JAPANESE Alumni
Ben Liberatori
Major: Computer Science
Graduation: 2021
Why did you study Japanese language at WCU?
The comprehensive Japanese language courses offered here were one of my deciding factors for enrolling at WCU. I have had an interest in Japanese culture from a young age, but I had no substantial knowledge of the language itself prior to attending university, nor any idea of the best manner in which to go about learning it. I also wanted to potentially travel to Japan in the future, so I believed acquiring the relevant language skills would help me appreciate that experience more. I really enjoyed taking the introductory courses, and I discovered that studying the language also helped stimulate my desire to further my studies of the culture as well. Long story short, I liked studying Japanese so much at WCU that I eventually became an on-campus tutor and graduated with the associated minor by the end of it.
What have you done since graduating from WCU?
Since graduating from WCU, I was accepted into The Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme. I am currently in my second year of living in Japan, and I have been teaching English at a Japanese high school. In my free time I travel the country, and continue to deepen my studies of the language and culture. The language skills I gained during my time at WCU helped make this all possible, and greatly assisted with transitioning to life in a foreign country as well.
Eric Lundberg
Major: Linguistics
Graduation: May 2016
Why did you study Japanese language at WCU?
In high school I became interested in the Japanese language and culture. When I began searching for universities, I knew I wanted to pursue Japanese study and, at the time, WCU was the only school in the area that gave Japanese classes. And so, I chose to attend WCU with a goal of pursuing a science degree while taking Japanese classes on the side. Then by chance WCU began a study abroad program with a Japanese school in Tokyo, and I was able to join the program for a whole year. The experience was truly life changing and to this day I'm still glad I was able to become a part of it through WCU.
What have you done since graduating from WCU?
After graduation I was accepted into the Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program and taught English and foreign cultures in Kobe, Japan. After five years in Kobe, I left the JET Program and moved to Fukuoka for a change of pace. My hobbies lately have been drawing and biking. Fukuoka has a small but very friendly community of artists, and with the Japanese skills I learned from WCU I've been able to join events and meet so many different kinds of talented artists.