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| Fabulous Extension! |
At first, I’d like to thank you for my parents, Extension teachers and people who have supported me. Especially, for my parents, I’m really grateful to them that they make me spend in America two-third of this year. Without understanding of my parents, I couldn’t come back to America. Through this semester, I thought about my future many times, thanks to my great friend and each meeting with someone. Every day we were busy from the beginning to the end of this semester. Honestly, I didn’t expect such a hard program. However, every day I thought about myself and lived a full life. Absolutely I changed in my sense of values. I had a lot of valuable things through this semester, I want to write everything, but it’s endless. So, especially I chose which made the two biggest impressions during this semester, a lot of university visits and the process of presentation.
We visited Washington state university, Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University and through each trip, we visited a lot of universities. Every university visit gave me really meaningful opportunity. One teacher said, this Extension program has had a record university visit. I’m really appreciated for Extension teachers about it. At the same time, I thought my choice which came back to America as an Extension student was correct, because what I take a class at American university is one of things I wanted. Thanks to many visits, I got the higher listening skill and from students I got various thinking and I could connect to mine. As I think so many international students, all studying abroad, I’m afraid of my future, because they are almost same age as me. As one of the person I want to use English for international success, I’m motivated by them. Also, I had a dream to become ground staff at the airport, but I was broadened my outlook remarkably and I’m getting interests in another job, like connecting between Japan and another country. I felt the importance to interact with international students. After going back to Japan, I want to get engaged in international exchange activities.
Final Presentation was a really good experience for me. Through busy every day, we have to practice it. Since this summer, we have started to research and interview about the Tohoku earthquake. We gathered at one place and discussed to make a good presentation. At that time, we didn’t know each other well, but getting known each other we had a quarrel about it. However, through the presentation, I renewed the difficulty of group activities and the importance of cooperativeness. I always think the process is important more than a result, so our process we have engaged in the topic for about 5months is precious time. So, on a real stage, I was not nervous, because I just wanted to tell everything I have researched on the Tohoku earthquake. I thought our topic is most important to tell to American audience. During our presentation, some people cried. When I saw the view, I really felt emotionally accessible. After the presentation, many people said it was good presentation. “I’m proud of you.” I had a really valuable experience I have never experienced. To tell Japanese culture to American people was not so easy, because each country has a strong culture. Also, at first, we have to understand deeply about own culture. I want to continue to study Japanese culture after going back to Japan. I’ll never forget the presentation.
In conclusion, now I really do think it was good to participate in Extension program. It was not so easy. What awaited me was a lot of homework and study by myself day after day, however if I didn’t participate in Extension program, I would absolutely regret. I had a lot of time to think about myself and my future through classes and daily life. If I were in Japan, I wouldn’t have such a time. Teachers always said, you guys are the best students we have ever had. I don’t know the meaning yet, but I really want to say for Extension teachers, you guys are great teachers in the world! Thank you.