留学のためにやっておいた方がいいこと5選
留学をしたい人たちへ、留学のためにやっておいた方がいいこと5選
1. 留学をする動機を明確にしておく。
2. 語学はリスニングとスピーキング重視で事前に勉強しておく。
3. 挫折は必ず来ることを心得ておく。
4. 自分の殻に閉じこもらずコミュニケーションを楽しむ。
5. 帰国した後のビジョンを留学中に描いておく。
先ず第一に、
二つ目に、
3つ目は、
4つ目は、コミュニケーションを楽しむという事です。
5つ目は、留学前でもいいし、
余談ですが、
Here are five things to do before, during, and after studying abroad:
1. Clarify your reasons for studying abroad.
2. Prioritize listening and speaking skills in language study beforehand.
3. Be prepared for inevitable setbacks.
4. Enjoy communicating and avoid retreating into your shell.
5. Envision your plans after returning home while studying abroad.
First of all, you need a clear reason for studying abroad. If your only reason is a vague desire to go abroad, you might be overwhelmed by the difficulties you’ll encounter. Personally, I spent about a year in America on an exchange program during high school. However, since my only real reason for going was a vague wish to experience life outside of Japan, I experienced homesickness multiple times. It’s important to have a clear motivation and goal, like wanting to become fluent in English, make friends with foreigners, or lay the groundwork for studying abroad again in college. Having a clear purpose will provide you with the strength to overcome challenges when they arise.
Second, make sure to focus on listening and speaking skills before going abroad. In Japan’s language education system, we mainly focus on reading, but if you can’t understand what people are saying or pronounce things correctly, you won’t be able to communicate effectively. This could result in a less fulfilling study abroad experience and increase your chances of feeling homesick. It’s essential to learn conversational language skills, whether through online English classes or by learning from people who have already spent time abroad.
Third, keep in mind that setbacks are inevitable. When you’re staying abroad for a long period, it takes time to adapt to a different culture. No matter how much you’ve prepared, things are likely to go wrong at first. However, if you keep putting in effort and enduring the hard times, the fun moments will come. Take time to reassess your goals and purpose for studying abroad. It’s crucial to have the mental strength to stay true to yourself.
Fourth, enjoy communicating. This is something I struggled with, and many Japanese people, being more introverted, often find it difficult as well. While personality plays a part, it’s important to put yourself out there and actively engage with others. Doing so will open up many opportunities, and those who are proactive in communication tend to acquire language skills faster.
Fifth, whether before or during your study abroad experience, it’s important to have a vision of how you want to use what you’ve gained once you return home. Without this, you might fail to make the most of your experience. Even today, studying abroad is a rare opportunity, and global companies are looking for people who are proficient in languages and have an international perspective. Make your study abroad experience one of your strengths, and confidently promote yourself. Also, since your language skills will have improved after studying abroad, it’s a good idea to take proficiency exams like Eiken to certify your abilities. This will be useful for college applications and job hunting.
As a side note, after graduating from college in the U.S., I worked there for four more years, but when I returned to Japan, I hadn’t thought about what I wanted to do or what kind of job I wanted, because I had originally intended to live abroad permanently. As a result, I took a job at a company just because they offered me a position. However, I quit after two and a half years, changed jobs, and then switched jobs again, and now I’m working as a caregiver. People’s values change over time, but I sometimes regret not thinking more concretely and preparing for my job search before returning home. I hope that students considering studying abroad can learn from my experience and lead a fulfilling life.