The Pathway Programmes is not just about learning English for TOEIC, which is a well-known English test in most Asian countries, and TOEFL. Before I started this program, I also expected to see piles of textbooks for those English tests on my desk. But, when the program had started, it was more than just trying to get a better score on those English tests. This program taught me a lot of important things I never had the opportunity to learn in Japan, such as to identify a problem from data, how to write a proper academic paper, and how to present and speak my idea or thoughts in the best and most convincible way. Thus, in a way, the program was really challenging for me, but professors are really educated and knowledgeable in the field and they are willing to help with our struggles. So, the Pathway Programmes was a platform to go wherever I want to go next in my life. Last but not least, Jönköping is such a lovely small city in Sweden. I have never felt in trouble or unsafe, even at midnight. Gränna is also a small town but has a really good relaxed atmosphere, friendly local people, and breathtaking view, so that you can focus on studying and enjoy your free time.

Difference of school system in Japan and Sweden, and how the pathway helped me

To be able to adjust to the Swedish school system I had to be more collaborative than I was in Japan. In fact, each course has at least one group project so far. The pathway program helped me with being collaborative and work with people efficiently by giving me good instructions for each step in group works. In addition, compared to Japanese school system, the Swedish school system is way more practical and school schedule is not really intense in my experience, so I can apply what I study to outside of the classroom in my free time. Swedish school requires me to be more critical than I was in Japan and look at a problem from different angles. It was one of the most difficult things to learn and do in my life. But, one of the courses in the pathway program improved the skill a lot, thanks to that I was finally ready to study at Jonkoping University in Sweden.