You will read reflections written by students who are graduating in May, 2013. Students with the Japanese majors and minors and students who completed our four year language sequence looked back their Japanese language study and commented on their experiences. Please enjoy reading what our students have learned at Emory and how their study of the Japanese language became an important part of their undergraduate academic experiences.

Zhongyu Ken Zhang

I believe I am one of the few students that are pursuing Japanese major along with a hard science. I came to Emory intending to follow the pre-med track. When I saw that Emory offered Japanese classes, I decided to take these classes because I wanted to improve my Japanese skill. After living in Japan for four years as a child, I had a great appreciation for the Japanese culture and I did not want to give up that part of me. After my taking Japanese language classes and participating in the “Japanese Happy Hour”, I saw tremendous improvement in my Japanese skills and decided to continue and major in Japanese. I believe that understand the language is crucial in understanding a culture. My time as a Japanese major has not only reconnected me with a part of myself and improved my Japanese skill, but also, taught me how to understand a culture, thus, its people. I believe this knowledge of connecting with people would help me with my future career in medicine.

Translation: 私はエモリーで多くの学生が専攻する生物学と少数しか専攻しない日本語 の二つを終了しようとしている。医者になるつもりでエモリーに来た私は日本語のクラスがあることに気付いて自分の日本語を磨くために日本語のクラスを取り始めた。日本で四年間過ごした私は日本の文化を愛し、自分の一部と考えていて、それを失わなかった。日本語のクラスをとり、“ハッピーアワー”に参加続けた私の日本語はさらに上達し、日本語を専攻にする事を決めた。私は文化を理解するためにはその文化に係わる言葉の理解が欠かせないと考えている。エモリーで日本語を専攻している間、私は自分の一部を取り戻し、日本語のスキルを上達させただけでなく、文化、つまり、人の理解の仕方を学んだ。人をより深く理解しようとするすべは必ず私の将来、医者になる夢に役立つだろう。

Josephine Duan (A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Highest Honor in Psychology, Summa Cum Laude)

This has been my seventh year of Japanese language study. I have learned about Japanese culture, history and social issues in addition to Japanese language study at Emory. I feel fortunate that I met my teachers and friends with whom I will graduate this May. My teachers always gave us support and helped us to get ready for the job-hunting process and interviews. I am excited about going to work in Japan this October, and will continue to polish up my Japanese. I feel fortunate that I majored in Japanese at Emory. Please accept my sincere appreciation.

Translation: 日本語の勉強はそろそろ七年になります。エモリー大学にいるこの四年間で日本語言語の勉強以外には、日本の文化、歴史、それに社会的な問題についてもいろいろ学びました。学部の先生と同級生たちと出会って本当によかったと思います。先生たちは授業以外でも私たちを支えてくれて、就職活動、面接などの準備や練習をやってくれて本当に助かりました。私は今年の１０月から日本で働くことになりましたから、これからも頑張って日本語の勉強を続けて行きます。エモリーで日本語を専攻して、本当によかったです。ありがとうございました。