Dreamed about studying abroad. Applied for Japan. Got accepted for a scholarship. But the journey does not end here – it just began. And it started from the once-thought-impossible quest of mastering the Japanese language from ZERO!
Let me share this roller-coaster journey of attending a college-preparatory Japanese language school at the Center for Japanese Language and Culture (CJLC), Osaka University.
DISCLAIMER: Again, this story is based on my personal experience attending the MEXT Embassy track language preparatory school in 2019. The school location, program, schedule, and one-year timetable might have changed in recent years and might differ based on your major (natural science, social science, or pre-medical study).
The scholarship program, however, comes with a preparatory Japanese language school (日本語学校 nihongo gakkou in Japanese) that we need to attend before we enroll in college. This was very nice, since it gave me the chance to learn the language and culture before starting actual college life. But there is a big challenge: they only give us a year to master the language from zero, which is a very short time!
I will walk you through all the experiences: the beginning of the journey, the program, the daily schedule, and other activities we did in this thrilling-but-exciting year.
Finally. Japan, here I go!
After securing the scholarship and finishing some tedious administrative tasks for a couple of months, it was finally time to head to Japan. On April 2, 2019, I set foot in Japan for the first time at the Osaka International Airport, and it felt surreal! Once I arrived at the airport, the journey actually began — I was welcomed by the language school staff, who took us directly to Osaka University by bus. It was also my first opportunity to meet new friends from all over the world, who would be my classmates for the following year.
Long story short, I arrived at Osaka University’s Minoh Campus and, again, finished a series of administrative tasks such as opening a bank account, registering my address, etc. I was then assigned to my dorm room for the next 12 months, which was located within Minoh Campus and less than a 2-minute walk from the classroom. Before starting classes the following week, we were given a couple of days to settle down, finish all the administrative stuff, become familiar with the neighborhood, and buy necessary things like food, utensils, and toiletries.
On the following Monday, the first chapter of my Japanese language preparation journey began.
What does the preparatory program look like?
The Japanese language preparatory school (nihongo gakkou) is generally an institution for intensive Japanese language study, with program lengths varying from a couple of months to several years. However, the Center for Japanese Language and Culture (CJLC) at Osaka University offered a curriculum that differed slightly from the conventional nihongo gakkou.
In addition to Japanese language classes that met every weekday, we were required to take basic natural or social science classes, depending on our desired university major. Our typical schedule involved classes starting at 9 a.m. and finishing at 4 p.m., followed by self-study or homework.
Since students come with diverse levels of Japanese proficiency, CJLC separates the Japanese language classes into seven levels. By the end of the program, however, we are all expected to be able to attend and understand university lectures in Japanese. So it was very challenging for those of us placed in the lowest class (including me), because we needed to catch up to our peers with prior backgrounds in studying Japanese. For me personally, this was very difficult and overwhelming (but I did it eventually).
To secure a spot at a university the following year, we had to face three big exams at CJLC, held in September, December, and February. These exams are very important to us because it was one of the primary considerations in determining which university we would be accepted into for the next four years of study. (In my case, I applied and received an offer to continue at Science Tokyo!)
Aside from academics, the program provided valuable opportunities for hands-on cultural learning, including class trips to specific cultural sites or events, participation in the Host Family Program, and the chance to join various circle activities and events hosted by Osaka University.
A day in my life
Life at CJLC was very busy, but incredibly exciting at the same time. As I mentioned, we typically had class from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
I usually woke up around 8 a.m., took a shower, had a quick breakfast, and got ready for class. Typically, I set aside 10-15 mins to review homework and do some quick recap for the daily Japanese language quiz. The CJLC class structure demanded continuous preparation, including having homework or mini exams (or both!) every single day, so we need to be prepared.
I would leave my dorm around 8:50, and take the two-minute walk to class, making sure to arrive on time. Punctuality was essential because our teachers, whom we call sensei in Japanese, carefully tracked our behavior. Each sensei kept a notebook detailing the day’s events, including every student’s conduct: late attendance, missed homework, not giving attention to teachers — as well as our achievements, like scoring well on a quiz or volunteering.
The first class of the day, starting from 9 a.m., was the Japanese language class. We covered a different topic each day, such as writing on Tuesday, grammar on Thursday, and so on (see details on Table 1). The Japanese class finished at 12 noon, and we had lunch break from 12 to 1 p.m. I would usually eat lunch in the school cafeteria, or go back to the dorm to cook some food.
We attended our afternoon classes from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., which focused on science subjects. Similar to the Japanese class structure, the subjects varied daily: Physics on Wednesday, Math on Thursday, and Chemistry on Friday. Tuesday afternoons were dedicated to Japanese Culture. The one exception was Monday afternoon, when we had no further classes and finished the day at 12 p.m.
To summarize, here is the class schedule for CJLC students majoring in natural science. Note that the content for the Japanese classes differ depending on the class level. I am showing you the beginner class schedule, for those who start the program knowing nothing about the Japanese language.
After classes, I usually took some time to stroll around campus, do some grocery shopping, play table tennis, or just chill and have random chats with friends in the dorm’s common room. I would start preparing my homework from around 5 to 6 p.m., prepare and eat dinner from 6 to 8 p.m., and continue to do homework and/or study from 8 to 12 midnight. I took breaks when I was studying to call family and friends, or just chill and watch movies, do hobbies, etc. I slept at around 1 a.m. (I know this is not ideal — I should have slept earlier), then continue the same routine the next day.
