Message from students

Ms. Kanokwan LAPPRAKOBKIT

Before coming to Japan, I had previously taught Japanese to high school students in Thailand for about five years. During that time, I realized my teaching style always relied on the same teaching methods and was not adequately meeting the diverse needs of today's learners. I felt a need to improve my own teaching skills — and that’s what led me to pursue graduate studies. Naruto University of Education, a university that specializes in the field of education with a field specialized in Japanese language education and Japanese culture, felt like the perfect fit for me. I applied for a scholarship from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and was grateful to be accepted into the graduate program. In the Japanese language education and culture field of the Global Education course, students can learn not only about the theories and teaching methods of Japanese language education but also gain valuable hands-on experience through practical activities like mock lessons and lesson planning. These practical opportunities have been incredibly helpful in preparing for my future career. In addition, I have had the opportunity to exchange ideas with not only Japanese students but also international students from around the world. Discussing a wide variety of topics in class has exposed me to new perspectives and broadened my own worldview. Outside of the classroom, the university offers a wide range of activities, such as cultural experiences and field trips that have deepened my understanding of Japanese culture. Studying at Naruto University of Education has been both a very enjoyable and valuable experience. After graduation, I hope to use the knowledge and experience I have gained to support Japanese language learners in my home country, Thailand. Furthermore, I hope that I can be a motivating force for them to learn and continue to learn Japanese by sharing my experiences in Japan.

Ms. Narumi KATO

I was first introduced to the field of Japanese language education in college. At the time, I only thought of it as a way to work overseas. However, as I continued my studies and gained experience as an assistant in Japanese language classes for international students, I became fascinated by the depth and appeal of the field. That experience inspired me to pursue graduate school so I could gain more specialized knowledge and practical teaching skills. Students in this course come from a variety of backgrounds — some have hands-on experience in Japanese language education, while others are just learning about the field for the first time. To support everyone, the program offers a well-structured curriculum that guides students from the basics to more advanced topics, enabling them to acquire and develop their knowledge and skills step-by-step. For those with prior teaching experience, the course provides a great environment to reflect on their own practice from a theoretical perspective and gain new insights for further growth. If you have even the slightest interest in Japanese language education, I encourage you to consider enrolling in the Graduate School at Naruto University of Education. You will be very glad you enrolled, spending your days feeling fulfilled and inspired.

Ms. Yuka NIKI

I have been studying Japanese language education since I was an undergraduate student, and during that time, I developed an interest in the education of children and students in Japanese schools who need Japanese language support. I chose this course because it offers the opportunity for graduate students to obtain a teaching license, and I also wanted to further deepen my expertise in Japanese language education. In the future, I hope to support non-native speakers of Japanese not only in but also outside of school, helping them participate fully in their local community and society through language support. Although our university is small, it’s home to students from a variety of countries and backgrounds. Among them are international students with unique experiences, as well as Japanese students who have worked as teachers in either public schools or Japanese language schools, and those who have overseas work experience teaching Japanese. Being surrounded by peers with such diverse perspectives inspires me every day, both inside and outside of the classroom. This course has given me the chance to constantly broaden my own views and experiences by learning alongside my peers. I encourage you to join us on the Global education course and enjoy a truly fulfilling student life.

Ms. Marjona NUKAROVA

My name is Marjona Nukarova, and I am a first-year Master's degree student at Naruto University of Education in Japan, originally from Uzbekistan. I am currently enrolled in a Master's program in Japan under the JICA scholarship, having been granted the opportunity to study for two years. Prior to my studies in Japan, I worked as a specialist for foreign language teachers in the educational administration of the Bukhara region, Uzbekistan. I have several reasons for choosing Japan as the country where I can pursue my Master’s degree. First of all, every strong and developed country serves as a model for other developing countries, and Japan is one of those nations whose culture, ethics, education, and economy have achieved significant success. Additionally, Japan is currently a reliable partner of Uzbekistan, supporting the reform process and assisting in the modernization of education and the economy. This is not only my perspective but also a compelling example for Uzbekistan in scientific, technical, and other mentioned aspects. I want to emphasize that Naruto University is one of the most promising educational institutions I have encountered, which influenced my decision to choose this program. I aim to address various modern educational challenges from a broad perspective and specialized knowledge, thereby improving the state of education in developing countries by applying the Japanese educational style. I believe that the mentors at Naruto University will enhance both my personal and academic knowledge, enabling me to transfer this knowledge to Uzbek teachers and gain insights into Japanese education. By applying the results of my education to society and utilizing them to solve specific problems, I am confident that I will contribute to the prosperity of education in my homeland.

Mr. Kazunari SEKIYA

While serving in the Self-Defense Forces after graduating from university, I became interested in education and enrolled in this course to obtain a teaching license. I also became interested in education outside of Japan through my experience as a volunteer at a school in Nepal. After that I decided to join this course.The strength of this course is the experienced professors and the opportunity to interact with many international students. In particular about 80% of the current students in this course are international students, and they are elites who have worked as teachers or in the Ministry of Education in their home countries. There are almost no other places in Japan where you can interact with such people, except for our school. By taking classes with these people and bouncing opinions off each other through discussions, I am able to realize that my knowledge is expanding every day, and I am able to spend fruitful days.People with various backgrounds gather here. Let's spend our days learning together.

Ms. Mecky WALLY

To earn a master’s degree especially from an abroad university through a scholarship program has always been my dream, and the God Almighty finally has answered my prayer when I successfully passed all the four stages of the application process to enter Naruto University of Education (NUE), through JICA Scholarship. I am very grateful to JICA and the people of Japan for this golden and lifetime opportunity. After being the research student for the last six months, I am now looking forward to doing my Masters in Global Education in Mathematics and Science Field for the next two years. My passion and zeal in Mathematics and Science Education has prompted me to pursue my post-graduate study in NUE, thus meeting the short term and long-term goals I have for my career path and educational path. Having been in the field of teaching in secondary level, teaching general science and biology for some time , and then moving on to the tertiary level, training pre-service primary teachers on both content and pedagogy for mathematics and science courses prescribed under the national teachers’ college curriculum (PSD), I was confronted with numerous challenges and issues, induced by the inconsistent curriculum in the education system of Papua New Guinea (PNG). My study here in the global education course will further enrich, expand, and deepen my expertise. Additionally, by part taking in the extracurricular activities, off- campus training, Japanese culture and learning Japanese language courses offered here will supplement my learning experiences. Moreover, by interacting with fellow international scholars and local scholars, we will all learn a lot from each other. After graduation, I intend to actively utilise the knowledge, skills, and experiences gained through my study to improve the mathematics and science teacher education in my country, and organisation I represent. Furthermore, I believe that through building continuous network with Japan and PNG, we can foster a global community ensuring quality, compatible and comparable lifelong global education (UNSDG 4). If one is thinking of studying in an ideal graduate education university, then I feel more than blessed to highly recommend NUE. The variety of courses offered here, very conducive world class learning and research facilities, very highly qualified and well-versed professors and tutors in their respective fields, and very qualified and helpful support staff such as ISO staff, ICT personals, Librarians, etc. are amongst the many attributes of this Ideal university where we all can enjoy and learn a lot. Aligato goizamasu. Thank you so much.Minasan, Gambetta Kundasai. All the best to everyone.