I had my interview this afterboon and it was so tough. I got nervous and stopped halfway when i answered the question. I am in the science field and I felt like they dont understand a single sentence when i explained my proposal. anyone faced the same situation? sucks. maybe i should not put in scientific terms and just explained it generally. some tips for those havent attend the interview.
Monbukagakusho Scholarship for Postgraduate!!
- Thread starter Wingmaker
- Start date
menrui
先輩
- 24 May 2008
- 428
- 0
OMG! guys! All my patiently waiting and not calling has finally paid off! well, i called once but he didnt pick up so that doesnt count. I got email inviting me to a interview! yes email, so all that time i hugged my phone, kept it charge, and checked it was useless. Im so excited! I better get back to studying!
cookie,
Im in the science field too and I also put some thoughts into the same thing. Should I speak using scientific terminology and language to impress them? Or should I keep it simple so they would understand my proposal better? I wasnt really sure myself. Did they ever ask you to explain it more simply to them?
cookie,
Im in the science field too and I also put some thoughts into the same thing. Should I speak using scientific terminology and language to impress them? Or should I keep it simple so they would understand my proposal better? I wasnt really sure myself. Did they ever ask you to explain it more simply to them?
- 30 Mar 2008
- 166
- 3
menrui, i'd keep it simple.
I had my interview yesterday morning and all the time i was explaining my research, they had really really BLANK looks on their faces. And when i asked them if my methodology was clear, one of them asked if the software i needed to use in my research was available and I said yes. Then the guy from the japanese embassy said.."well if the software is available...i dun think ur research is very original.."
At which point i gave up. Frankly, they just looked really bored. My fault, I guess, for not putting it in words that would capture their attention.
Another thing I would recommend is getting to know all the available associations, clubs, events that promote japan in ur country. I dunno if everyone got shot with this one but i most certainly did.
I was asked if i knew that and that society. some i did know, some i didn't. and one of the panel remarked that for someone who claims to be interested in japan, i sure didn't know a lot of things.
Anyway, good luck to u all!!!!
menrui
先輩
- 24 May 2008
- 428
- 0
^wow clockwork... you had it really hard... I honestly dislike that association/society question. I really dont think that is a fair way to judge your interest in japan. At my university, there was a association called the "japanese association." I went to go see what they were like... and i found out even though they do some events related to japan, they actually partied most of the time.
Thanks for the tip! I will keep it in mind. I have 3 weeks to prepare.
Thanks for the tip! I will keep it in mind. I have 3 weeks to prepare.
menrui
先輩
- 24 May 2008
- 428
- 0
oh yes, and I thought that comment about your research not being original was a bit of an overstatement... From what I learned, research can be done as an extension of a previous research, filling in gaps, or combining the idea of multiple researches together. It doesnt have to be completely original. My research proposal too isnt completely original. I am just extending some previous researches.
yup, i was aked the same questions minus the question about japan and their culture or anything. Most of the time they are asking me about my research proposal and i think it is because i dont understand a single word im saying.. I would think the best way is explain your research in the scientific term and then asking if they understood what the hell you are talking about. Then if they request for a more simple explaination then give them a general statement where even a 5 year old kid could understand.
Another thing i noticed is except for the main interviewer and another professor, the other interviewer looked bored. There was one japanese guy everytime i talk, he would closed his eyes looking as if he was sleeping. but i think he was just trying to concentrate wat i was saying because his level of english is not that good.
Hope to meet u guys in Japan. Stay in touch.
Another thing i noticed is except for the main interviewer and another professor, the other interviewer looked bored. There was one japanese guy everytime i talk, he would closed his eyes looking as if he was sleeping. but i think he was just trying to concentrate wat i was saying because his level of english is not that good.
Hope to meet u guys in Japan. Stay in touch.
- 30 Mar 2008
- 166
- 3
Exactly.
But to be fair to the guy who said that, he was very nice about it. I mean he put it in a polite way. And since my research wasn't all that original to begin with..(i actually proposed to extend a previous work i did) i kinda accepted what he said. I thanked him for his input and told him i'd consider it.
frankly, i didn't really take to one member of the panel - the guy from jagam (japanese graduate association) - he asked me rite out if i really wanted to study in japan or if i applied becoz it so happen i had the form and "me and my frens just decided to have a go at it for fun".
I thot that was kinda insulting. considering all the work we put in our application and all the worry about whether we've filled it up correctly, all the anxiety.....how was THAT FUN?
That guy seriously turned me off.
