UNITAS Kofu Messages from Alumni
NANCHAREEYA RATANABHAN (Thailand)
Graduate of UNITAS Kofu
Currently: Overseas Coordinator (Osaka, Japan)
I started teaching myself Japanese because I loved Japanese idols. I chose Yamanashi Prefecture because of its beautiful nature and wonderful environment, and because Kofu is quiet but close to Tokyo. After entering UNITAS Kofu, I studied Japanese every day while teaching English conversation as a part-time job at the UNITAS Foreign Language Academy in the same building. What impressed me most about UNITAS was the enthusiasm of the teachers. They always explained concepts in detail when I had any questions during or after class. One time, there was a part of the teacher’s explanation that I did not agree with. The teacher researched the topic, wrote down the details on a B5 size paper and gave it to me the next day. I was very impressed. In addition, he helped me search for a job and practice for the interviews.
Another good thing about attending UNITAS is the generous support provided by the staff. Not only can you consult in Japanese, but there are teachers who can speak English, Thai, Chinese, Korean, and even Vietnamese, so you can consult with them in your own language, not only about your studies, but also about your daily life. When I was not yet able to speak Japanese well, I was relieved to be able to communicate what I wanted to say in English.
I am currently studying English-Japanese interpretation at a vocational school in Niigata, but I still have two dreams: the first is to go to a country where English is not spoken and learn a new language, and the second is to establish a school for cultivating bilingual children in Thailand.
DANIIL SUPONITSKIY (Russia)
Graduate of UNITAS Kofu
Currently: Designer (Russia)
Since the age of 6, I have been exposed to Japanese anime, loved novels and movies, and have been fascinated by the richness of Japanese culture. I graduated from an art university in Russia, worked as an art teacher and a game design company employee, and enrolled in UNITAS Kofu in 2019. Having lived in an urban city environment until then, I chose Yamanashi Prefecture for its panorama of mountains and amazing scenery.
What impressed me the most during my studies abroad was how the school staff and teachers were very supportive, kind, and always available for consultations. I felt very welcome during the two years, as if I was part of a big family.
Right before I graduated, they entrusted me to design the exterior wall of the annex building, and now my illustration covers a large part of the wall. Knowing that my work will live on at UNITAS even after I return to my home country is such an honor.
After receiving a job offer from a game design company in Moscow, I’ve left Japan, but I really enjoyed studying there for two years and I will always miss Japan. My dream today is to have my manga published in Japan.
To all of you who are planning to go to UNITAS, I’m sure you will not only learn but have an amazing experience!
ZIGUO LAN (China)
Graduate of UNITAS Kofu
Currently: Tohoku University Graduate School Master’s Degree Program
My application for residency status had been rejected in the past, and other schools that were concerned about the so-called “application success rate” refused my reapplication, but UNITAS welcomed me with open arms. In addition to the necessary procedures, the principal even wrote a letter of recommendation, so I felt the warmth of UNITAS even before coming to Japan. Although I was at UNITAS for only six months, the way the school treats their students with respect, the pleasant classroom atmosphere, and the various cultural experiences were all factors that made me feel for the first time that learning at school was interesting and enjoyable.
Although my studies at UNITAS are not directly related to the fact that I am now a medical student despite having a liberal arts background, I feel that it was those six months that allowed me to maintain a constant passion for study and research. Of course, I may have only gained six months’ worth of knowledge from UNITAS, but my first time studying abroad couldn’t be better, and it encouraged me for further studies abroad.
Even if I look back in decades to come, I am sure that I will not regret my decision to choose UNITAS as my first study abroad destination.
TRAN BICH TUYEN (Vietnam)
Graduate of UNITAS Kofu
Currently: Working for an electronics company (Yamanashi, Japan)
My dream of sightseeing throughout Japan brought me to this country, yearning for its beautiful seasonal scenery and fresh air. My journey started in Yamanashi, a place with Mt. Fuji and abundant nature, yet with easy access to Tokyo.
For someone like me who has no relatives in Japan, UNITAS Kofu is like a second home.
Thanks to the videos shown by teachers during class, I learned not only the Japanese language but also gained knowledge about Japanese life, culture, and society.
The school library has a wide variety of books, and it was my daily routine during my stay at the school to borrow books, especially my favorite manga “Detective Conan.”
At the open study space, “UNI-CAFÉ,” in the annex building, there are many events where you can interact and converse with Japanese people and people from other countries in both English and Japanese.
Thanks to the enthusiastic guidance of my teachers in addition to my own efforts, I have obtained the JLPT N1 and am now working for a long-established electronics company in Yamanashi Prefecture. Everyone at the company is fun and friendly, the company treats me well, and I am really happy with my life now.
I hope you all experience and learn a lot of new things at UNITAS!