Student Spotlight

Why I Chose Keio SFC and Japan

I was very unsure about what I wanted to study in college, so when looking at colleges I decided to focus on the experience. I decided to study abroad because I wanted the experience of being immersed in another language and culture, and chose Japan because I wanted to spend time with my family in Japan and improve my Japanese. I chose SFC because they have English classes, and there is a lot of flexibility in the curriculum, so I felt it was the perfect place to explore to my heart's content and figure out what I wanted to do.

Challenges and Upsides of Attending a Japanese University

I was nervous about how many English classes there would be, and whether it would be easy to start taking Japanese classes at SFC. Though I've been studying Japanese quite a bit, and already knew some Japanese before coming to Japan for university, I knew that I was far from reaching an academic level of Japanese. However, I found that most of the students who had taken Japanese with English support classes or even just regular Japanese classes said that an academic level of Japanese isn't necessary for most classes. A lot of the teachers are understanding and accommodating of international students, and support you as much as they can. A lot of the other students in these classes are supportive as well, and I find that most students don't mind taking the time to explain what they're saying in Japanese and many even take the opportunity to talk in English with me.

Comparing Learning Environments at SFC and Universities Back Home

There is a lot of flexibility in the curriculum at SFC--a lot of freedom to choose classes based not only on the content but also on the language of instruction. A really good way to improve your Japanese, English, or any language, is to use it in a more authentic way. Taking a class in your non-native language, where the content is not about learning that language, can be a tough but fun experience. Since there is such a strong multicultural and multilingual community at SFC, there are plenty of opportunities to practice your non-native language. Another major difference between my home country, the United States, and SFC is that in SFC your area of focus is based on the Seminar you are in. You can start entering Seminars as early as your second semester. Though you typically choose a Seminar whose theme is what you want to study, the teachers are there to support your interests even if your topic is not quite exactly the same as the theme.

Message to Prospective Students

If you are someone looking to be in a diverse community and want to improve your English or Japanese skills, then I recommend joining SFC. If you are someone with a lot of interests and want to take a lot of different classes or someone whose interest doesn't quite fit the majors at any other university, then I recommend joining SFC. Hopefully I'll see you here!

(This story was captured in 2024.)