受講科目

Introduction to Education

期間

2006/1/13-2006/4/21

授業内容・到達度

教育についての授業。フロリダの教育制度、教育学者について学びました。現地の小中学校へ見学に行き先生とも話す機会があり充実したクラスでした。

The Learning Process

期間

2006.5.9-2006.6.15

授業内容・到達度

サマー攻めスター前期で週2日、1日4時間の授業でした。内容は授業をどのように行うか、授業計画をどのように組み立てるかというもので、最終日に生徒一人ずつ授業を行いました。

The Principles and Issues of TESOL

期間

2006.6.26-2006.8.2

授業内容・到達度

小学校で英語が第二外国語の生徒に英語を教える教師を目指している生徒が受けるコース。英語が第一言語ではない私にはかなり厳しいクラスでしたが、英語を学ぶものとしてクラスに意見などを発表し貢献できたと思います。

このページのTOPへ戻る

留学を終えての感想

University of North Florida

2005年 8月 29日 - 2006年 8 月30日

I decided to go to Jacksonville, Florida because there were not many Japanese people and not much Japanese culture. I think the most important thing about studying abroad was making myself part of the American culture. My school was called the English Language Program at University of North Florida. As I expected, there were a few Japanese people. The school is on campus and we used the university’s equipment. When I was in the school, I forced myself to go anywhere there were Americans or people from other countries other than Japan so I could speak English. I went to churches, the International Students Association, a Japanese class at the university,

dance clubs, parties, and many other places. First, I realized that I could not speak as much than I thought I could. I believed that I would not have problems in daily conversations. The fact was that I had a noticeable Japanese accent and I did not have a large vocabulary and understanding of idioms. For the three months since I had first arrived in Jacksonville, I could not speak out in class at all. I was so shocked that I realized that I could not speak to anyone other than my fellow students, and I was afraid of making mistakes.

I had been studying in such a bad mood, but I found out that I could make mistakes and it was important to try to speak English. Four months later after I entered the language school, I had a chance to take a class at the University of North Florida. In the language school, students can take one class at the university if the student chooses which is not mandatory. I took an education class called the Introduction to Education. My abilities of listening, speaking, and writing were not satisfactory to take an academic class, which I found out in the first day of the class.

I could not do anything. The professor spoke too quickly as did the students. I felt like I was stupid.After the first day of the class, I wanted to drop out. I could not understand what the professor said, which is the biggest problem about taking an academic class. The decision I made was not dropping out of the class; instead, I studied hard. Somebody said that “it is necessary to be embarrassed to learn a language”. The second day of the class, I talked to one of the students in the class to ask for a help. I needed someone to tell me the homework. That was my most nervous moment.In this way, I had somebody to help me whenever I had in trouble. As a part of the assignments, we had to visit a middle school and an elementally school to observe classes. There were lots of problems I faced. I did not have a car, so I needed to get someone to take me to the schools. I had to interview teachers. I had to get a social security number to get my fingerprinting for going to schools, so I needed to find a job on campus. It was great experience to observe schools in the U.S. I think so many students who study abroad for short terms can not have a chance to visit schools there and talk to teachers. In the end of the term, we had group assignments and presentations. There was much work in the class. It was not a class for an international student who has been in the U.S. for 3-6 months. My final grade was an A. I will not forget how helpful my teachers, classmates, and friends were.

I finished studying English in the language school in 6 months, and then I transferred to the University of North Florida to study education as a full-time student. I met professors who have still been inspiring me. The classes at the university were so much fun. Everything was different from the language school and the Ryukoku University. There was so much energy in class, the professors, and the students. Of course, I had a lot of homework, reading, and assignments, but I studied things that I liked, so I didn’t feel like they were assignments but tools to get knowledge that I wanted. I was the only Japanese student in all the classes I took, so professors and students would ask me about Japan and education systems in Japan often.

During the first days, I had so much pressure since I was the only Japanese person who could answer questions about Japan. In the end of semester, I was confident that I was only one who knew and explained Japan. Exams were likely to be simple and not difficult. Assignments were well valued and I took much time to prepare the assignments. I believe that professors assessed me not as an international student but of a regular college student. They were pleased by my work, telling me that I was full of ideas, and required me to work more if the assignment wasn’t satisfying them.

There was a lot of labor that was required of me and sometimes I got into some troubles, but the truth is that I enjoyed it and I would like to come back to finish at the University. Through this study abroad, I felt the kindness of the people. People were always around me and helped me. I was really lucky to make and meet my friends in the U.S. Further more, I studied cultures of the world and how important they are to people. Culture could be person’s strength, but sometimes they get people in trouble. Another thing was I studied bravery. If you are brave, your study abroad will be successful. It is important to move yourself and have courage for anything that might happen.

このページのTOPへ戻る