Neway, nothing to be done now. lets just wait for the results.
clockworkorange,
i think every interviewee will be asked that kind of question. they just afraid they choose the wrong candidate..
honestly, we all wanna get our master by doing the research seriously. at the time, why can't we have a liitle bit of fun while experience the culture in Japan?
all the best to the malaysian candidates..
i think every interviewee will be asked that kind of question. they just afraid they choose the wrong candidate..
honestly, we all wanna get our master by doing the research seriously. at the time, why can't we have a liitle bit of fun while experience the culture in Japan?
all the best to the malaysian candidates..
kimberleylhj
先輩
- 16 Jul 2008
- 91
- 0
I had my interview yesterday too. I already lost hope on going to Japan the moment I step out of the interview room. Never thought I could be so speechless in my life.
Anyway, who is who in the interview room? Anybody knows who is the guy from the left side? The lady? The main interviewer? And the guy on the right? I had NO IDEA!!
Anyway, who is who in the interview room? Anybody knows who is the guy from the left side? The lady? The main interviewer? And the guy on the right? I had NO IDEA!!
which 1 is naoto fukabori?? and the jpa malay girl looks like she wants to go home.. the japanese professor u said, if its the same person with the white hair and closing his eyes like he wants to sleep everytime i talk. then the other interviewer i had was a girl not a guy. not sure who she is.
Anyway, clockwork oreange, why were u asked such a question like if u really wanted to go or just apply for fun?? I was not asked this question and i think others were not asked as well... did u write something wrong or gave a reply like u were into it for the fun and not the research>??
Anyway, clockwork oreange, why were u asked such a question like if u really wanted to go or just apply for fun?? I was not asked this question and i think others were not asked as well... did u write something wrong or gave a reply like u were into it for the fun and not the research>??
Basically the malay lady, jz dreaming around. The jp prof said to me if u ans 'this this this', i will give clap my hands.....meaning tat i din giv a good ans to y i choose jp instead of uk/us. Well, the center guy jz busy doing his thing, looks like not focusing on wat i talk at all.... the chinese lady ask quite a lot of question about my research... i jz bla bla bla.. she ask me whether is it possible to do my research.........i ans, anything in science is possible.
Anyway, who know when and how can we get the result?
BTW, anyone here is the guy from KL but working in Penang, who i met yesterday? ^_^
Anyway, who know when and how can we get the result?
BTW, anyone here is the guy from KL but working in Penang, who i met yesterday? ^_^
cravy,
i think you did better than me in the interview..at least you got a lot of questions..mine only 5 to 6 questions..looks like they are not interested in my proposal anyway..haha
miss Yin said it is gonna be around first week of august.i think they will inform the chosen one through phone..
i think you did better than me in the interview..at least you got a lot of questions..mine only 5 to 6 questions..looks like they are not interested in my proposal anyway..haha
miss Yin said it is gonna be around first week of august.i think they will inform the chosen one through phone..
- 15 May 2008
- 42
- 0
Wow. That did sound rough. >< Honestly, wish y'all the best.
menrui
先輩
- 24 May 2008
- 428
- 0
Maybe they were watching too much western tv shows where the judges flame and insult the competitors. I hope my embassy is much nicer about it. but in any case, i better prepare for the worst. Also, i should think of a way to present my proposal more interestingly...
kimberleylhj
先輩
- 16 Jul 2008
- 91
- 0
I weren't asked many questions too. Basically just the ones mentioned by Vyen. All I remembered was them saying that my research is not suitable to be carried out in Japan. So I can just forget about it.
menrui
先輩
- 24 May 2008
- 428
- 0
^ wow that really sucks. I really hate to say this, and im sure its going to make you cringe... but maybe you can try again next year.
Im actually afraid that they will question the relevance of conducting my research in japan. I've always believed that science is the same everywhere. Anyways, I better be prepared to give a better answer than that.
BTW cravy, I liked what you said, "in science, anything is possible". hehe it makes me giggle.
Im actually afraid that they will question the relevance of conducting my research in japan. I've always believed that science is the same everywhere. Anyways, I better be prepared to give a better answer than that.
BTW cravy, I liked what you said, "in science, anything is possible". hehe it makes me giggle.
dumex
-babyguleng-
- 11 Jul 2008
- 7
- 0
Argh... The japanese guy in the middle had actually asked me to introduce myself in japanese. 
It's so unexpected, halfway in the middle and I was totally blank. Oh..
And this is what I observed: the round, cute japanese guy in front of me kept changing his answers on a multiple-choice paper; the white beard, japanese uncle looked uncomfortable. But all the interviewers did share one thing in common: busy,busy,busy. Non stop flipping of papers.
It's so unexpected, halfway in the middle and I was totally blank. Oh..And this is what I observed: the round, cute japanese guy in front of me kept changing his answers on a multiple-choice paper; the white beard, japanese uncle looked uncomfortable. But all the interviewers did share one thing in common: busy,busy,busy. Non stop flipping of papers.
