I’m from Meitoku’s sister school in Canada, Dakota Collegiate. Right now I’m learning Japanese as part of Meitoku’s sister school program, but when I first came here, I couldn’t understand Japanese at all, so I was always confused, and didn’t even know what I should do to improve. But at that time, my new friends in my dorm or in my club were really kind and taught me lots about Japanese language and culture. At first it was difficult to make friends because I couldn’t join in the conversations, but I felt really touched by everyone’s kindness.
Now I have many friends. I’ve joined the track and field club, and take part in club activities almost every day. I have a really fantastic time in club and so I have many special memories of my time here. I think I was able to have such a wonderful experience because my classmates and teachers always supported me.
My Japanese has improved, and I’ve been able to learn many things outside of class too. I’m glad that I was able to have this wonderful experience at Meitoku, and I want to thank everyone I met here.

I came to Meitoku from China last October. Back then I was bad at Japanese and I could not understand what the teachers were saying at all. But I was blessed with some really kind senior students who translated the lessons for me everyday, and thanks to them, I quickly got used to life here. After a month I was even able to talk to the teachers!
To improve my conversational skills, I always tried to talk to the teachers after class too, and at the weekends I could spend time with students who had come from many countries. It was really great getting to know different countries and different cultures. In school there are many activities which take place outside the classroom. I was able to participate in nature walks, culture festivals and international concerts. At the international concert, I preformed along with students from our sister school in Canada, and afterwards we had a party and took photos together. I enjoyed many things that I just could not have experienced in my home country.
Finally, I really want to thank all of my teachers and friends at Meitoku. The lessons can be tough, but everyone treated me kindly.

My name is Yoku and I’m from Bangkok in Thailand. Pursuing my interest in Japanese culture, I came to Meitoku after graduating from junior high school. I came here not just to study Japanese, but also to learn many other important things.
First of all, by being apart from my mother and father and the rest of my family, I came to realize the true importance of family. At the same time I came to appreciate the difficulties and importance of learning to live with other people. For example, if you share a room with someone who’s not from your home country, you soon come to understand the importance of communication. But at the same time you get to explore each other’s language and customs, and so being at Meitoku is a really worthwhile experience.
When I first became an exchange student here, I was living in a different country, with a different language, and it was a little tough until I got used to it, but my teachers and friends really helped me out, so I didn’t have to worry too much, and it was all OK in the end. Of course it wasn’t just tough experiences; there were really enjoyable experiences too. Joining the Japanese Drumming club was great! We didn’t have many members, but we all enjoyed the international atmosphere of the club.
Building on what I learned here at Meitoku, I want to continue to do my best in the future too.

I came to Meitoku from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Five of us came to Meitoku from Vietnam, and we had studied Japanese a little before leaving, but I really didn’t know enough.
I’ve enrolled in the Japanese Course at Meitoku to learn Japanese, having already graduated from my high school in Vietnam. My class consists entirely of overseas students, but after school we go back to the dorms and we hang out and chat with lots of Japanese students, and thanks to this my Japanese has gotten better and better.
My dream is to enter a Japanese university, and learn how to be a translator. To do this it is absolutely essential to master the Japanese writing system, and that’s quite difficult for me, but I’ll do whatever it takes to fulfill my dream.
Staying in the dorm rooms can be tough, but I have lots of friends there, so it’s also really good fun and quite interesting. At the dorms we have two hours of self-guided study every day, and it’s important to use this time wisely. The teachers at Meitoku are very kind and help me out when I don’t understand. I want to thank them for all they have done for me.

Ever since I started learning foreign languages it was my dream to be an exchange student. I liked Japanese culture and had studied it to a certain extent, so ignoring the fact that many of my Korean classmates were travelling to the US or the UK, I was determined to come to Japan. I already knew a lot about Japan, so I chose to enter the English course here at Meitoku so that I could have an opportunity to travel to an English-speaking country later on. Languages are my specialty so I think this was a really great choice for me. I wanted to broaden my knowledge of the Japanese school system while also improving my English abilities. With this in mind, I went to Canada in my second year here, and this allowed me to experience cultural exchange and to have a lot of fun while studying too.
In addition, I was able to get a graduation certificate from a Canadian school, as well as obtain lots of useful knowledge and experiences.
Another strong point of the English Course is that while I was in Canada I still had Japanese friends, so I was able to practice Japanese there too. Then when I came back to Meitoku I was able to slip into school life here again. I participated in a English language play, and so I was able to put what I’d learned in Canada to good use. Now I have achieved my goals with TOEIC and my general level of English, and so for me, coming to Japan and entering the English course efficiently allowed me to kill two birds with one stone.

I came to Meitoku from Jakarta in Indonesia. When I first arrived here I could only speak Indonesian and English, so it was pretty hard at the start. Not being able to speak the language and being separated from my parents and put into a totally new environment was a really difficult experience for me.
The Japanese and Indonesian climates are quite different too. For me Japanese winters are freezing cold, and the culture is different too, so getting used to life in the dorms was pretty difficult.
Now I’m enrolled in the 1½ Year Japanese Course, but I’m not just learning Japanese language, I’m also in the Judo club and can learn about Japanese etiquette and so on with Japanese students and Thai students too. Judo can be a difficult sport but I enjoy it a lot. Before I came here I didn’t know anything about Japanese language or culture but now thanks to the kind help of my friends and teachers, I’ve become able to chat away in Japanese with my friends.
There still aren’t a lot of Indonesian exchange students here, but I think it’d be great if more and more could come to Meitoku. I’m so happy that I had this chance to come to Meitoku and learn with students from many different countries.

When I came to Japan after graduating from junior high school in Taiwan I really didn’t know any Japanese at all. I couldn’t understand Japanese customs and I didn’t understand any of the rules in the dorms, even when they were explained to me. It was all so tough, I really thought of just giving up and going home. But my teachers and the senior students were so kind to me, and explained things slowly so that I could understand, they listened carefully to what I wanted to say, and before I knew it I’d gotten used to the school little by little. Looking back on it now, it really was difficult, but it was also a formative experience for me, and without that experience, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
Before I became an exchange student, I was a bit spoiled, and whenever I had a problem I’d just run to my parents. I behaved without ever really thinking about my future. However now I’ve become the kind of person who thinks properly about the future and tries to find a way forward. Now, If I have a problem, I don’t just tell my parents, but instead try to find a solution by myself. I won’t try to run away anymore. That I could mature like this is entirely thanks to my teachers and friends. I want to thank all of the teachers who helped me when I couldn’t understand and all of the friends I shared both tears and smiles with here at Meitoku.
Coming to Meitoku, experiencing a different lifestyle and a different culture while meeting many wonderful people is a special memory which I’ll treasure for the rest of my life.

Having graduated from an international school in the Philippines, I felt confident in my command of English, but I wasn’t at all sure about my Japanese abilities when I first came to Meitoku. But at Meitoku I made many English-speaking friends who were really kind and helped me out with many things when I couldn’t understand Japanese fully. Using both languages they were able to teach me many things about Japan and Japanese culture.
Philippine culture and Japanese culture are fairly different so at first it didn’t seem like we could find common ground and bridge the cultural divide, but the senior students and my classmates did their best to understand me and my situation.
I became a member of the golf club, and we practiced hard with the aim of becoming the best in Japan. I have so many happy memories of spending time with my teammates. The students and teachers here at Meitoku are always so kind. In class, in club and in the dorms too, I was able to learn many important lessons.
Coming to Meitoku was such a great experience for me and I want to thank everyone who made it such a happy and positive experience.