Name: Emiko Shamoto 

Year: 1996       

 

                                                                                                                        

     There are so many reasons why I have been interested in foreign languages. In fact, I hated learning English when I was a junior high school student. And I did not even imagine that learning foreign languages would be one of my favorite things.

     My most memorable experience was going to the United States to study English for one year. Needless to say, I improved my English skill, especially in listening. But I could also experience a different culture. I learned how to spend a day at an American high school, activities in bands, and ceremonies like a graduation commencement. All the people who I got to know there were so nice that they did not mind at all to explain the meanings of words I did not understand. It really helped me to learn English and I still remember the words they taught me, including slang. I think I was so lucky to go there. I could learn a lot and have American friends who I still keep in touch with.

     I have changed my way of language learning since I entered the university. Actually I had to change my way because of my classes. Since I was in Oral communication class, I had to talk in English all the time. It meant I had to talk in English even with my classmates, not only with the teacher. I believe it was the best way to learn English. Because when I talked with my classmates, I did not have any time to translate Japanese into English in my mind and it made me think in English. And what is more, I could get new vocabulary from the classmates. So talking in English was important for me and the most useful way to learn English.

     I have some advice I want to give to next year's first year students. First of all, please do take advantage of your opportunities. You have many opportunities to study English at this university, especially in Eibei-ka. And the classes meet our demands perfectly because they consist of  fields like Reading, Writing, Oral communication and so on. It is the time to study English. One more thing I want to say is "do not be afraid of making mistakes.” Some of my teachers always said so and I also think so. I am not afraid of making mistakes when I speak English. Because I know I need to make mistakes if I want to improve my English. Everyone knows that everyone makes mistakes. If you are afraid of making mistakes, you do not risk a lot. So I want you to love your mistakes.

     By the way, there are some goals, which I want to achieve. I am very much interested in foreign languages and I want to be able to speak French as much as I do English now. When I speak French, it takes so long to say what I want to. I think it is because I have to translate Japanese into French. And I cannot think in French though I can do it in English. So I want to study French more and visit France someday. I am also thinking about learning Korean. Since my sister has learned Korean, I have been inspired by her. The language is interesting for me because they use their original letters, not the alphabet. And only Korean and Japanese are the languages which do not belong to any group of other languages in this world. I have been in Korea three times and my sister and I are going there again this spring. After graduation I want to have a job which has a lot to do with traveling. I want to work for a travel agency or an air line. I really like traveling. So I would be very happy if I can make traveling my job.

     These are my language learning past, present and future. I want to keep studying foreign languages and want to visit as many countries as I can. I will do my best to get what I want.