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In the latest instalment of the Alumni Spotlight series, we speak to Katie Clancy, a graduate of the Bachelor of Arts in Applied Languages with Japanese, German and Spanish. Katie, who now works as a translator in Osaka, shares how learning languages ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ introduced her to lifelong friends and led to a fulfilling and successful career in Japan.

Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m Katie Clancy, and I’m originally from Longford. I currently live and work in Osaka, Japan as a translator in a patent firm.

What course did you study, and in which year did you graduate?  

I studied Spanish, German, and Japanese under the Applied Languages course and graduated in 2017.

Why did you choose to study ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ?  

I studied Spanish for my Leaving Certificate, but I had always wanted to study Japanese and German. When I was doing my Leaving Cert, Japanese was still a rather niche language in Ireland and was not offered by many universities. UL was the only university where I could study all three of those languages. Not many people from Longford go to UL, so it was a big change!

What were the highlights of your course?

In my second year I did my Co-op for six months in Tokyo, Japan. This experience gave me a huge advantage when I moved to Japan after university, since I already had experience working in a Japanese work environment, which varies greatly from Irish ones. This experience also helped me to improve my business Japanese, which is one of the most difficult aspects of the Japanese language. In addition, the friendships I made ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ were one of the most valuable aspects for me. Many of my friends from my course have become some of the most important people in my life. They’ve supported and cared for me so much through the years - I couldn’t imagine my life without them.

As a UL student, you had the opportunity to learn from some of the top academic talent, in state-of-the-art facilities. What was your experience like?

I think languages are a very hard skill to teach, especially when your target language is completely different from your mother tongue. Having said that, I really feel like my experience was very rewarding. German is taught at Leaving Cert level as well but was not an option at my secondary school. Although German can be quite a difficult language to learn at the beginner level, I think I was in good hands. The lessons were tough; however, I really felt myself improve at a fast pace.

Did you complete Co-op and Erasmus? If so, could you share what those experiences were like? 

I did my Erasmus in Granada, Spain, and I worked in a business hotel in Tokyo as a receptionist for six months on my Co-op. It was a really rewarding experience; my Japanese improved immensely, I became even more familiar with Japanese culture, and I made so many wonderful memories. Granada, on the other hand, was a really beautiful place to live, and my lecturers were lovely, but it was not my cup of tea.

What advice would you offer to students considering studying ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ? 

It’s a bit cliched, but try to be open to new possibilities and be patient with others. Try to make the most of your time in university. UL has a really warm and supportive environment; everyone is very supportive. Before you know it, UL will feel like a second home. 

Were you a member of any clubs or societies? If so, tell us a bit about your experience!  

Not really, but I did go to international nights a lot. I used my languages there to speak with the international students.

What are some of your favourite memories from your time ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ?  

I really enjoyed the close-knit community I had with my course mates and with my classmates in my Japanese classes. Even now, I really appreciate the sense of camaraderie that we shared and having a space to geek-out about our love of languages. 

At UL, we’re known as the ‘¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ of Firsts’ – are there any important ‘firsts’ that you experienced as a UL student that you would like to share?

Attending UL was my first time living away from home. I remember the day I moved into my accommodation; I was so nervous that I cried my eyes out when my parents left. My housemate at the time knocked on my door and really helped me to feel better. This experience really helped me to become more independent and was really helpful when I moved to Japan after university. 

Are there any campus locations that hold special significance to you?  

I guess it goes without saying that the Languages Building and the Language Learning Hub were places that my friends and I often frequented. They were pretty much my homes when I was writing my Final Year Project and hold a lot of wonderful memories.

How did your course and your overall UL experience prepare you for entering the workplace upon graduating?  

My current job is about 90% in Japanese. Studying in UL provided me with a wonderful foundation of the language, that I have been able to build on to improve my understanding of that language. In my experience, I found that because of my work experience from Co-op, I was able to transition a lot easier to working a full-time job in Japan in comparison to those who had only studied abroad in Japan. I think it gave me a much more realistic image of working here.

Could you update us on where you are now in your career?  

As previously mentioned, I’m primarily a translator for a patent attorney in Osaka, Japan, but I do interpreting as well when needed.

Is there anything else you would like to share?  

The beauty of languages is that it allows you to connect with different people; you get to see different sides to people that might not have been accessible if you are monolingual. By learning another language, it allows you to broaden your horizons and see things in a different way. I think learning another language teaches you patience and empathy for others. It’s not easy to put yourself out there and try to speak a different language in a foreign country; so please, try to be patient and kind to those who are learning your mother language.