Name: Misaki Kimura                                                          

Year: 1997

 

     The very first time I interacted with English was when I was six years old. I moved with my family to New York because of my father's job. At first, at the local school, I started going to ESL(English as a Second Language). I learned English little by little there. I began with short words like, "cat", "dog", and so on. If my memories are certain, I don't think I was even speaking in full sentences. Because I was still young, I didn't even realize that I was improving. Before I knew it, I understood some of what people were saying and graduated from ESL. From then on, I stayed in regular classes with my other American friends. At first it was tough, but it soon came to be natural as I spent more time with them.

     I think just being with my close friends helped me improve my English. Many Japanese who came later than I did, were always together; at lunch, during recess, after school. They weren't too eager to make new friends and talk to them in English. On the other hand, I barely spent time with the Japanese. I joined the town soccer team and I even started playing the cello. I experienced new things and met many people.

      On my last five months in New York, I got a chance to stay in my American friend's house. My parents had to return to Japan, but I desperately wanted to graduate from the sixth grade of elementary school with all my friends. The parents welcomed me with joy and treated me like their second daughter.  Obviously I was staying in an average American home, so I lived like them. I only used English, ate only American food, and I experienced American tradition. I enjoyed my stay there so much that it was hard for me to leave them and other friends even after five months. I think it was the best experience I had in New York.        

     I think it was after returning to Japan that I became conscious of actually learning English rather than just using it for communication. I learned English grammar for the first time. I was surprised at how awful I was speaking. However when I found out my grammar was getting better, I noticed my speaking ability was getting worse and worse everyday. I didn't know what to do; or maybe I wasn't too anxious to do anything.

     It was the day of the entrance exam of Nanzan University, when I found out I should do something to get back my English. I spoke so poorly on the interview with one of the professors that I didn't even know what I was trying to say. From then on, I started listening to the radio in English. Every morning and night, I would listen to ZIP-FM ( famous radio station in Nagoya) and enjoy the broadcast. I also started self-talk in English. I thought to myself in English when I was walking, eating, studying, bathing; as much as  possible. I was happy to hear myself talk in English all of a sudden when I woke up in the morning one day.

      Another method I used in practicing my English was to read books. However, I wasn't a big fan of reading. To tell the truth, I hated it. I started with easy books at first, so I wouldn't drop out in the middle of books. I also picked out ones that sounded interesting. I don’t think anyone would want to read a book that is boring. I read books that teachers recommended too. These books were actually interesting to read. It increase my vocabulary, and made my talking speed much faster. These methods helped me a whole lot because my English came out fluently when I visited my friends back in New York. It had been six years but they told me that I hadn't forgotten English at all!

     The fact that I went to New York may have been the best opportunity in learning English. However, I did learn more after returning to Japan. If I hadn't forced myself to make up for the lost time, I would have been crying for help writing this Language Learning History. English learning isn't always fun, but you could make it interesting with a little twitch. I think anyone can think of their own way of learning. The most important thing is to think positive and never give up. Then you'll see the progress you've made. I'm glad I kept what I obtained. I hope you will too!!