This is my very first time on writing a motivation letter. I had no idea how a motivation letter should be. What should I write in the letter? How long should I prepare? Two pages? Or a short one is enough? In what language shall I write? Is it appropriate to start the story from secondary school? Or earlier? and bla bla bla.. I think all newbie thought the same thing as I thought.
I googled for some examples on the internet, most of the motivation letter is written for a Master application. Apparently the content are not so appropriate but the letter format and their opening paragraph is quite useful for a newbie like me. If you are thinking of plagiarism, first you have to make sure you and the original writer shared same background, same experience, and you understand what he/she is trying to express in the letter. Because if you are having a tough luck that month, and are called for an interview, I believe there is > 80% the interviewer will ask you question from the text for further explanation~ imagine that! This gonna be the biggest joke if you couldn't answer them.
I googled for some examples on the internet, most of the motivation letter is written for a Master application. Apparently the content are not so appropriate but the letter format and their opening paragraph is quite useful for a newbie like me. If you are thinking of plagiarism, first you have to make sure you and the original writer shared same background, same experience, and you understand what he/she is trying to express in the letter. Because if you are having a tough luck that month, and are called for an interview, I believe there is > 80% the interviewer will ask you question from the text for further explanation~ imagine that! This gonna be the biggest joke if you couldn't answer them.
SO, what exactly should I write in my motivation letter?I wrote a little about myself, my education background, my study plan in Germany also my future plan after completed the courses in Germany, not to forget "WHY do you want to study in Germany" too.
Took out a pen and a piece of paper, I jot down points that I already got, sketched a draft, and there I start my first paragraph. You'll come out with next paragraph automatically after you finish one, so do not try to squeeze out whole letter just by sitting there, you'll just waste your time. This is how I start my letter.
Anyway, I struggled for more than a week to think an answer for "Why do you want to study in Germany?" and I only got myself one reason. However I think that is the most reasonable and powerful reason why I wanna study there -- immersion is the best way of studying a language. Isn't it?
I remembered the consular of embassy once asked me over a phone call, "Why do you want to study in Germany? Why not Malaysia?"I think she was hinting me why not Goethe Institute in Malaysia. I answered her "Because of the environment..." she interrupted rudely, "This is not a solid reason"
I wrote approximately 2 pages, in German. At first I wrote in English, everything seems perfect after my cousins helped me to correct whatsoever grammar mistake or phrasing error that I did, they also helped me to make it sounds much more convincing. But I have to rewrite after my first attempt to hand in my application to German Embassy. Another consular (not the one who always talk impolitely) advised me to write in German since I graduated with degree in German Language. She said, that higher my chances to get a Visa. Sob... I thank her for her kind advice, but that isn't an easy task cause it has been a year I never practice my German after graduate, sob, ya I know, it's all my bad :(
But anyway, task is completed.
What I wrote in my letter? I mentioned my grade point average (GPA) in SPM, STPM and university, talk about my plan, reason of why Germany and that the language center has accepted my application, accommodation all settled. Listing out enclosed documents as ending. I will post my letter in my next post, I have two versions, one in English and another one in German.
That's all for today. Good Luck!
See ya
