Japanese Major Opportunities

Kevin Pricnic '15

Rachel (O'Conner '14) Moriwaki

Ashley Gauer '09

My name is Ashley Gauer, and I graduated from the University of Mount Union in 2009. I was a Japanese major and I studied abroad at Kansai Gaidai during my junior year. My study abroad experience was so great that I wanted to go back once more to Japan, and the JET Program helped me get there. I started the application process in October my senior year and moved to Japan the next August. I spent five years working at a junior high school in Osaka prefecture. The JET Program definitely has some great advantages. There is a good support system set up to help with anything and the schools associated with the program also help you set up your insurance, bank account, phone, rent, etc. While these are great benefits, the best thing the JET Program gave me was the experiences I had with students, coworkers and friends. A lot of Japanese students have never met a foreign person and this was my chance to help them see the world outside of their classroom. In the office I could see how much the teachers were involved with their students and that motivated me to be a better language teacher. Outside of the school, I was able to travel all over Asia and meet people from around the world. I have friends in England, Canada, Australia, Japan and Belgium now, people who I would never have had the chance to meet if I hadn’t taken the chance to participate in the JET Program. This program is an international experience for everyone involved, including people like me who want to see everything that Japan has to offer.

Passing the N1 Japanese Language Proficiency Test 

My experience with the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is varied. The first test I took was the N3 which I passed in one try. Next was the N2, and again I passed the first time I took it. Everyone warned me that the N1 is very difficult and they were right, but that didn’t stop me from taking it every chance I could until I finally passed it. Now, that may sound like a long time but I didn’t feel depressed when I saw my scores. Every time I took the test my scores improved, and it was only a matter of time until my scores were high enough to pass. So how did I do it? I didn’t cram, cram, cram until everything stuck. I didn’t do that when I was a student at Mount Union, so I used a more practical approach. I bought study books for the areas I thought I was weak in, which I learned from those first test scores, and did the exercises in those books. When I finished, I would take a practice test and re-evaluate myself, then start again, changing emphasis on which subject was weakest based on that practice test. Along with those books I would watch Japanese television shows and listen to Japanese music. I would watch the news in Japanese; I would watch variety and comedy programs in Japanese. Most news and variety programs in Japan are made to be understood easily and appeal to a wide audience, so everything is explained well, in order to help the audience understand the complexity of a news story or get the punch line of a joke. I also watched these programs with Japanese captions, this way I could hear the pronunciation, see the movement or picture I can associate with those words and read the kanji for the words I just heard. I could learn those words three ways as well as see a real world application of those words, making it easier to pull out of my brain the next time I needed it. So the best advice I can give is to find as many different ways to learn because one way may not be enough.

Working for Japanese Companies 

Gauer has used her degree in Japanese in her career working for a series of notable companies. She recently took a job with Kojima Productions. "Mount Union was the first step in starting me on my journey. I double majored in Japanese and International Economics, which I think is important. The liberal arts education I got from Mount Union gave me the tools to be flexible in any job. The specialty in Japanese helped to build a good foundation of proficiency which I could use when working in Japan. Without my experience at Mount, I would not be where I am today." After her time at Mount Union, Gauer worked as a translator and an interpreter at the Japanese company, BPT Bucyrus Precision Tech in Ohio. She went on to earn her Master's Degree in Japanese Translation and worked for a Japanese company in Toranomon, Tokyo, Japan. There, she works as a financial translator for the company, translating business contracts from Japanese to English and vice versa. 

Elizabeth Bender '03

I live in Osaka, Japan, and for the last few years I have been employed as a freelance translator and interpreter. I work mainly for two different agencies (one in Tokyo and one here in Osaka city) that send me Japanese to English translation, proofreading, and copy writing projects by email. The content of these projects varies from relatively uncomplicated material such as restaurant menus and tourism pamphlets, to more complex technical or medical documents. Occasionally I am lucky enough to be assigned a job interpreting for a guest lecturer or doing English announcements for festivals in Kyoto.  

It took me a while to get started as a freelance translator, but once I began receiving work, other jobs quickly came my way. I consider myself very fortunate to have a career that requires me to constantly put into practice the Japanese skills I learned as a Japanese major at the University of Mount Union. I am also thrilled that freelance work makes my schedule so flexible; I can do my job anywhere, anytime, so long as I hit my deadlines. Being your own boss is a great feeling, and it really keeps you on your toes!

Carly Federico

As for internships, it is to my knowledge that I'm the only Mount Union student that has done an internship through KGU. I decided to interview for the teaching internships because I was considering applying to the JET program after graduating. This internship is probably one of the reasons I got the job at JET.

Though the internship was very eye opening about how poor communities school districts suffer due to lack of funding, it was still a great experience. A lot of the students at my school, though they were all from Hirakata, had never really seen a foreign person before. I thought this was interesting because Hirakata is home of Kansai Gaidai University, which has a really strong international program. The students at my school had never heard of a passport before, or at least never thought of leaving the country.

I tried my best with helping their Native English Teacher, whom to my surprise was from Malaysia. The school itself was not great, but the people there worked very hard and were very kind to me.

