A New World Opened by Language Training in Malaysia

Malaysia

Junnosuke Kawasaki, 2nd Year, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Study Period: Sunday, September 7–Saturday, September 20, 2025

I participated in a two-week language training program at the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Malaysia from September 7 to 20. This program was conducted jointly with students from the Hiroshima National College of Maritime Technology and Kagawa National College of Technology, allowing us to deepen our interaction while attending classes.

At UiTM, there were two classes in the morning and one in the afternoon. The morning sessions focused primarily on English communication skills, including phone etiquette, placing orders, reservations, and practicing presentations. These lessons helped me develop practical English skills that I could use in my daily life.

In the afternoons, we engaged in activities with Malaysian students called “buddies,” which included word games and cultural experiences, allowing us to learn English in a fun and practical way. This was a completely new experience for me and proved to be very valuable.

One aspect that left a strong impression on me was the frequent opportunities for class presentations. As someone who rarely presents in Japan, this was a big challenge. However, my buddies kindly checked the content and helped me with my pronunciation, which made the experience very supportive.

Compared to before the program, I feel my English communication skills and confidence in actively participating in class have improved.

Classroom scenes

With my buddy

After class, and on weekends, we went to local malls and food stalls with our buddies and other Kosen students. Malaysia is a multicultural society, and the food at malls and stalls included Malay, Japanese, Chinese, and other cuisines.

Malay cuisine was generally quite spicy, which was a little difficult for me, but I was impressed to see the locals enjoying it as if it were normal. At the malls, we also enjoyed karaoke and shopping. Although many of the songs were Japanese, by different artists played sometimes, which was an interesting discovery.

Interaction with students from other Kosen colleges

I noticed two main things through my daily life in Malaysia. First, the cost of living is generally low. For example, a soft serve ice cream costs only about 60 yen, and a large McDonald’s set costs around 600 yen—much cheaper than in Japan.

Second, although English is widely used in Malaysia, not everyone can speak it. At stalls and shops, communication sometimes required Malay, and we often used translation tools or gestures. Even when speaking English, I occasionally struggle to be understood due to Malaysian accents and differences in my pronunciation. I realized how pronunciation and accent can affect communication.

On weekends, as part of our extracurricular activities, we visited Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya to practic English while exploring landmarks and shopping malls. In Putrajaya, we visited the beautiful “Pink Mosque” and the Moroccan Pavilion. Visitors had to follow dress codes and wear robes and scarves to cover exposed skin, which was a valuable opportunity to understand Islamic culture.

Pink Mosque

In Kuala Lumpur, we visited iconic sites, such as the Batu Caves and the National Monument. The Batu Caves were particularly impressive, with Hindu statues and temples at the top of 272 steps. Although climbing stairs was a bit challenging for someone not used to exercise, it was a rewarding and unforgettable experience.

Batu Caves

Through this language training program in Malaysia, I realized the joy of living in a society with different cultures and values. For someone who has lived in Japan only, this experience has greatly broadened my perspective. By observing time management and the coexistence of different religions, I understood that what is considered “normal” varies greatly, depending on the country and culture.

Building on the experiences of these two weeks, I hope to continue taking on new challenges without fear and strive for personal growth.