Many EALC students go on to achieve great things. Read some alumni stories here.
Justin Brook
Hello everyone, my name is Justin Brook and I graduated from the University of Illinois Spring of 2018. I went to study abroad at Konan University through the Year-in-Japan Program for the spring semester of 2017. My major was linguistics with a minor in EALC.
My time at Konan University and more generally my time abroad in Japan really helped me grow as a person and allowed me to experience a culture totally different from the one I grew up in. For me, the best part of studying abroad was the homestay experience and being able to interact with Japanese students on a regular basis. Living with a host family really allowed me to experience Japanese culture--something you can't get through living in a dorm. Furthermore, being able to regularly interact with Japanese students allowed me to practice Japanese while also making a lot of close friends that I still talk to even now. For people who want to intimately experience Japanese life and culture while also vastly improving their Japanese language ability, the Year in Japan program is a perfect fit.
While the beginning of study abroad (especially if it is your first time abroad or your first time in Japan) can feel like a dream, it won't stay like that forever. There are difficult times and living in a foreign country is no easy feat. However, being forced to step out of your comfort zone is a great experience and can really help you grow as a person, as it did for me.
being forced to step out of your comfort zone is a great experience and can really help you grow as a person, as it did for me.
Overall, I not only vastly improved my Japanese language skills and made friends from all over the world, but I was also able to create many memories and gain a lot of experience during my time abroad in Japan that will continue to influence me for the rest of my life.
Zilin Zheng
I first chose to major in East Asian Languages and Cultures because I was greatly proud of the profound culture and history of my motherland: China. After receiving rigorous instruction in the language and culture of Japan, I was amazed at how Japan strived to develop its own unique culture, distinguished itself from China, and even surpassed China starting from the modern period. This new perspective inspired me to go study at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan in spring 2015. It was truly the best semester in my college life in terms of living with a friendly host family, participating in Japanese traditional dance club, examining Japan’s historical and territory controversies through a critical lens, visiting famous temples and shrines and much more.
This new perspective inspired me to go study at Waseda University in Tokyo [...]. It was truly the best semester in my college life
I am currently completing my Master’s degree in International Education Management at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. My focus area is International Student and Scholar Services. Most importantly, the language skill and cultural knowledge I developed during my time at EALC enables me to better empathize, connect, and communicate with university students in my career.