I couldn't have asked for a better location because it was a 15 minute walk from my dorm or a 5 minute bike ride. The internships are unpaid, but I didn't mind it considering that my location was the closest out of all the other international students who were interning. Many of them had to commute 45 minutes or more.

As for the business level internships, some were paid but your Japanese skill had to be very high and you had to be interviewed twice. I knew some very skilled international students from foreign countries that got placed working for Keihan railway. All in all, take advantage of the experiences at KGU because they are all rewarding and you never know how they will benefit you in the future.

Bethany Snider '16

During my study abroad experience in Japan during my fall 2015 semester, I was given the opportunity to do an internship with a Japanese company. My international business professor at Kansai Gaidai University let me know about the opportunity at YUTAKA and got me in contact with the company's president. After meeting with him on campus, I began working for the company two days a week. There, I worked with his daughter, translating materials, meeting with clients and using some of the machinery. I learned a great deal about Japanese business and the language in general during my internship. I also had a chance to do translation work which was something I was not unsure about doing as a career, but after this experience I became very interested in it.

Volunteering with the Japan America Society of Pennsylvania 

During the summer of 2015, I spent mmy summer break volunteering with the Japan America Society of Pennsylvania (JASP). 

Located in Pittsburgh, JASP's purpose to promote understanding and enlightened relations between the United States and Japan. 

These societies are located all around the U.S. and also in Japan. At JASP, I aided in organizing a program called "Ties Through Taiko." This program was part of the TOMODACHI iniative which is a "public-private partnership, born out of support for Japan's recovery fromt he Great East Japan Earthquake, that invests in the next generation of Japanese and American leaders through educational and cultural exchanges as well as leadership programs." Working with other JASP members, I helped host 12 students from Nihon Fukushi Daigaku High School. During their time in Pittsburgh and with the help of Pittsburgh Taiko, they taught Pittsburgh Public School students how to play the taiko drum, and after 10 days they performed a concert together. It was a wonderful experience helping to organize this event and I look forward to volunteering at JASP again in the future. 

Kevin Princic '15

Studying abroad at the Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU) was a very valuable experience for me. Every day we had three hours of Japanese classes in the morning with an elective class once a week in the afternoon. I found this schedule to be very beneficial to my Japanese studies. It gave me plenty of time to do all of the work I was assigned and also manage to go out and have some fun. Many students are discouraged from JCMU because it is a language intensive program, but with the way the schedules are structured, I always had time to travel and experience new things. 

I especially enjoyed the cultural activities at JCMU. We got to experience things such as tea ceremonies, martial arts, traditional Japanese music, flower arranging and even calligraphy among other things. These activities were always interesting and very enjoyable. 

On the weekends I always had a lot of free time to travel around Japan. I found myself going to Kyoto almost every other weekend and I went to Osaka a few times as well. JCMU is located in Hikone in the Kansai region which gives students access to some of Japan's greatest cities. 

My experiences in Japan were truly great. I met many wonderful friends and great experiences that I won't soon forget. I highly recommend this program. 

Internship Opportunities at JCMU

One very unique aspect of JCMU, besides the intensive language program, is their internship program. I did an internship for an elevator company called Fujitec, which was one of the many options JCMU offered. Some students interned in a lcoal sweet shop to improve their formal Japanese while others went to high scholls to student teach English. My experience allowed me to practice my very formal Japanese and learn how Japanese businesses work. During my internship, I worked with a Fujitec employee to arrange a factory tour for JCMU students. I also corresponded with him in Japanese and wrote an official request for the tour using business Japanese. I really learned a lot from my experiences at Fujitec. 

Carly Federico

Living in the dorms was an interesting experience for me. As I was part of the final international student group to live in the seminar houses. Halfway through our spring semester, a week before spring break, we were moved to the new campus, Global Commons Yui. The new dorms were much nicer than the seminar house, as they were single rooms with a bed instead of a futon.

The new rooms include, a bed with storage underneath, a closet, a shoe rack, an air conditioner, a desk, a desk lamp, a phone (to call other rooms in Yui and the front desk), and a mini refrigerator with a small freezer section (I don't recommend using it to freeze perishable items).

There is also a communal kitchen, laundry room, storage closet (for vacuums, irons, and suitcases if they didn't fit in your room) lounges, and unit tatami area (open study area) restroom, and shower room. There's also a external study room and computer lab. Sometimes the toilets and showers were in the same bathroom, it depended on the size of the unit.

The kitchens included electric stove tops, a fish grill, rice cookers, a microwave, an electric water kettle, a toaster, a small blender, sinks, soap, sponges, and various cooking utensils. The major difference from living in the seminar houses and living in the new dorms beside the room set up, is that your neighbors can be Japanese students.

