cherry blossom petals in its wing.My year at the Bekka Program was truly fulfilling and was enjoyable for I learnt different areas of academia from a wide point of view. It was a learning environment I had been dreaming of for I was being taught by experienced and kind teachers who supported me in maintaining my motivation, which I am most grateful for. Aside the Program, the university campus was constantly bursting with youthful energy as well as the feel of over 130 years of history being cherished and felt all around the university. I feel I was most blessed to be able to study in such an environment. Thanks to the chance I was being given, I passed the admission examination to enter my most desired Graduate School of culture and Information Center. I am now determined to work harder for the next two years to stretch my intellectual horizon as far as my capacity grows. To anyone who may hold an anxiety to live and to study in a foreign country just like I was last year: why wouldn’t you consider studying at the Doshisha University?
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Completed the program in September,2007
Chen, Dung-Hua (Taiwan)
It was not my first time in Japan when I came here in September 2009, but it was the first time I had come to Kyoto. Before coming here I was, together with other Taiwanese students, hesitating if I should go to the Kanto or the Kansai region. After much consideration I decided to enroll in the Bekka program of Doshisha University in Kyoto.
There was also a time here when my uneasiness in daily life grew. But while I got in touch with the people here, I could directly feel the peace (和) and experience Kyoto first hand and finally, I completely have fallen in love with Kyoto.The curriculum of the Bekka program does not only include language classes, but also offers the chance to experience Japanese culture. I have started Tea Ceremony, but also Flower Arrangement, Koto, Noh play and other cultural assets can nowhere be experienced besides in Kyoto.
After having finished my study at the Bekka program, I have been successful in finding a job in Japan. At the time I went for job hunting I received many advises from my teachers that were an enormous help. I could enter the aviation industry I had longed for all along and am working now as ground staff for JAL. Coming to Kyoto has been definitely the best choice, and my time as a foreign student at Doshisha has strengthened my confidence and has been a big leap in my life.
Completed the program in March,2008
LI LIANG (CHINA)
In fall 2006 I became a member of the big family called Doshisha University “Bekka”. Here I found teachers that treated us so carefully and important like we would be their own children. Here I have brothers and sisters from all over the world. Here we can enjoy freely ourselves and develop our skills. Here we can experience Japan’s traditions and feel and learn about all the interesting and beautiful sides of Japans culture. Here we do not only study subjects but we can also learn to hone our mind in order to become better people.
During my past year here、there have been two things that had a particularly strong influence on me. The first is a belief that, no matter what kind of problem appears, if I do not give up I can achieve everything by my own strength. The second is to understand foreign cultures. The first point, my strong belief has developed through my life as a foreign student here. While studying together with students from countries far away, it is very important to build up a good life during your time here. No matter what problems arise, one may not give up, all difficulties can be overcome. The second point, the understanding of foreign cultures is thanks to my friends from countries all over the world.
It is not too much to say that the Bekka Program is like a bridge that brings people from all over the world together. All the foreign cultures that we usually see only on television can be met and experienced here. To give an example: Here you can hear the different views and opinions on common problems and topics from students from various countries.
No matter if you are on the Bekka program for one, or maybe even two years, make it a valuable time, for during this time of study for many students their future is decided. While many of my friends in the Bekka program are still getting used to their life here, they also already have to decide on the future direction of their life. To stay in Japan or to return home after the program, to decide on this simple question requires courage. If your decision has been correct or not, depends on your efforts during your time as a foreign student here.
最後になりますが、私が尊敬する松下電器の創立者――松下幸之助が言った話を皆さんにお送りします。
自分には、
自分に与えられた道がある。
広い時もある。
狭い時もある。
のぼりもあれば、
くだりもある。
思案にあまる時もあろう。
しかし、
心を定め、
希望を持って歩むならば
必ず道は開けてくる。
深い喜びも
ここから生まれる。
松下 幸之助
Completed the program in March,2008
KETRUNGHIRAN NARINTORRN (THAILAND)
Hello, I am Bee from Thailand. In fall 2006 I entered the Doshisha University Bekka program and had been there a foreign student for about 1.5 years. In spring 2008 I entered Doshisha’s Graduate School of Policy and Management.
