(MENAFN- Jordan Times) In an attempt to tap his mind's full potential, mechanical engineer Mohammad Al Rai took on the challenge of mastering the Japanese language.
"When I was doing research on creativity, I learned that one of the ways to develop the mind's cognitive skills is to learn a difficult language" so I chose to study Japanese," he told The Jordan Times on Saturday.
The 23-year-old, who recently graduated from university, said he was also interested in Japanese culture, history and methods of education.
Rai was one of 43 students who participated this year in a five-level Japanese language programme conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Alumni Association in Jordan (JAAJ). The students were honoured at a graduation ceremony on Saturday.
Rai, who completed level three, said Japanese society in the past was built on a tribal basis and that Japan's history may hold clues to addressing contemporary challenges in Jordan.
"Maybe studying their history will help me understand how we in Jordan can overcome our tribal extremism the way they did," he said.
In 1993, the first Japanese language courses in the Kingdom were taught at the University of Jordan, according to language teacher Tymoor S. Hamdokh.
"After that, the language was also taught unofficially at JICA's offices," he said, noting that after 2004, official courses were available at JAAJ.
"Since then, around 400 students have graduated from these courses," Hamdoukh told The Jordan Times.
For translator and tour guide Muzahim Haddadin, learning Japanese will help him in his career.
"Right now, I'm working on mastering nine languages," the 44-year-old said.
Haddadin, who completed the four-month beginner level, is also currently studying Hebrew and Greek.
"I love the Japanese people," he told The Jordan Times on the sidelines of the graduation ceremony. "I studied in the US, and my friends at university there were Japanese. I was really impressed by their good manners and their diligence."
Remi Khayyat also seeks to "open doors" for her career through learning the Japanese language.
"I work in fashion and design, so I need to know more about other people's cultures to communicate with them," she said. "The best way to understand a culture is to learn the language."
For Tamara Al Abadleh, however, learning Japanese was more a matter of pleasure than of business.
The 26-year-old genetic engineer, who has completed all five levels, said she decided to learn Japanese as a hobby.
"I grew more interested in Japan's language and culture after watching Japanese animation and drama shows," Abadleh said, adding that she wishes to visit the country now that she knows more about it.
Speaking at Saturday's ceremony, Japan's Ambassador to Jordan Junichi Kosuge voiced hope that Japanese language graduates would help develop the ties between Jordan and his country, stressing that language is "a mirror" to a country's civilisation.
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