When I first came to Sophia University, I did not plan on study abroad due to the pandemic. However, my friends and seniors in my department and a German professor encouraged me to give it a try, so I decided to take on the challenge myself.

I chose Germany for two reasons: I wanted to study not only English but also German, which I had studied as a second language, and I wanted to study English Education, my major, from the perspective of another country.

I only studied German as a second language, so I was not at all confident that I would be able to keep up with classes conducted entirely in German, and I was very worried about that.

In order to improve my German as much before going, I tried to increase my exposure to the German language by taking advanced classes, using the foreign language communication group at the LLC, and practicing conversations with people from Germany who were introduced to me by my seniors. On the other hand, I wished that I had not only studied German and about Germany, but also learned a little more about the Japanese language and culture before I left. I found out for the first time that there were far more students interested in Japan than I had imagined, and I often struggled to answer questions about Japanese history and culture, or about Japanese grammar and expressions.

The university is very large, and instead of having all the departments on one campus like Sophia University, the school buildings are spread all over the city. The atmosphere of the student body was very stimulating, with the university library always full of students, all dedicated to their studies, which inspired me to work hard as well.

The classes were very active, mainly based on discussions and presentations among the students. Everyone was not afraid to express their opinions, so at first I was overwhelmed and had a hard time keeping up with the class. A class called Teaching English as a Foreign Language was particularly impressive. This class was designed for students who want to become English teachers in Germany, and we learned about the theory of learning English, the methodology of teaching practice, and the transition of English education in Germany. It was a great learning experience for me to study and work hard with like-minded German students of high caliber.

Administrative procedures such as obtaining a visa and registering as a resident were difficult. The procedures were not as smooth as in Japan, sometimes the person in charge told me different things, and I never heard back from them even after many e-mails and phone calls. With the help of my German friend, I was able to solve these problems through persistent and repeated negotiating efforts.

I had also wondered whether or not to study abroad for a while, but I am really glad that I went to Germany as an exchange student. I made friends with many international students from all over the world, was impressed by landscapes I had never seen before, and realized the value of actually doing things with my own hands and feet. I am proud to have made friends all over the world, and I feel that everything I experienced in Germany is a great asset to my life. I encourage you to try studying abroad regardless of what you study.