David

Introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about what you've done since graduating

After graduation I entered the JET (Japan Exchange & Teaching) Programme as a Coordinator for International Relations.

I now work in the town hall of Nagi Town, Okayama Prefecture in Japan. I would describe my role as event planning and management, but my duties are really quite diverse.

In the 3 months I have been here so far I have hosted a festival, interpreted for the Mayor, taught English & Japanese classes, ran cooking & yoga workshops, and so much more.

Find out more about my course, Japanese Studies

Why did you choose to study at Newcastle University?

My course was ranked 4th in the country at the time of application.

How do you think your course prepared you for your chosen career?

It taught me Japanese! The most beneficial aspect was the year abroad, in which my language abilities drastically improved. During my final year I was taught many practical language skills (translation, interpretation, business Japanese).

What did you enjoy most about your time at Newcastle University?

Definitely the year abroad! It was a great chance to use and develop the skills I'd been working on, as well as throwing me into a completely new environment which helped to develop a whole range of non-academic life skills.

Describe your time at Newcastle University in three words

Challenging, Nurturing, Fun

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