First of all I have a blog post about my recent trip to Japan.  Here’s a sneak preview:

“JAPAN WAS AMAZING!”

k, that’s all.  Settle children.

Anyway, I received an email from Haizum asking about what I wrote in my JASSO Scholarship Essay.  I figured this information could be helpful to others so, with permission, I am reposting it here.  Thanks Haizum!

Haizum wrote:

Hi,

I’m Haizum from Malaysia. i read your blog just now. actually i’m applying for the student exchange program in Japan this coming fall. and also applying for JASSO scholarship. i noticed that you are also sponsored by JASSO… i would really appreciate if you can help me. i would like to know what you wrote in your essay that impressed them so that they gave you the grant.

My reply:

Ok so now that I’ve attended classes for a good chunk of my semester, I’m thinkin i’ma write a detailed post about my classes and how Kansai Gaidai structures them.

Japanese classes are held in the morning, 4 x 50 minute periods between 9am and 1pm (9:00-9:50, 10:00-10:50 etc.).  English classes are held in the afternoon, 3 x 80 minute classes between 1pm and 5:20pm (some exceptions such as the Sumi-e class which I think is 2 hours long).  Also if we miss 30% of our classes for either subject – FAIL!

Spoken Japanese Class (Level 2):

Spoken Japanese class began as my scariest subject because, quite simply, i had to speak Japanese.  A lot.  My teacher is Naito-sensei, she’s a lovely lady who really assists the learning environment by never making you feel like a douche but always egging you on till you get the right answer, no matter how long it takes.  Which at first is daunting and even annoying because it might feel like she’s continually badgering you even when you don’t know the answer, but in the end it DOES help you learn, and she does it in a nice enough way.  Oh and yes, i’ll re-iterate – you WILL be speaking Japanese, no hiding, no flying under the radar.

The class size is only about 13 people or so (in my class) and she always asks you question using new & old grammar structures and vocab to then coax you into understanding and replying using similar new and old grammar structures whilst telling her about your weekend, your plans, or if you are busy this afternoon.

Ok so mid-terms are finally over.  They were kinda spaced out, all due to one class.

I’m studying 4 subjects:

1. Spoken Japanese
2. Reading and Writing Japanese (R&W)
3. Pacific Rivalry
4. Dynamics of Modern Japan

Ok so for both Speaking and R&W Japanese classes I had to undertake 2 tests each – one spoken and one written. For each.  Oh and I’m in level 2 Japanese (7 being the highest – WOO GO ME!).  Oh and Dynamics and Pacific Rivalry are both taught by the same professor, Prof. Paul Scott.

I’m doing an exam for my Game Studies class… Yeah EXAM and i’m BLOGGING. Well here’s the thing, it’s a take home exam and i’ve got 2 days to do it. Today’s the first day, and I’m hoping to knock it over today. But it’s obscenely large.