I have leaned English since I was a JHS student. When I started studying, I only knew greetings and a few easy words. Every new thing I learned was very interesting and I dove into English. I really thank my English teacher in my JHS days who affected the course I would follow. She was what is called a Spartan teacher. She gave us so much homework and told us to remember all sentences of the dialogues. At first I felt that I wouldn’t keep up with the classes but as time passed I realized my own change in studying. Some phrases came up unexpectedly when I was talking in Japanese! Then I established an effective way of studying for me. That was writing, reading and memorizing. If I memorized all pages of the text, I could get a high grade. Although I seldom talked in English, I didn’t think it would be a problem.

In university, what astonished me most was the way of studying. It was completely different from the one that I had had. First, we were asked not to memorize but to contemplate in every class so I couldn’t cope with classes by my previous strategies. The other thing is that many students communicated with each other in fluently in English. It was shocking for me because I had never thought that Japanese, especially students, could speak such fine English.

I urgently felt that I should change the way of learning. First I have tried to touch real English as much as possible. In the morning I listen to the radio news, while I am in my room. I watch movies with English subtitles. I listen to English conversation tapes. I have decided with my heart to use English in my daily life. I have tried to think in English and sometimes I have talked with my friends in English. Then I keenly felt my lack of vocabulary. To improve this problem, I made write down useful words. In addition I have tried to expand my English to particular fields of my interest, like hobbies and religion, to improve my English in these fields.

Although I have many challenges, I have made progress to some degree. Especially, I have devoted my effort to improvement of my conversation skills. Using summarizing, shadowing, rejoinders, and also videoing conversations, have all been very helpful to me. Moreover my friends are good teachers for me. I am really impressed by their efforts in every class and it makes me happy to talk with them. It’s amazing that I can enjoy talking and make myself understood in English!

Now I understand from my learning in the university how to take in new information and construct new knowledge. I would like to continue to learn with zeal after my graduation.

In my estimate it’s also important to have a interest in what is going on around us in the world. Recently I found the interesting phrase in the book. “Birds fly, fish swim, and humans think and learn. Humans are born to learn.” As this writer says, human beings have an eagerness to gain knowledge. Therefore I hope that my learning in this time will become a step to expand my point of view.

Although it would be presumptuous of me to give advice, I believe that education is people’s right but at the same time it is a gift for us. We should appreciate this fortunate chance. I mean we should think the world of every class. It’s helpful if we keep in mind “not to be afraid of making mistakes.” We can’t advance if we have a hesitation. That is to say, mistakes we made teach us, provide improvements and goals. My teacher advised me putting a big goal and a small goal in front of me. It has still encouraged me because I can progress little by little with satisfaction toward my own big aim. Everything around us like books, TV, friends could be a teacher for us. I think that how much we can learn depends on how much we make efforts.

I really thank to have chances of meeting great teachers and lucky circumstances. I would like to make the best of this opportunity to learn and have zeal to look for unknown ground.