Name

Name: Rina Saito
Year: 2004


“Twinkle, twinkle, little star…” This is the first experience of using English I remember. When I was in a kindergarten, I had a chance to use English with a native English speaker teacher. One day, the teacher taught us a rhyme of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” which has the same melody as kirakira-boshi, one of well-known Japanese children’s songs. It caught my interest. Although I couldn’t understand all the meanings of the rhyme, I sung it and enjoyed the different way of pronunciation from Japanese. This is all I can remember about my memory of English learning in the kindergarten but I’m sure every experience of learning there contributed to my liking English subconsciously.
After entering an elementary school, I was away from English learning for several years but I started to learn English at a cram school when I’m in the fifth grade. Since that school was small, pupils could receive careful instruction. It was really comfortable so that I could understand the basic of English, especially grammar, without difficulties. What I learned there was mostly grammar. Some might think to learn grammar is never exciting but I don’t think so. I gained the knowledge of grammar through reading short stories. It was really fun to realize I understood what those lines said! I felt English was a door to another world.
In Japan, English is added to a school curriculum for junior high school students. I was happy to learn English at my school. Since I started to learn English in advance at the cram school, lessons were easy to understand and I could make high scores on tests. It encouraged me to learn more. English became the most favorite subject of all.
As for contents of English learning, reading was the most prioritized. I remember I had a class of a native English speaker teacher one day a week but I didn’t talk to the teacher actively because I didn’t have confidence in continuing conversation in English. It’s a pity I was so shy.
After entering a high school, English learning became more and more practical for university entrance examinations. Main contents of lessons were also reading. In every chapter of a textbook, there were many words and grammar rules to remember. Many of them were must knowledge for students who would take university entrance examinations. I tried memorizing all. Although some of my friends said they couldn’t bear to memorize a lot of things, I liked it because it was a great help to understand English. Having gained vocabulary, I became able to read English newspapers and English articles on the Internet without consulting a dictionary so often. I believe reading helps our vocabulary building.
Not only input but also output is necessary for language learning so that I took an English conversation class when I was in the third grade of the high school. I had really hard time to express my opinions in English. I realized how difficult speaking in a foreign language was if I was not used to it.
Now I’m a university student of English department. The reason why I chose this department is because I wanted to study by using English. My way of English learning changed after joining a club, English Speaking Society. In this club, all members engage in one activity out of speech, discussion, debate, and drama, of course in English. Now I’m a member of a debate squad. I found debate is a very good way to learn English. It is said English debate requires four skills of language: writing, reading, speaking, and listening. Debaters have to take notes of arguments, read many pieces of evidence, tell the points of arguments, and listen to what the opposite says. I’m learning many things with fun. I’m sure I can improve my English skills more and more through debating.
My goal of English learning at the university is to write a paper on my study in English. The duty of students is to study. Then, it is desirable for English learners at universities to use English for their studies. It is difficult but worth trying. So I’ll develop my study of intercultural communication year by year and put my study on a paper in English. It is wonderful that I can make use of English in my study.
I wrote I felt English was a door to another world. I believe I can seize more chances to enjoy my life as long as the door is open. I’ll keep making efforts