Hello,
I've written this motivation letter for a scholarship for a japanese university.
I've used some parts from other motivation letters that I've found on this website and that looked good to me :-)
Could someone check it for me please, and give some comments? I'd be very thankfull.
Dear sir/ Madam
My name is ***. With this letter, I would kindly like to introduce my candidacy for the XYZ scholarship for the ABC University.
I am a third year student Japanology at the Catholic University of Leuven. I've studied my first two years at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium and this year I am studying at Paris 7, Denis Diderot, France. I've specialized in the Japanese culture and history.
During my formation I've seen many different aspects of the Japanese culture and I got intrigued by them. Due to big cultural differences in the background of my parents I've come in contact with different cultures my whole life and that has only strengthenth(?) my interest in foreign cultures. Hence my choice for a study about a very different culture. The big cultural differences between my own country and Japan give me chance to see the positive and negative aspects about not only Japan but also my own country. It is a very enriching research because I learn more about both cultures. Studying in Japan would be a unique chance to study and experience these differences at first hand. It would give me a big advantage over other people who didn't get this opportunity to learn about both their own and a foreign culture.
Offcourse culture is closely intertwined with history and history has also always captivated my interest. It is history that made of the world what it is today. The rich Japanese history, from the Jōmon era to the Meiji restoration and the modern Japan, is very fascinating. And there are also many interesting aspects about post-meiji Japan. The decision of the japanese government to adapt the western way of life and trying to abolish all traditional japanese aspects and the problems that came along, but also the speed with which japanese citizens adapted these changes, while still concerving the traditional values is very intriguing. But these changes caused a lot of problems for the japanese citizens, even up till now the difficulties that emerged with it are still visible in the japanese society. The old traditional japanese values are sometimes entirely different from the western points of view, but still got preserved in society. This struggle between traditional japanese values and modern western values makes Japan a very interesting study-object, almost a unique case in the world.
Also the fact that Japan managed to become, on less than 50 years, one of the big powers of the world is fascinating. These historical facts are a good way to captivate the Japanese spirit and to see the devotion japanese people have to their country and lifestyle. Also if you compare Japanese history to the European history it is interesting to see that mankind has always fought, the middle ages in Europe, the Warring State Period in Japan, but not only war is interesting, also the differences in the importance of religion, family, lords, ... is very interesting. By studying the Japanese history I've got a completely different view about some past European era's
But also more recent, the downfall after the war and the courage with which japanese people managed to rebuild their country is a very notable effort. This courageous rebuilding, this devotion to the country have made of Japan what it is today. But it could only be achieved because of the japanese value of family, groups above individuals also make it very different from the individualistic western world. Again the differences and similarities between post-war Europe and post-war Japan are fascinating. In Europe the war silently evolved in the Cold war between east and west, while there was relative peace in Japan. The japanese society got rebuild quickly and Japan managed to become a very important economical power. You can see the devotion of Japanese citizens to their country and company again very clearly.
All these different aspects and the comparison with Western history makes the study of the Japanese history not only interesting from an historical point of view, but also from a sociological point of view.
Beside my specialisation in the Japanese culture and history I've also had a very intense training in the Japanese language during these three years. It's been a hard but very rewarding struggle. By learning a language that differs entirely from your mothertongue, you get a very interesting view on your own language. The use of Kanji and Kana and an entirely new grammar is very difficult, but you make progress every day, which is a very stimulating progress.
I've kept working on improving my knowledge about Japan and the japanese language during these past thee years, but I feel that I've reached everything I can attain here in Europe, therefore it is time to put my knowledge into practice and specialize further in Japanese culture and history and improve my Japanese further. I think the only way to attain that goal is to study the culture and history from eminent professors and learn the language from native speakers.
Also for my thesis I'm planning to write about the post-war Japanese history, the rebuilding of the country and the much discussed 9th pacific article. The feelings from the average Japanese person towards that article and the war, and the seemingly unlimited devotion towards their company, sometimes even despite of their family. I'm convinced that attending classes or research groups about this subject in particular at XYZ University will be most fullfilling and will be of great use for my research project.
After a thorough research of the ABC programme of your University, I became aware that my knowledge of the japanese culture and history will be improved if I have an opportunity to enroll in these courses. This top-level programme will provide me plenty of knowledge in the field of culture and history which can be very useful for my future carrier. In addition, working and attending these courses, I can meet different kind of people and culture and that will give me different points of view, thus, contributing to my flexibility and creativity, besides the cultural and language gains. Moreover, I have come to recognize that I can establish a good working relationship with other scholars from all over the world joining the programme, which can give a benefit to me and my collegues.
As a motivated and ambitious young man, I will do my best to accomplish all tasks given in the ABC programme. Furthermore, with my experience gained during my three year formation in both Belgium and France, I would be able to adapt to a constantly changing work environment, and get along with individuals of different culture backgrounds. In addition, with my good command in writing and speaking English, I will not have to come up against any difficulties in studying cultural or historical subjects taught in English.
I understand that admission to the XYZ Scholarship is competitive, but I think that I’m qualified, eager and prepared to meet all of the challenges I will be presented with. I, therefore, would be most grateful if you could give my application form in your most favorable consideration.
Yours truly,
***.
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