On the weekends, I would usually go out and try to explore places and attractions in the Kansai area. This is a perk of living in Osaka: you can easily explore other prefectures in Kansai, such as Kyoto, Hyogo, and Nara. Other than travelling, I also tried to participate in as many events as possible, such as cultural exchanges with Osaka University international students, spending time at my host family’s house, going to local city events, and much more.
In short, I can summarize my days at CJLC as “work hard, play hard” — I studied intensely, but I played and explored just as much!
One year timetable
The CJLC program was very packed, but well designed. Aside from three big exams (and many more pop quizzes we faced every day), we also need to prepare to apply to the university where we will earn a degree for the next four years. So, if I try to make a timetable of what I did at CJLC in a year, it will look something like this.
| 2019 | |
| early Apr | : Classes started |
| end Jun | : School field trip (2D1N ryokan experience) |
| early Jul | : Mock test, preparing for September’s exam |
| Aug | : Summer holiday for only two weeks |
| early Sep | : First big exam (2 weeks) |
| late Oct – early Nov | : Campus fair (the campus representatives came to CJLC!) |
| Nov – Dec | : Begin deciding which university to attend |
| early Dec | : Second big exam (2 weeks) |
| late Dec | : Write and submit university application |
| Dec – Jan | : New year holiday (1 week) |
| 2020 | |
| early Jan | : Receive information about next step of application (another written test, interview, etc) |
| Jan – Feb | : Interview(*) |
| end Jan – Mar | : University application results arrive(*) |
| early Mar | : Third big exam (2 weeks) |
| mid Mar | : Graduation from CJLC |
| end Mar | : Prepare to move out from the dorm |
(*) University application interview and results schedules may vary based on the target university
In summary, our one year at CJLC was full of exams and university preparation. It was exhausting, but I feel very grateful for all the sensei who patiently taught and guided us through each step of the preparation for university, ensuring not only that we learned the language but also that our overall wellbeing was cared for.
Extras
CJLC is not just about learning Japanese and exams. They also taught us Japanese culture, and offered us unforgettable memories in blending and directly experiencing the culture itself. We were encouraged to join many events, such as school festivals, international student organizations, circle activities, school trips, and many more. Since I do not have the space to tell you all the details of each event, I will tell you briefly about two events that left a deep impression on me: the traditional Japanese-inn (旅館—ryokan) experience and the host family program.
First ryokan experience
As part of the Japanese preparatory program, CJLC always organized a 2-day school trip for us international students to experience Japanese culture, specifically staying in a ryokan — a traditional Japanese inn. For my group, we went to Mie Prefecture, where we visited Meoto-Iwa, Mikimoto Pearl Island, and the famous Ise Jingu.
But still, the most memorable experience was the ryokan stay. It was the first time for most of us to sleep on a futon above the tatami floor, wear a yukata, even trying the Japanese hot spring — onsen! We also had dinner together in a very Japanese-style atmosphere: from classic Japanese food to singing and enjoying the performance in the dinner hall.
There were so many first-time experiences on this trip, I was even a little bit overwhelmed. But mostly I am really grateful to CJLC for organizing events like this that prepared us to face our coming years living in Japan.
Host Family Program
Before we started the yearlong nihongo gakkou program, Osaka University offered us to join the host family program. A bit different with most of the host family program that made us stay in a host family’s house for a couple of weeks or months, the Osaka University Host Family Program (OHP) offers a six-month period for us to know more about the selected family, without need to actually stay (overnight) in their house. Hence, by joining this program, we are encouraged to meet with the host parents and kids once every week or two weeks. We can do any activities we want: from visiting their house to attending events together.
I am really grateful to meet such a sweet and welcoming host family: the Tsuboyama family. They warmly welcomed me, introduced me to a wide range of Japanese culture and events, let me play with their two adorable daughters, and so much more. They even prepared a cake and dinner to celebrate my birthday at their house — how sweet!
I also got the chance to introduce my culture. I brought some traditional clothes (batik) for them and cooked some Indonesian food, and they liked it! They even met (and welcomed) my family from Indonesia when they visited Japan.
Even though it was only a six-month long program, we’ve kept our bond and still stay in touch today. We meet whenever I get the chance to visit Kansai, and we usually have lunch or dinner once every year. Once again, I am really grateful to have met the Tsuboyama family, and all thanks to CJLC and Osaka University for the OHP program.
Takeaway
My year in the CJLC Japanese preparatory program was a roller coaster of growth: thrilling and exciting, yet often tiring and exhausting. I was incredibly fortunate to meet so many supportive people — my dedicated teachers, mentors, friends, host family, and every individual I encountered during my time in Osaka. They pushed me to excel until I successfully gained acceptance to Science Tokyo. While there were sleepless nights dedicated to studying, those were far outnumbered by the days spent exploring Osaka and the Kansai region, immersing myself in a new culture, and learning from the people around me.
For those aiming to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Science Tokyo through the embassy-recommendation MEXT scholarship, the preparatory Japanese language program was a critical foundation that made my academic journey in Japan possible. My time at CJLC was a true blessing: a truly lovely and cherished memory, and one of the best chapters in my life.
