Statement of Purpose
My first interaction with Japanese culture occurred in my childhood when I watched anime with my older brothers (though I was not aware of it at the time). My interest, however, did not begin until one of my older brothers bought me a Japanese manga of that same anime for my twelfth birthday. Once I entered high school, I decided to study Japanese seriously. I enrolled in Japanese courses for the next four years, building my knowledge of the language as well as introducing myself to more aspects of the Japanese culture. Wanting to further my studies in Japanese, I applied to attend California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) as a Japanese Language and Culture major.
My knowledge of the Japanese language and the culture has increased immensely over the years I have attended CSUMB. In my first year, I began my studies in the upper division language and culture courses. Though engaging and interesting, the courses were not without their difficulties. I found that there were many areas in which I was lacking compared to my fellow Japanese majors. That realization fueled my desire to strengthen my Japanese fluency and my knowledge of Japanese culture in order to prepare myself for my future career path.
While taking Japanese language and culture courses, I was introduced to many exchange students from Japan. Through my interactions with them, I learned many valuable lessons and gained a new perspective about the world. I found that after the initial shyness and language barrier, due to coming to an unfamiliar country, Japanese students are no different than American students. Having the opportunity to talk to these students opened my eyes to the world, prompting me to apply for and attend the student exchange program at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies (NUFS). Not only did the experience expand my Japanese knowledge but it also allowed me to teach English in NUFS’ Language Lounge.
As far as my academic and career goals are concerned, I have several goals in mind that I have met and would like to accomplish. First of all, I completed the World Language and Cultures program at CSUMB, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese Language and Culture. Secondly, I applied to the Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program to increase intercultural relations while teaching Japanese students the differences between formal and informal English, becoming an alternate ALT as of this writing. If I am upgraded to full ALT status, and once I complete the program, I would like to continue my education by applying for graduate school. While working on my Japanese fluency, I would look into programs that would support my efforts to become a Foreign Service Officer. I hope to not only maintain but also improve relations between the United States and Japan. I know that this will be a challenging path for me but I strongly believe that I will be prepared for it thanks to the education I gained from CSUMB.
My knowledge of the Japanese language and the culture has increased immensely over the years I have attended CSUMB. In my first year, I began my studies in the upper division language and culture courses. Though engaging and interesting, the courses were not without their difficulties. I found that there were many areas in which I was lacking compared to my fellow Japanese majors. That realization fueled my desire to strengthen my Japanese fluency and my knowledge of Japanese culture in order to prepare myself for my future career path.
While taking Japanese language and culture courses, I was introduced to many exchange students from Japan. Through my interactions with them, I learned many valuable lessons and gained a new perspective about the world. I found that after the initial shyness and language barrier, due to coming to an unfamiliar country, Japanese students are no different than American students. Having the opportunity to talk to these students opened my eyes to the world, prompting me to apply for and attend the student exchange program at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies (NUFS). Not only did the experience expand my Japanese knowledge but it also allowed me to teach English in NUFS’ Language Lounge.
As far as my academic and career goals are concerned, I have several goals in mind that I have met and would like to accomplish. First of all, I completed the World Language and Cultures program at CSUMB, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese Language and Culture. Secondly, I applied to the Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program to increase intercultural relations while teaching Japanese students the differences between formal and informal English, becoming an alternate ALT as of this writing. If I am upgraded to full ALT status, and once I complete the program, I would like to continue my education by applying for graduate school. While working on my Japanese fluency, I would look into programs that would support my efforts to become a Foreign Service Officer. I hope to not only maintain but also improve relations between the United States and Japan. I know that this will be a challenging path for me but I strongly believe that I will be prepared for it thanks to the education I gained from CSUMB.