Maps

Go Forward

Student Interview

Student Interview : Siping Jiang

1. Why did you choose Japan to study abroad?
I watched a lot of anime since I was a child, and growing up I really liked Japanese culture. My interest started from anime and spread to music. Through these I learned Japanese. I wanted to come to Japan to actually use the language in real life and strengthen my Japanese skills.
2. Why did you choose the English Track course at the Meiji School of Global Japanese Studies?
I grew up going to international school in China and also studied in Canada, so I am used to learning in English. I thought that if I went to a school with only Japanese courses, it would be hard for me to adjust. I thought English track was the optimal choice because I would be able to use both English and Japanese at the same time.
3. Please tell us what you are currently studying. What have you experienced through your campus life so far?
I am currently interested in Japanese literature, so that is what I want to study. It is the reason I want to pursue my studies in graduate school, which I just finished applying to.
My campus life is really interesting. I like the Nakano campus because it is in a quiet place. The school building is clean, tidy, and pretty. I always enjoy studying with my friends on the 7th floor or somewhere else on campus. Just going to classes makes me feel calm because the classrooms are really pretty.
 

4. Tell us about your experience of living in Japan.
Living in Japan was not that hard for me to adapt to because I have lived in Asian countries. I really like Japanese food so there wasn’t a problem with eating. Interacting with local people is what international students may find difficult to adjust to due to different societal norms and nuances. I have found that once you get to know Japanese people you find that they are often very kind, polite, and willing to make friends with foreigners—it is nice to be living in Japan.
5. How are you currently studying Japanese?
I took Japanese language courses in my first year. Because I never actually learned Japanese systematically, I wanted to challenge myself. That was very helpful because the teachers always provide practices that help me strengthen my Japanese skills. Making new Japanese-speaking friends was also very helpful.
Currently I do not take Japanese language courses but rather courses that are taught in Japanese. That is also a good opportunity to practice Japanese because you can actually take classes with Japanese students, practicing Japanese spoken in daily life and making friends with them.
6. What are your plans for the future? What field or discipline do you want to work in?
My plans for the near future are to go to graduate school in the United States. I recently received an offer for one, so I’m really happy. I am currently still waiting for more offers. I wish to deepen my understanding of Japanese society through studying Japanese literature because I find myself most interested in the contextual aspects of literature. I thought that it would be interesting to study Japanese studies from a different perspective—perhaps an American perspective.
Regarding careers, currently I either want to become a professor or interpreter. That would depend on what kind of studies I get to participate in during my time at graduate school. Studying languages has been very fun for me so I want to apply that ability to my career. I thought being an interpreter would be a great way to do that.　

A Day in the Life

0:00 – 8:00 sleep
8:00 – 9:00 wake up and preparation
9:00 – 17:00 classes, studying, socializing
17:00 – 19:00 dinner and time with friends
19:00 – 21:00 homework assignments
21:00 – 0:00 leisure, excersises


Time table in 1st year

Period Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
1st
(Fall)
 
 		        
2nd
(Fall)
 
 		   Japanese Language Teaching (Phonetics) B      
3rd
(Fall)
 Introduction to Global Japanese Studies
 		    

 		  Advanced Japanese (Listening) II   Media Arts B
4th 
(Fall)		  Speech & Presentation  Speech & Presentation     Performing Arts B
 Business Administration B     
5th 
(Fall)		     Advanced Japanese (Writing) II     Performing Arts B
  ICT Basic I
 


Time table in 2nd year
Period Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
1st
(Spring)
 
 		       Anthropology A
1st
(Fall)
 
 		   Hospitality Management Studies B  Tourism Management B   Anthropology B
2nd
(Spring)		   Introduction to Academic Studies and Career Development  Media Arts A  Comparative Culture A     Practicum in Global Japanese Studies C
2nd
(Fall)
  Japanese Social Systems B
 		    Comparative Culture B     
3rd
(Spring)		  Introduction to Global Japanese Studies Sociology A  
 Advanced Japanese (Writing) I
 		   Economics A
3rd
(Fall)
 
 		   Sociology B      Economics B
4th
(Spring)
 Research Paper Writing
 		  Performing Arts A  Research Paper Writing     Japanese Linguistics A
4th 
(Fall)		  Comparative Religious Studies       
  Japanese Linguistics B
 
5th
(Spring)
 
 		  Performing Arts A      
5th
(Fall)		   Asian Studies B     French Culture Studies B  
 
 

Time table in 3rd year

Period Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
1st
(Spring)
 
 		        
1st
(Fall)
 
 		         
2nd
(Spring)		    Japanese Cinema A     Japan and Germany A  
2nd
(Fall)
 		   Japanese Cinema B       Practicum in Global Japanese Studies D
3rd
(Spring)		       Africa in the Contemporary World A  
3rd
(Fall)
 
 		       Africa in the Contemporary World B  
4th
(Spring)
 		          Japanese History A
4th 
(Fall)		     International Relations B    
Japanese History B
 
5th
(Spring)
  Asian Studies A
 		        
5th 
(Fall)		           

Time table in 4th year

Period Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
1st
(Spring)
 
 		   Hospitality Management Studies A      
1st
(Fall)
 
 		 English Linguistics B      
2nd
(Spring)		           
2nd
(Fall)
 		   Technology and the Japanese Society B      
3rd
(Spring)		       Asia-Pacific Political Economy A     Southeast Asian Studies A
3rd
(Fall)
 
 		       Asia-Pacific Political Economy B    Southeast Asian Studies B
4th
(Spring)
 		  Japanese Representational Arts A   Manga Culture A     Education in Japan A
4th 
(Fall)		      Manga Culture B    
5th
(Spring)
 
 		        
5th 
(Fall)		           
  
What considerations did you make when choosing your classes?
In my first two years I tried to take as many classes as possible so that I would have more time in my third and fourth year, as in now. That gave me time to complete my graduate school applications.
Usually when I choose classes I like to take at least one day of the week off. I like to concentrate them into one or two days so that I don’t have to be commuting to school every day. I would say three classes per day is a good amount- four classes would be too stressful. This means ideally I would take four classes per day and leave one day of the week free.



(2023.04.10)
School of Global Japanese Studies