Testimonials
Want to know what some of our current and former think about our Japanese program at Wichita State University? Here are a few of their thoughts about their leaning experience.
Former Students
I came to Wichita State as a transfer student and took Japanese classes my entire time at WSU. I had Yumi Foster as my professor, and she was amazing. She made learning Japanese fun and approachable, and the classes really helped me build confidence using the language.
I majored in linguistics and minored in Japanese, and the two went well together. Taking Japanese classes opened a lot of opportunities for me, including the chance to study abroad at Kansai Gaidai University. Studying in Japan was a personal bucket list goal, and it ended up being one of the best experiences of my life. Being able to live in Japan helped me improve my Japanese, learn about the culture firsthand, and meet people from all over the world.
I was also able to study abroad with the help of the scholarships I was awarded, which made the experience possible for me. I would highly recommend both taking Japanese classes and studying abroad to any students who are interested or thinking about it as it’s a great way to learn, grow, and have an unforgettable experience.
--Isabella Grabell 2025
"Taking Japanese at WSU has been a great experience, and Japanese classes have been my favorite at the University. The classes are both fun and interesting, teaching both the language and culture in depth. By learning Japanese at WSU, I was greatly prepared to visit Japan and was able to have more meaningful and impactful conversations in Japanese with my friends and the world around me."
- Jorge Godinez
"The Japanese classes offered at WSU are extremely fun and are taught thoroughly by the teachers. I feel that all elementary Japanese classes build a great foundation and are supplemented well with the conversation classes. I also love that there are special study classes available to help further Japanese language improvement."
- Maica Parga
WSU alumna, Madison, is currently teaching English in Japan as JET programme (The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme). She also studied at Kansai Gaidai University as an exchange student."
" Hands down, the decision to study abroad was the best choice I made during my college career. The only regret I have is that I didn't stay longer! From a young age I had an interest in Japanese culture, and when I enrolled at Wichita State I started taking Japanese language courses as soon as I could. After about two years of Japanese classes, I decided I wanted to study abroad. The courses that I took at WSU were exponentially helpful in getting accustomed to every day life in Japan, and set me well ahead of other students who had taken little or no Japanese.
There are so many reasons to study abroad, one of which the opportunity to obtain a better grasp on the language. Everyday, I had to use Japanese, and because of this, I became more comfortable speaking the language and began to learn faster. Not only is studying abroad an excellent opportunity to learn a new language, but it is an experience that allows you to be immersed in another culture, meet new people and make life time friends, and creates memories that are to be cherished forever."
Study Abroad In Japan
