Student Testimonial

Q What motivated you to study abroad?

My motivation to study abroad was the strong recommendation from my supervisor. Financial support from the university was also one of the reason that I decided to study abroad. In University of Yamanashi, the scholarship from JASSO (Japan Student Services Organization) is available to us and I thought it would be a good deal to be able to study abroad with almost no cost burden. In addition, I heard that China is more advanced in IT than Japan, so I wanted to see it for myself.

Q What was your most memorable experience studying abroad?

Smart phones in China are more pervasive in daily lives than in Japan. It felt like that we cannot live without smart phone. All payments for food and clothing at stores and bicycle rentals etc. are done using QR codes. It was interesting to use the translator while ordering at the restaurant, since orders were placed with a smartphone by reading a QR code. Also I felt that in China, there were more students in one lab than in Japan. For several times, I saw the senior students in the lab guiding the junior students and I thought it makes the burden on the supervisors less and less.  For myself I also consulted with the PhD students on my research in the lab.

Q What kind of classes did you take while studying abroad? What were the classes like?

I took Chinese language, orientation, and specialized subjects, such as Data Structure, Operating System, Computer Network, C++Object-Oriented Programming, Theory of Computation. In all the classes, the professors asked questions in English, so it was good opportunity to practice English. Also I felt that there were more opportunities for discussion than in Japanese university classes. Because there were only international students in the class, whenever I encountered problems that I didn’t understand, I could turn to the international students for help. The atmosphere was quite friendly!

Message to those considering studying abroad

The culture and customs are different from those of Japan, so this is an opportunity to experience different ways of thinking and values from those of Japan. I advise you to consult with International office if you have any concerns for studying abroad.

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