Zoltan Heredi

Zoltan Heredi, Kossuth Lajos University

Which course are you studying in?

I'm in the Academic Intensive Japanese Program.

What were you doing before you came to Yamasa?

I was studying linguistics at Kossuth Lajos University in Debrecen. I'm a 4th year student there.

Did you start as a beginner?

Almost a beginner. I knew the hiragana and katakana and I knew about 200-300 words of vocabulary. Some minimal grammar.

Where did you study Japanese before?

I studied at the university. It was mostly grammar for 4 semesters - about 100 hours only in total. The lecturer is Japanese so we were taught by a native speaker, but it was hard to practice outside class. Also it was hard for her to explain grammar as everyone had the same Hungarian native language background.

How long have you been at Yamasa?

I've been here 8 months now. I started in the H class and now I've moved up to C. I can now communicate in everyday Japanese, shopping is no problem as is most conversation. If I have a new encounter - such as visiting a doctor etc - then I need new vocabulary, but grammatically its fairly easy to communicate now. I can read about 1000 Kanji now, so simple texts or childrens books, manga comics etc are no problem but a without a dictionary reading a newspaper is still very difficult.

Is this the first time you have lived in Japan?

Yes. This is actually my first visit.

What are you plans after graduation?

I will go back to Debrecen and graduate. I'll then do my Masters degree and then move onto to PhD studies.

Where are you living at the moment?

I live in Yamasa Villa 4. Its a shared room. Its nice and quiet but a bit boring sometimes.

What is your accommodation like?

A bit of a squeeze for two people, but otherwise comfortable.

How do you get to classes?

I come by bicycle. It takes about 5 minutes or so.

What is the biggest challenge or problem you've faced so far in Japan?

I had an accident on my bike so the hospital etc was difficult. In terms of daily living, its very expensive compared to Hungary - food is expensive and the prices are just something you have to get used to. I cook for myself and look for sales, use cheaper stores and go to the street markets.

Any surprises you would like to share?

Not really. I had met quite a few Japanese in Hungary and had read a lot about Japan, seen documentaries etc.

If a new student was entering your class today and asked for some advice, what would you say?

Time is very precious so think very carefully about how you use your time. This is your once-in-a-life-time opportunity. Its rare to find an inexpensive place/school to study in. So start studying and try to find the optimal way of learning Japanese.