- Name: Mieko
Saito
- Year: 1996
-
- (This
last LLH was left out of the first edition through editor error - it actually
belongs in the Been abroad Awhile section.)
-
-
When I was the first year of junior high school, I
was very interested in English. Because it was the first time to learn the
foreign language, and it was quite new for me. I liked learning English.
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When I became a high school student, English
learning became really hard. Almost in every class, I only had difficult
readings. I was taught English grammar or many words, but wasn't taught how to
speak or listen to English, which were what I wanted to learn. So I decided to
major in English in the university to learn what I couldn't learn in high
school.
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I entered Nanzan with a lot of hope and a
little anxiety. I was very excited in the classroom at the first day. The
teacher came in, and he spoke only English. Only English! I was surprised, but I
was happy because I thought I could learn real English.
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In most classes, teachers spoke only
English. I listened to them very carefully. At first, it strained my nerves to
listen to them for about an hour and half and I tried to understand everything
that they said. But gradually, I got used to doing so and it became ordinary.
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And I also wasn't used to speaking English.
So I was a little embarrassed when I talked with Japanese classmates in English.
It was very difficult to express what I wanted to say in English. But I enjoyed
speaking in English.
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After a year of study in Nanzan, I think I
have learned English like a little child does. I listened to English and got
used to it gradually, and imitated it. It was a good way to learn English.
Because it is a natural way to learn any language.
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In the next year, I am going to increase my
vocabulary, and improve my English understanding. Last year, I visited my friend
who lives in Alabama state in America. I was irritated as I could not express
myself satisfactory. I wanted to talk with her much more. And I also wanted to
learn from her. So to improve my speaking comprehension is the goal of the next
year.
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And the goal of learning English is to
improve my humanity. There are so many people in the world. And they have
different cultures and different personalities. I want to learn from them. And
improve my humanity. I have learned a lot from Japanese people. From my parents,
my friends, my teachers, all the people who I have met. I can also learn from
foreigners. To talk with foreign people is interesting because they have quite
different way of thinking. English is a useful tool to communicate with
foreigners. That is why I am learning English.