Name: Takayo Oki       

Year: 1996       

 

                                                                                                                          

    The more I learn English in this university, the more my attitude toward English changes, I think. Before I came to this university, I could grasp English from only one point of view. In short,  it is reading, writing and grammatical English fostered in lower secondary education and higher education.

     It was as a fourth grade pupil that I started learning English. It was like a game. I enjoyed it. Every time I learned one word, I told it to my parents. As the number of words I learned were increasing, I began making some simple and short stories.

     When I was a junior high school student,  I began studying English in good earnest at school. I read a textbook,  memorized new words and learned grammar by heart. That surely was useful, but I gradually forgot about enjoying English without my knowing it. That never changed after entering high school. A few teachers gave us the chance to listen to English, for example, they lent us English-conversation tapes. But most teachers only read a textbook and taught us grammar. As time went by, we had few chances to listen to English. It is not too much to say that there was not the most fundamental elements-- listening and speaking--in my mind. I did not notice the importance of listening and speaking.

     By the way, the reason why I wanted to enter this university is that I was simply interested in English. But "English” which I meant at that time was only reading and writing. Therefore as soon as I began to learn English in this university, I was puzzled. Because I had never communicated with anyone in English. I found how important speaking and listening were. And I noticed that I lacked my ability of listening and speaking.

     At the beginning of this class,  I did not know what to do. All I could do is to hear what you and my classmates said. (But I hardly caught what they said. ) I could not understand much less speak.

     Next, what I was puzzled at is that my classmates had a passion for English and great abilities in English. I felt the difference of enthusiasm between my classmates and me. I also felt it was a mistake that I entered this university. The more I felt so, the more I felt pain. But I kept on learning English.

     Little by little I could understand what Murphey said and began to enjoy talking with my classmates in English. I got gradually accustomed to speaking English. I could do shadowing and summarize just a little. I found the pleasure of English!   Then I could return to my fundamental idea--"I enjoy English!"

     Similarly,  my way of learning English changed after coming to this university. As mentioned above, when I was a junior high and high school student,  I earnestly read long articles and studied grammar and learned vocabulary by heart. But now it is  natural for me to touch real English almost every day. For example, I watch English-conversation programs on television, listen to Western Music and sometimes keep a diary in English. In addition, I want to see movies (of course, Western movies) as many as possible.

     In this spring break I will try to keep on doing all the above-mentioned. Thus, my attitude toward English has changed from memorizing English to enjoying English. I will not spend any day without English.

     By the way, I have never been to foreign countries. I will go somewhere (to English-speaking countries) during the next three years. I want to learn not only speaking and listening but also how to communicate with a lot of people. And I want to touch other cultures and customs and histories. If I do, I will know the pleasure of English more and more.

     By the time I graduate from this university, I want to be fluent. I will need to make some efforts from now on. First of all, I will practice what I learned in this class--"Don't be afraid of making mistakes." Making mistakes leads to my success. How many mistakes I will be able to change into my power is important for me. When I graduate from this school, I want to feel "I did my best." My efforts will pay off.

  Now I can learn the things I am interested in. I am so happy. I hope such days will be going on after graduation. After graduation I will try to improve my ability and keep enjoying English. I want to have a job that I can make the most of my experience,  and I want to marry some day!