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.

저는 새로운 언어를 공부하기 시작하면서부터 계속, 유학하는 것이 저의 가장 큰 꿈이었습니다. 일본문화를 좋아하고, 또한 어느 정도 레벨의 지식을 가지고 있었기 때문에, 한국의 많은 학생들이 북아메리카나 영국에의 유학을 선택하는 것에 관계없이, 저는 일본유학을 선택하였습니다. 저는 일본에 대해서는 잘 알고 있었기 때문에, 영어를 사용하는 나라에 유학하는 기회를 가질 수 있는 영어코스에 들어갔습니다. 언어가 저의 전문이라서, 이것이 저에게 있어서 좋은 선택이었습니다. 그리고 저는 일본의 고교과정을 수료하는 것과 함께 저의 영어실력을 향상시키는 기회를 얻는 것을 바라고 있었습니다. 그 결과, 저는 고교 2학년를 캐나다에서 보냈습니다. 다른 문화를 경험하면서, 거기에서 정말 즐겁게 공부할 수 있었습니다.
또한, 저는 캐나다학교의 졸업증서를 받을 수 있었습니다. 이런 유학생활을 통해서 많은 지식을 얻었고, 많은 경험을 하였습니다.
영어코스의 장점은 캐나다에 있었을 때, 저는 일본인 친구들과 만날 수 있어 일본어를 접할 수도 있는 것입니다. 저는 일본에 돌아와서 메이토쿠기주쿠의 생활에 다시 적응하였습니다. 클럽활동으로 영어연극를 하고 있어서 이런 유학에서 실력을 쌓은 영어실력을 유지할 수 있었습니다. 실제 저는 TOEIC과 영어검정시험에 만족하는 결과를 얻을 수 있었습니다. 여기 일본에서 영어코스에 입학하여 경험한 저의 인생은 「일석이조」라 말할 수 있는 효과적이고 자랑스러운 결과였습니다.

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.