For about the past year or two I’ve been trying to learn a language (not Japanese). It’s been a bit on and off but I know a good deal of the basics. I’m wondering if I should mention this or not in my SoP? Because what if they ask me why I haven’t attempted to learn Japanese since I’m saying that I’m “passionate about learning languages”? And just to clarify this language was not part of my degree or anything. Its something I was kind of interested in learning when I had a spare 5 minutes during the day. Saying I love learning languages is probably a good thing but I’m a bit unsure since it’s not Japanese. And also I don’t know Japanese at all except for the obvious hello, thank you and goodbye. I’d definitely be interested in learning more Japanese though, if I get accepted. So, should I include it or not in my SoP?
5 comments
Yes and overstate it (slightly)
Yeah, I’d skip over the part where while thinking of moving to and working in Japan you decided to learn another language. It’s not really relevant.
Put something in there about how you’re trying to learn Japanese, though. And just in case you do get the yes, actually focus on your Japanese studies.
Don’t say when you were learning this language. Instead just include it on the language portion of the applicant and then don’t volunteer any more information about it.
Say you can empathize with young Japanese students learning English because you are a language learner yourself. You enjoy learning about different cultures and languages and feel enthusiastic about teaching what you know with your future students. You’re excited to especially learn more about Japanese culture and the language in the near future.
This was my situation. I’ve learned a few languages for fun and prioritised one in my university studies. Although Japanese was in there, it certainly wasn’t my focus and that was obvious in my SOP and application.
JET couldn’t have cared less about me not prioritising Japanese. They were just impressed by my desire to learn language. I sold my language learning experiences as one of the key components as to why I am excellent language teacher because I could easily understand my students’ experience having been there time and time again myself in my own studies.
Definitely talk about learning languages, don’t worry at all if that language wasn’t Japanese.