Life in Japan as an Exchange Student

CEFR B2 Level

This book is part of the
Extensive Reading Program

Life in Japan as an exchange student has been one of the most exciting and eye-opening ‎experiences of my life. I arrived in Tokyo about six months ago, feeling both nervous and ‎excited. Everything felt new and different—the language, the food, the transportation, even ‎the air. The first thing that caught my attention was how clean and organized everything is. ‎The trains always arrive exactly on time, and people follow the rules politely, whether they ‎are waiting in line or speaking on the phone.‎

One of the biggest challenges for me was the language. Although I had studied Japanese ‎for over a year before coming, I still found it difficult to understand native speakers at first. ‎They speak very fast, and there are many expressions that I didn’t learn in the classroom. ‎However, my host family was very patient and encouraging. They spoke slowly at first, and ‎they helped me learn useful everyday phrases. Over time, I began to feel more confident ‎speaking and listening.‎

School life here is very different from my school back home in Brazil. The students are very ‎disciplined and respectful. Every morning starts with greetings and a short meeting with ‎the teacher. We also clean our classrooms ourselves, which surprised me at first. Group ‎work is a big part of learning, and students help each other with tasks. I decided to join the ‎calligraphy club, which turned out to be a great way to make new friends and learn about ‎traditional Japanese art.‎

Outside of school, I’ve had the chance to explore many places in Tokyo and beyond. I ‎visited ancient temples in Kyoto, relaxed in a hot spring in Hakone, and attended the cherry ‎blossom festival in spring. I’ve also tried many new foods—sushi, ramen, okonomiyaki, and ‎even green tea ice cream! Some dishes were very different from what I’m used to, but I’ve ‎grown to enjoy many of them.‎

One thing I’ve really noticed is how much technology is used in everyday life. Students ‎often use tablets to read books, do homework, conduct research, and exchange ideas. ‎Besides, all public places are filled with smart machines. Even the vending machines here ‎can talk, recommend drinks, and accept digital payments.‎

This experience has taught me so much, not only about Japanese culture but also about ‎myself. I’ve become more disciplined, independent, flexible, and open-minded. It hasn’t ‎always been easy, but the challenges have helped me grow. I believe that living abroad, ‎even for a short time, can change the way you see the world. I would highly recommend a ‎student exchange program to anyone who is curious about new cultures and ready to step ‎outside their comfort zone.‎

Reading Tips: How to Get the Most from This Book

Read for meaning. Focus on understanding the main ideas rather than every single word. Encountering unfamiliar vocabulary is normal — use context to help you interpret meaning.

Keep a steady flow. Try not to stop too often. Reading continuously improves comprehension and helps you follow the development of ideas more naturally.

Listen and read together. Use the audio version while reading. This strengthens understanding, improves pronunciation, and develops your sense of rhythm and intonation in English.

Read regularly. Short, consistent reading sessions are more effective than occasional long ones. Re-reading sections you enjoy can further reinforce learning.

Engage with the text. Think about what you read. Asking simple questions and reflecting on ideas deepens comprehension and improves retention.

Extensive Reading Program - B2 Level

The Extensive Reading Program is designed to guide learners progressively through six proficiency levels, from A1 to C2, supporting language acquisition at every stage of development. At the B2 level, readers strengthen their ability to understand texts of increasing complexity, engage with abstract ideas more deeply, and communicate with greater clarity, accuracy, and confidence.

Successful progress in reading depends heavily on vocabulary growth. For this reason, the books, articles, and stories in this program are carefully crafted to provide rich, meaningful exposure to the words and expressions necessary at each level. This systematic approach ensures that vocabulary development occurs naturally through consistent and purposeful reading.

Whether utilized independently or within a classroom setting, this structured leveling system offers clear and practical pathways for improvement. It allows learners to monitor progress, recognize achievements, and build lasting English mastery with every text they read.

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This book is designed for educational purposes and is aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

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