Marie-Luise Penter, Exchange Student from Germany

－Which university are you from and what was your major?
Free University of Berlin (Freie Universität Berlin), Japanese and East Asian Studies.

－Please tell us the period of your studying abroad.
September 2012 until July 2013.

－What made you decide to study abroad?
I wanted to go abroad in order to study East Asian Studies from a local point of view. Furthermore, I wanted to gain experience in studying at a foreign university and make international friends. Also studying abroad gives you a lot of opportunities to travel and get to know the country and its culture. So apart from the academic aspect, you could say that studying abroad is an opportunity to make memories that last a lifetime.

－Why did you decide to study in Japan or at Keio?
Since my major focuses on Japanese politics and economy, studying in Japan is essential to really know what you are reading about in books and papers. Keio University is a very prestigious university. My home university has exchange programs with a lot of schools in Japan, of which Keio appealed to me the most. As the oldest private institution of higher education in Japan, Keio is a school with a long tradition and an interesting curriculum.

－Please tell us about some of the aspects of your life in Japan or at Keio.
I am taking part in the Keio International Program. Hence I get to tailor my schedule from a variety of classes such as classes from the Japanese Language Program, classes focusing on various aspects of Japanese society, history, economy, and so on and regular undergraduate classes. With this curriculum, studying the language while gaining academically relevant knowledge is possible. Like most students I live in one of the dorms close to the Hiyoshi Campus, where one gets to take part in a vivid campus life with lots of club activities and opportunities to make Japanese friends. I joined PLURIO, a club committed to promoting communication between students from all over the world, and a volleyball circle.

－What are differences you have noticed between Keio and your home university?
University in Germany is very different from Keio and other Japanese universities. The length of the curriculum varies by the subject whereas most students at Keio study for four years. In a sense, students are more flexible in scheduling their classes in Germany whereas the number of students who need more than the regular number of semesters to graduate is higher than in Japan. School spirit is less developed in German universities than in Japan and so are club activities. German student social life does not necessarily take place on campus very much.

－What is your plan after you finish studying at Keio?
I am going to graduate from my home university in Berlin and take Level 1 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).

－Do you have any advice for students who are considering studying abroad?
Studying abroad is a great experience. Returnees who have been abroad will always help you with information about programs, financing and other organizational aspects.

Information of Free University of Berlin
Free University of Berlin is one of the largest universities in Germany. It was founded in 1948 in Western Berlin with generous donations from the United States.

About the writer
Marie-Luise Penter
Keio International Program Student