Name: Yuko Kato

Year: 1997

 

 

     When I was an elementary school student, about 10 years old, I came to be interested in learning English so I listened to the NHK radio program by myself. But it was very difficult so I gave up until JHS. When I entered JHS, I came to like English very much. It was very easy to learn it because my teacher taught us with care. I got a perfect score in the first test so I came to like it more and more. Fortunately, my JHS and HS put stress on English education so I could improve. But all I did in JHS or HS was to do the study-aid book that my teacher recommended or to learn by heart the text book. So I couldn't speak.

     For this kind of study, I had some bitter experiences. One thing is that I couldn't speak at all in an English licensing examination. The other is that I missed the chance of studying abroad for three weeks when I was fifteen years old. Many of my friends went abroad to study, but I couldn't go because I had no self-confidence in myself to speak English. After summer vacation was over and I heard many friends talk about their experiences in USA, I regretted not going abroad. They said they spent wonderful days. At that time, I got depressed and I wondered if I should give up studying English more.

     When I was eighteen years old, my teacher suggested this university. I had heard about the Eibei department and that it offers a good education; listening, speaking and writing.

     The most surprising thing that I have experienced after I entered this university was OC class. I should use only English in the class. In the beginning of April, I could hardly communicate with friends nor the teacher in English so I sometimes used Japanese. But as time passed, I got used to the atmosphere of this class. The teacher has taught us strategies to improve our English. Now I can communicate in English and laugh a lot. Oral communication class is very different from the classes I have taken in HS. We don't use any text books or study-aid books. We sing songs, watch video and also our conversations are videoed every week, walk in the green area or juggle etc.

     Because of this kind of class, I can take English in myself naturally. The reason why I could get over no-self-confidence in myself is that the teacher always says, " I love mistakes." or "It's OK to make mistakes."  My English is still very poor but I can use English positively because of this phrase. The best way to improve my English is not to study intently but to use it more and more. For example, talking to the teacher after the class, or making foreign friends and communicating with them. I think I will continue studying like this and want to speak English fluently in the  next three years. And after graduation, I want to get a job in which I can make good use of my English abilities. So I have to study more and more.

     Finally, dear next year's first year students, I want to tell you about this OC class. First, don't be absent from the class. Second, do the homework to prepare the class. Finally, smile and use only English in the class. These three things will help you improve your English.