Name: Yutaka Kawahara

Year: 1997

 

“What I am Comes Into Existence”

 

     I started learning English when I was a JHS student. In the English class, I learned grammar mainly and a little communication. Every Friday I had classes taught by an assistant English teacher from the U.S. It was my first contact with a foreigner. At first, I could hardly speak with him, though I gradually became to be on good terms with him through his class. Even outside of the class, I communicated with him in English. How funny talking with him was! That was why I learned to like English very much.

     In HS days, I had no communication classes but only grammar ones. Moreover, I never had classes taught by foreigners. I could not improve my speaking ability by myself. Because however hard I listened to the radio or other materials, all I could do was to improve only my listening ability. I have an idea that the best way to improve communicating ability is to talk with foreigners or friends who want to do it. So I am very satisfied with what I do in the OC class.

     In this college, I was surprised at the OC class, especially at its style. For example, in talking we must look in our partner's eyes and smile to them and shadow. At first, I was so shy that I could not do it at all. In addition, on the first videoing day I spoke little and made many silences. So I envied whoever could do it better than me and at the same time I wanted to be like them.

     The other thing I was surprised at was that making mistakes was O.K. When I heard it first, I could not understand why it was O.K. Then the teacher explained that if we were afraid of making mistakes, we would not risk speaking. I was convinced of it soon, because I had already experienced such things. When I was a HS student, I belonged to the rugby football team. In practicing it, I always made progresses after failures. Furthermore, I never succeeded in the first challenge. I can say the same thing in videoing. Compared with the first one, I have improved greatly. By trying to do them again and again, I came to smile much more and to look into my partner's eyes more. Therefore, what I am comes into existence.

     I think what I learned in the OC class will be useful to me in the next three years and even after graduation. I am going to work for a company which handles foreign trade and make use of my English in business with foreign companies.

     Finally, I would advise, next year's freshman. First, you should do your homework certainly. In April I heard from my elder that OC teachers gave much more homework than other teachers did, though the harder I did them, the sooner I could improve my English. As he had told me, I could improve while practicing and carrying it out. So doing homework regularly and diligently is very important for you. Second, you should come to all classes and make them comfortable for you. If you have some troubles in doing it, please think of the OC class as what you really want to join. Then you will be able to enjoy it very much. Third, you should have your own goals. Because doing so makes you have a good attitude for achieving them. But they must be small so that you can make them come true. Lastly, do not be afraid of making mistakes. It is natural to make mistakes in speaking English, because we are not native speakers.