Watch a video testimonial of Elizabeth, one of Coto School Finder’s students whom we’ve successfully placed at Toyo Language School in Tokyo!
What motivated you to study in Japan?
I decided to move to Japan for various reasons: the culture – traditional or pop, style and design, and to be able to be surrounded by all of these things sounds very cool to me. The local food is very delicious, too! Aside from my love for the culture, I was also enjoying learning the language when I was taking online lessons while still in America. It was one session per week and that made me want to improve my Japanese a lot quicker, have more opportunities to speak to the locals, and meet people who are as interested in the language as much as I do.
Why did you choose Toyo Language School?
I was attracted to the straightforward information provided by the school, classes divided every 3 months, and their MyTeacher system – which allows each student to have an adviser that would personally guide them and help them stay on track and keep their goals in check.
How has your experience been studying at Toyo Language School?
It’s been fun! I’ve been enjoying meeting other students who have the same interests and who are as motivated to learn Japanese as much as I am. I’ve been busy and have been doing a lot of studying, but it also feels rewarding as I know I’ve been working hard! The school offers a nice pace too. I feel like I’m learning something new and useful every day. I also feel like my reading and writing skills have improved a lot, and so did my speaking… But my goal is to get better at it! (laughs)
What are the teachers like at Toyo Language School?
We always have energetic lessons! The teachers are always prepared and are ready to answer our questions about the lessons we have that day. They are also very attentive to the students’ interests and check up on them every once in a while.
What’s your favorite memory so far?
I think my favorite memory is meeting so many different types of people from all over the world and hearing about what brought them to Japan, their interests, and their home countries. It has been super interesting and I enjoy that a lot.
How did Coto School Finder help you with your visa application and process?
Seeing all the schools that Coto School Finder partnered with definitely helped me narrow down which one to choose. As there are so many language schools in Japan, having someone recommend a school was very beneficial. The turnaround was very quick too, there wasn’t a lot of wait time. School Finder helped me understand what each form was for and what I needed to provide for my application – so I was feeling hopeful to get all the forms through, and made sure to do my best to fill them as correctly as possible.
What’s a day like in the life of a Japanese language student living in Tokyo?
I usually get up early and get ready for school, and sometimes I’ll chat with my friends back home because the morning is a good time to do that. The first half of my day would be spent in school, and the second half would be studying with the friends I met at Toyo. I spend my evenings usually going for walks or relaxing a little bit, studying a bit more before I eat dinner and get ready for bed.
Tell us some of the challenges you faced when coming to Japan!
Reading in between the lines. A lot of things are either unsaid or are very passively communicated, so I try to keep that in mind and remind myself that I need to be mindful and understanding, and try to listen to what is not being said (laughs). Another one would be missing out on the events/stuff that you do with your family, but I’ll have to miss them for now since I’m here.
What advice would you give to people who want to study in Japan?
While I’m not an extrovert, I challenged myself to talk to new people and because of that, I have made new friends. I thought that the quicker I did it or the quicker I got started, the better and more fun I would have during my time in Japan. There’s so much I can get out of this experience by just opening up – so that’s one advice I’d share with everyone looking into starting a new adventure in Japan!
Want to live in Japan? Start by learning Japanese. Partnering with 16 of the top language schools across Japan, Coto School Finder will assist you in finding the right program and applying for a student visa — for free!
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