"I interned at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Frontier Sciences (GSFS) for seven weeks in the summer of 2022. I was a research assistant at a plant molecular biology laboratory, and this role perfectly tied together my majors and my pursuit of learning Japanese."
Major(s) and Certificate(s): Majors in Conservation Biology and International Studies; Certificates in Japanese Professional Communication and Environmental Studies
Language(s): Japanese, French
Graduation Year: 2023
What motivated you to study these languages?
I’ve always been very interested in language learning, and in high school, I had the opportunity to study abroad one summer in Fukuoka, Japan. I studied Japanese there for three weeks and instantly fell in love with the language and culture. Despite being told how difficult Japanese is for a native English speaker, I found it surprisingly intuitive to pick up (and nothing like French, which I took for six years and still couldn’t speak a single word of to a local!). I loved that it had a completely different writing system, different grammar structure, and very straightforward pronunciation. When I entered university, I was determined to continue my studies.
What do you remember about your UW language classes? How were they different from other classes you took?
Japanese classes at UW were pretty intense, in that the first handful of semesters, class was five days per week. It was also completely immersive, and we never spoke any English. These two factors allowed us to rapidly learn the language.
Having this immersion from the start also set us up with a great foundation. When I took my first French class in 7th grade, we would be given lists of words in French with their translations in English. From then on, whenever I spoke French, I would have to translate each sentence in my head from English. This is something I never experienced with Japanese because the method used to teach it didn’t allow us to ever think in English. If we didn’t know a word, we would be shown a picture or given the definition in Japanese. I am so thankful for this teaching style!
Additionally, I remember that my grade in Japanese was pretty much equivalent to the effort I put into it. Our homework was such a large percentage of our grade, and I think this was so motivating for me, as homework exercises were so essential to actually learning the language. I always felt that I was actively learning a skill, rather than just trying to earn a good grade.
Finally, I really miss both my professors and my peers from my Japanese classes! The department was not very large, and so it was really nice to see the same faces each semester.
Was there value to your out-of-classroom experiences? How did they add to your undergraduate experience/coursework?
I interned at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Frontier Sciences (GSFS) for seven weeks in the summer of 2022. I was a research assistant at a plant molecular biology laboratory, and this role perfectly tied together my majors and my pursuit of learning Japanese. It was probably the most valuable thing I did during my time as an undergraduate. I got to use and practice Japanese in a real-life setting while also gaining useful skills and experience in lab work and biology.
What have you done in a professional capacity since graduating from UW-Madison?
When I graduated in 2023, the job market was very difficult, and it still is today. I really struggled to find my first job and eventually landed a position as a receptionist for JLL at Google. Since this didn’t have much at all to do with what I studied, I worked really hard to increase my skills and market my resume, and eventually found a position at my current company, ClimeCo. We are a small but global sustainability solutions company, and I personally work on managing a carbon-intensity based product certification program, which is recognized on large retailers such as Amazon.
What are ways, either expected or unexpected, that your language study has benefited you in your career?
I have landed multiple interviews for the main reason of having Japanese on my resume. When I was job searching, I focused on two kinds of roles: ones where I could use Japanese in a business setting, and ones that focused on sustainability. While I ultimately found myself in the latter, it was clear from my job search that having a second language on your resume is a great way to stand out and is still highly valued by employers. Even in my current job, where I use no Japanese, the fact that I speak a second language was seen as a strong plus by my manager.
How have you maintained or improved your language(s) since graduation?
Since graduation, I visited Japan once more, where I was able to get in a lot of practice! I definitely don’t study as much as I want to, but I occasionally take 1-on-1 classes with an italki tutor or read some stories on Satori Reader. I am hoping to enroll in some in-person classes at some point soon, when I can find the time.
What advice do you have for students who are studying language(s) about how to incorporate their interests and skills into their future goals?
University is the absolute best time and place to dedicate yourself to learning a language. Once you graduate, time and money all get in the way of continuing your studies.
My advice would be to have a plan on how you will continue studying past college and seriously consider whether you would like a job where you use the language. If you are going into an unrelated field like I did, it can be really difficult to keep studying. If it’s possible for your circumstances, I would recommend signing yourself up for a class or something that can hold you accountable to continue studying, even before graduating.
Also be sure to plan ahead for study abroad or international internships! If your majors have lots of requirements, look into how study abroad fits into your schedule early (and pray that there isn’t another global pandemic!).
I would also highly recommend taking a conversation-based class in the language. It increased my confidence in speaking Japanese immensely and was by far the most helpful class for navigating real-world experiences.