Konnichiwa, everyone!
I joined this forum because I'm in dire need of help. I'm afraid my knowledge of Japanese language will fade to nothing if I don't get the MEXT scholarship for postgraduate research. I finished my bachelor studies in 2010, and since then I tried 3 times for the testing in my country's embassy. All 3 times I scored among the top 3 people on language tests, but since only 1 person gets to go, every time someone else made it past the interview phase. So, I'm gonna go on the presumption that it's because the study programs others had were better suited to them and better presented (I once tried with diplomacy, next time with ecology). This time, in greater accordance with my desires, I want to choose a Japanese language centred study program, with emphasis on interpretation, as Japanese lang. was my major in University.
1) The problem I am facing right now isn't how to contact mentors or whether or not I will do good on the tests, I've done all that before. But it's the writing of study program (kenkyuu keikaku) that worries me. How in the world am I supposed to compose a page of text for that which can be said in a single sentence? "I want to acquire Advanced knowledge of Japanese language, along with interpreting skills"??? T_T
2) The interview question I encountered the most until now is "are you willing to stay in Japan and work there after the research period?". It throws me off because I don't know what it is they are expecting me to say. Of course I would stay and work there, I dedicated my life to Japan and it's people. But what if something else is a more desirable answer?
I hope there are people here willing to help me and that my plea won't go unnoticed like the previous post made by kona680. (sorry, mate, I'd help, but as you can see, I'm in a similar pickle here (^_^; )7