Elcain Chase

I studied abroad in Japan in the spring semester of 2018 at the Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies. I had a wide range of classes from Japanese language, to instruments, to martial arts. I had an amazing time learning about the local culture, meeting new people, and having experiences I would have never imagined. I learned how to carry myself in a foreign country, talk to people in my non-native language, and overcome the fears and anxieties of travel. Mount Union made it easy, affordable, and possible for me to go to Japan. I was able to do a lot of travelling between my studies and even got to meet Post Malone on the streets of Tokyo! I highly suggest any student to talk to Doug and look into study abroad here at Mount Union! It’ll make a world of difference!

Alexandria Baklarz '16 

Dr. Hamako Furuhata-Turner took several Mount Union students on a faculty-led trip to Japan from May 13 to May 26, 2014, including Alexandria Baklarz. During the trip, the students visited a Japanese garden in Tokyo and saw huge, beautiful carp at the pond in the garden. Furuhata-Turner, Baklarz and the other students also had a tea ceremony in the tea house at the same garden. All of the students experienced many differnent examples of Japanese tradition on the trip. They also visited many temples and shrines in Kyoto. The students were all amazed at the speed and comfort of Japanese bullet trains, and were impressed with each of the study-abroad sites they visited. While visiting different study abroad institutions, the students had the chance to meet other Mount Union students who were currently studying abroad, which was an exciting moment for them. The Japanese major students who went on the trip all had a great and fun experience.

Tristen Blink

My name is Tristen Brink. I’m a Junior Japanese and Management double major. For my Japanese Senior Culminating Experience, I am translating Tonari no Totoro, known in English as My Neighbor Totoro, and creating a presentation discussing important themes that I discover during the translation process. My Neighbor Totoro is a film created by internationally renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki during his early career. Since this film was officially translated into English in 1993, my project specifically focuses on translating the graphic-novel adaptation of this film, which belongs to a collection of four such books titled Cinema Comics. To my knowledge, this graphic novel has never been commercially translated into English.

Throughout the duration of translating My Neighbor Totoro, I have learned a lot and been faced with several difficult challenges that I’ve had to overcome along the way. For me, the greatest takeaway from this project is the ability to analyze a language at a more granular level, really delving into the reasoning behind why sentences are structured the way they are, and how native speakers effectively communicate their intentions while in some instances using only a few words or phrases. It is not without difficulty that I have been able to grow in my understanding of Japanese language from this project, however, as I have had to overcome learning colloquialisms and differences in communicative methods used in the high-context Japanese society. But despite these challenges, undertaking this translative process has helped me to come to a deeper understanding of Japanese that will undoubtedly aid me as I continue my education and in my future career.

Brianna Erler

My name is Brianna Erler. I am seeking a bachelor’s degree in Japanese and a multiage teacher’s licensure. Currently, I am taking Japanese language and culture courses along with Education ones as well. Next semester, I will be taking a class called Methods of Teaching Japanese while taking more courses to help further develop my Japanese comprehension and language skills. With a major in Japanese you are required to study abroad, so I am also planning to go abroad to Osaka, Japan during the spring semester of 2020. I will also be entering more Education courses down the line, and during my final semester here at Mount Union, I will be doing my clinical, or student teaching, to fulfil my final requirement to receive my teacher’s licensure, so I will be able to live out my dream of becoming an English teacher in Japan.  

Martinjako Samuel

Having others to share one’s passion is important, I feel. Especially when your passion is one that is not so easy or accessible. The existence of a Japanese club is a definite boon for any student studying the language at UMU. You get to make connections with others who share your passion and can help you learn and grow your skills. The mixing of different levels of proficiency helps those at lower levels gain a slight edge while those at upper levels get review. However, it is not an exclusive club, and even if you are not in any sort of Japanese class, you are more than welcome to join. Japanese club’s environment is friendly and laid back, making it a perfect club to join if you’ve never been in one before. It also provides an opportunity to interact with not only a few of the Japanese exchange students here at Mount Union, but also Japanese high schoolers when they come to visit in late March. The club is also very closely related to another club on campus, the Association of International Students (AIS), allowing members to naturally integrate into another club and familiarize themselves with even more people and cultures.

JPN 102

Hiroshima Jogakuin High School students were invited to JPN 102 (Elementary Japanese II) class on April 4^th, 2019.   They visited the University of Mount Union, and they learned American culture, Global and intercultural communication and so on.  In JPN 102 class, we had some class activities together: introducing each other, talking their daily life, talking preferences, and answering questions.  Lastly, we sang a song, “Totoro”  from Hayao Miyazaki, and these high school students enjoyed singing together with American students.   

Jessica Biltz '15 

When preparing to take the N1 Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), I mostly focused on studying grammar because I anticipated this to be the hardest section. I also studied by taking practice exams in textbooks that I found in the library. In several classes that I took while studying abroad, passing the N1 exam was a major priority, so we often did listening exercises in class which were a great help when it came time to take the exam. There was also a class completely devoted to helping students pass the N1 exam though I did not take the course.

There are many textbooks available for passing all JLPT test levels including N1 grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading and Kanji. There are also many exam prep books which contain practice problems from all of these areas. When preparing to take any of the JLPT exams, I think it is the best to complete practice problems for each section of the test while also focusing on your weak areas in-depth.