Learning English Online, Hitomi Isono, Tokai University of Marine Science and Technology, Shizuoka
I went to an online English school when I had a gap year between high school and entering university from 2013–2014. I did not know about online English education systems until my friend recommended a school. I took a Callan method class from an online school in the Philippines and my English improved in many ways, especially speaking and fluency. My presentation will focus on the advantages and my experience of using this type of learning.
Hitomi Isono is a third year student of department of Marine and Earth science at Tokai University, Shizuoka. She took online English classes and improved her English skills. She is interested in ocean physics such as ocean circulation, global warming and weather patterns. She is keen on studying oceanography in English.
Education in Japan and Elsewhere, Kaho Taniguchi, Gyoshu High School, Shizuoka
The presenter used to be in the Bilingual Program of Gyoshu Junior High School. In high school, she began studying in the regular course, not the bilingual side anymore. After spending some time in the regular side, she realized how different school could be. Now, she is interested in the system of education in Japan and the difference between other countries. In this presentation, she will talk about what differences she realized between the education of the two courses, and her opinion about how education should be.”
Touring Miho-no Matsubara, Chiyu Takezawa, Tokai University of Marine Science and Technology, Shizuoka 
Using English for Business in Hong Kong, Shota Furukawa, Tokai University of Marine Science and Technology, Shizuoka I went to the Food Expo in Hong Kong with my father on business in 2014 and 2015. My father runs an abalone farming company and we joined this expo to research the Hong Kong market. We joined as exhibitors, so I had to speak English because I cannot speak Cantonese.  Shota Furukawa is a third year student of Fisheries and Biological Science at Tokai University, Shizuoka. He has twice experienced a week's homestay: once in Canada, and once in Australia. His experience in Hong Kong and these countries stimulated his English use and interest in the language. He is currently studying English to use in the fisheries business in the future.Rekindling an Interest in English, Shiori Miyaji, Kokusai Kotoba Langauge College, Shizuoka When I was an elementary school student, I was a girl who liked speaking English very much. I started learning English at four years old. And I had pride in myself being able to speak English. But I was up against a wall at a certain time, and I lost that pride. My presentation is about the reason why I intend to learn English once again and my dream for the future. 
Shiori Miyaji is a second year student at Kokusai Kotoba Language College. She is learning three foreign languages now, and she wants to be a multilingual speaker.Hobbies and Habits to Improve English, Minori Sato, Tokoha University, Shizuoka My English study and use is strengthened by my hobbies and habits. There are three ways in particular which help me. First, I watch either English-speaker You Tube videos, or I watch Japanese videos with English subtitles. I have been into You Tube channels since I was in junior high school, so this is an enjoyable pastime. Second, I read TOEIC or Eiken themed text books while commuting. Studying while commuting rather than at home is very effective for me, because I do not study well at home.Third, I have a thirty-minute walk to my university every day. Before I walk, I look at an English song’s lyrics, try to remember them, and then I listen to them as I walk. It helps me to better enjoy and understand the song. These methods do not exhaust me, and nor do I spend too much time on them. They become routine and my English improves efficiently and effectively. 
Minori Sato is a junior at Tokoha University, Shizuoka. Her major is English and she would like to be a junior high school English teacher in the future. Now she is dying to join as many events as possible, and to create good memories for the rest of her university years.Language as Communication, Language as Identity, Sharoll Albarracin, Tokoha University, Shizuoka Communicating with many people is a way to absorb new things and new experiences. I realised that when I moved to Japan and began to learn Japanese independently. It was not easy for me - not just the difficulty in learning how to write kanji - but also trying to understand different ways of thinking. However, the harder I studied, the more interested in Japanese culture I became. Furthermore, it also made me think how important languages are, not only for conversation, but for global communication. For this reason, I have decided to learn English as a common language, because by knowing it, I think opportunities will open up for me to have global conversations about global problems, and this can lead toward a better future. My presentation will focus on my experience learning two different languages and how it has helped me to be who I am today. 
Sharoll Albarracin is from Colombia and has lived in Japan for seven years. She is a third year student at Tokoha University, studying English. She can speak Spanish and Japanese, and is now studying hard to improve her English. She is interested in languages and learning about different cultures. One of her dreams is to travel around the world and to help people in need from developing countries.Also Introducing: 
Master of Ceremonies / Forum Moderator: Akiko Sakamoto is a third year student of the Department of Environment and Societal Affairs at Tokai University, Shizuoka. She was born in Canada, and has lived in a few countries due to her father’s job. She is interested in the relationship between the ocean and human society, marine debris and protecting the natural environment. She is now studying Spanish too.
Receptionist: Nana Kunii is a Tokai University freshman. She likes speaking with other people in English. She has never lived overseas, but has been instructed in English by native speakers. |
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