Students wishing to study abroad from Akita University
Reports on study abroad experiences

What I learned through the program

Rather than studying specialized subjects, I participated in language training such as talking about communication, watching a video about a Canadian celebrity and answering questions, presenting my country's heroes, introducing myself and my experiences in Canada, etc.
 

My life during the program

I stayed with a host family who had been introduced to me by the University of Victoria. I cooked my own breakfast, was given homemade sandwiches for lunch, and basically ate dinner with the family. Also, according to the homestay rules, each person was given a single room. If we had any worries, we could talk to the host family who would try to help, and so I did not have any particular problems with the homestay. The university has a large number of teachers who are specialists in teaching English, so I basically had no problems at the university either.
 

Overall impressions of the program

In a nutshell, my impressions of this short-term study abroad program at the University of Victoria are that it was a very enjoyable and productive month. I had never stayed abroad for a month before. Naturally, I was anxious and we could not board a domestic flight in Canada due to the long line for the baggage check in at Vancouver International Airport. Although we were able to get on a waiting list three hours later, it was a bumpy start to my time abroad, and I wondered whether we were going to be okay. However, as it turned out, it was a lot of fun and I gained a lot of experience and improved my language skills. In particular, my speaking and listening skills have definitely improved. In the beginning, I often felt impatient when someone spoke to me in English and I couldn't speak because I couldn't find the words. In the latter half of the program, I was not nearly as impatient, and the process of expressing myself in other words even if I did not understand the language became much faster, and I was able to enjoy the conversation. I am really glad that I went to Canada and Victoria for the short-term study.
 

Future plans for study

I would like to continue studying English, e.g., memorizing vocabulary, using ALL Rooms, etc. and going for on a study abroad for an extended period of time in my second or third year but that requires saving up money to do so. Therefore, if I can manage to find the money, I will certainly go.