I am sure that all of you have many dreams and wishes about your life as a foreign student, but the truth is that the life of a foreign student is not only fun. In my first 2 weeks in Japan my bike got stolen, I had lost my purse, I got ill etc…a lot of bad things happened consecutively. Having had just left my own country and not emotionally settled down in Kyoto yet, I felt regret and sadness and was thinking about going back to Thailand. Due to the result of the placement test I got separated from my only friend and ended in a class with no other students from Thailand. During the time of the orientation at the beginning of the study I felt very lonely. But I thought that having no other person in class who spoke my native language might be good for advancing in Japanese and I was looking forward to the beginning of the classes. But it was the opposite from what I had expected. I did not want to keep company with my classmates, I was just hanging out in a group with people from my own coutry, I was not using much Japanese and I mostly spoke in my native language. For that reason, I could barely make new friends, my conversation in Japanese became less and less, and my wish to improve my Japanese disappeared, and after the first semester ended I realized that my Japanese level was still the same like it was before I had come to Japan. Thinking back of it now, my fall semester here was really difficult
The spring semester came and little by little I had gotten close to the friends from the last semester and also could make some new friends, and therefore my life in Japan had become enjoyable. In the one year since my arrival, aiming at the refinement of my Japanese skills, I have studied a lot at the Bekka program, my Japanese became of course better, the teachers taught us in a kind and careful way and I came to think that it was a great program for students who want to study Japanese and Japanese culture. And yet, at the time of the end of the spring semester there was a part in me that was not satisfied, my heart was not yet feeling at ease. But what was it? I did not want to go back to Thailand with a feeling like that and therefore decided to do one more semester at the Bekka program.
In the last semester I was in the highest level where I finally realized why I had felt that sense of uneasiness. This is what a new classmate in my conversation class told me: “That we can study together with people who came together from all over the world, does that not have some kind of fate in it?” It may just sound like simple words, but these simple words moved my heart. If I had not studied here, or if I had decided to return already after the spring semester, then I would have not met so many friends from all over the world; I would have not made all the experiences I cannot make in my own country, I could have not studied at such a wonderful university, study together happily with my friends, could not study under my teachers who worked so hard to refine our Japanese skills, and I would have not thought about going to graduate school here…. If I think about it like that, this study abroad has become a turning point in my life and I really feel like this has been fate.
Because of these simple words from my friend, I decided to make friendship more important and to show more sympathy to my friends. One can advance alone in Japanese by studying hard and receiving teachings from his teachers, but when it comes to friendship, this is something that one person cannot achieve alone. If people do not express their hearts to each other, they cannot become friends. If you don’t speak Japanese, you will forget it, but friendship is something you will never forget. For that reason my current friends and the friends I will make in future are and will be always very important to me. Seeing it like that, it does not matter if I gain any reward or not, but if there is something I can help my friends with, even if it just a little thing, I really want to do so. If my friends have troubles or difficult times or even if it are problems that go beyond my ability to help them, and there is nothing I can do for them, at least I want to listen to them to make them feel better. Without caring about nationality or gender or age, but by bringing together the hearts of everybody we can make a wonderful and unforgettable study abroad experience. When I think of the friends I made here then, no matter how much time passes, these memories always warm my heart and give me a happy feeling. Friendship is something that cannot be seen with your eyes, but being able to keep the friendship with people from all over the world in your heart, isn’t that wonderful? After graduation everybody is going in another direction, pursuing his own path, and it is my sincere wish that we are all successful on our way. In life we do not have many chances to go and study abroad. For those who can come here, this might be the only time they can make an experience like this. Since there might be no second chance, make your time at the Doshisha Bekka Program count! The happy times, the fun times, the painful and difficult moments, make it all into valuable memories and treasure them.
To the Doshisha Bekka Program, for raising me…thank you.
To the Doshisha Bekka Program, for giving me the chance to make friends from all over the worlds…thank you.
To the Doshisha Bekka Program, for refining my Japanese skills…thank you.
To the Doshisha Bekka Program, for the classes and the gentle teachers who were workings so hard for us…thank you.
And finally, to the person who gave me the chance to do this study abroad, my mum…thank you.
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