What I learned through the program

At the University of Victoria, I took classes at a place called the English Language Centre. On the first day, we took a placement test and were divided into classes according to our level. From Monday to Thursday, different teachers taught the classes in the morning and afternoon. In the classes, we learned pronunciation, grammar, and new vocabulary under topics such as presentations about Victoria and the lives of Canadian people. The teaching on pronunciation was especially helpful. In university English classes in Japan, pronunciation is not something that is covered much in detail, so it was nice to be able to focus on it in class. In the last week, we had a speaking test and read aloud to review what we had learned so far. The format and homework were quite different from the English classes we take in Japan, but I felt that the content was informative and fulfilling. I also learned a lot from my homestay experience. I had a lot of opportunities to hear about Canadian people from my host family and to talk about things that I would not have talked about in English in Japan, so my vocabulary expanded and I was able to come up with English sentences more smoothly than before.
 

My life during the program

I stayed with a host family for four weeks. My host family consisted of a host mother and host sister who were vegetarians. At first, I was concerned about getting along with my host family because they were quieter than I expected, but as I asked them questions and talked about myself, I got to know them better. Even though I am not a vegetarian, I never felt like I was missing out on anything. If I wanted to eat fish or meat, I could buy it myself when I went out to eat. I was able to stay healthy during my stay there thanks to my host mother, who cooked healthy meals for me. Also, my host mother was very kind and listened to me and gave me advice. Even though we live in different countries, I felt as if we had similar values when we talked to each other. Perhaps because of this, I felt able to talk to my host mother whenever I had any problems, which was of great emotional support. Ultimately, I was grateful that I was able to stay in such a comfortable environment.
 

Overall impressions of the program

I was very satisfied with this experience. The classes were rich in content, as we were taught pronunciation in detail, reviewed basic grammar, and learned new words through the classmates teaching one another. I also had enough free time to go out with my friends and enjoy the city of Victoria. I believe that the encounters I had there were also experiences that broadened my horizons. The time I spent with my host family was also very valuable. I had been thinking about studying abroad for a long time before participating in the program, so the experience of living and studying abroad for a month was extremely helpful in shaping my future plans.
 

Future plans for study

I was worried about how much my English would improve after I participated in this program for a month, and whether I would be able to wrap my head around the idea of long-term study abroad. As for my English, participating in the short-term study abroad program has provided me with more confidence in my English conversation skills than before. In particular, I am now able to speak while paying attention to pronunciation tips and grammar, and I would like to continue studying English so that I can improve even further. As for the prospect of long-term study abroad, my experience of this one-month overseas program has given me an insight into the difficulties of living and studying abroad for a year. But at the same time, my desire to study abroad for a longer period has become even stronger. I still haven’t decided exactly what or where I will study, but I would like to work hard in my classes and gather information to prepare for my long-term study abroad.