Australia

'Hello everyone. How are you? I'm fine, thank you.'
This is what I was before I came to Australia. Now I've learnt so many expressions through my experiences which need more than description to be explained. For today's post,  I will try to show them as much as possible.

My stay here started with a run of bad luck. For instance, on the third week, my host family told me to move out suddenly. Out of blue. Unexpectedly. So next day, I left that house. Although they said it was not my fault, it was so stressful and frustrating enough for me to be depressed. But actually I recognised that was also a good experience when I talked  with a friend of mine who said 'You cannot make it happen unless it happens. You cannot experience even if you want.' Then I started to make them personal anecdotes like 'Hey, when I came here I had such a stupid xxxx... it sounds so funny, doesn't it!? '. I'm kinda optimist now. I guess.

Okay, let's keep away from bad luck.
 I've met so many people who have different backgrounds, which changed my way of thinking. Anywhere I go, there is someone who has his or her own story in this country. When I travelled to Darwin I met a woman who was travelling around the world while she has her own business. Or, in Cairns, I met a guy from Switzerland who has very unique personality. He said his religion is himself. He believes what he says and he follows his instinct. Being a multi-cultural country, there are many people from other country like them and I've always been inspired. Also in Brisbane, where I've spent most of the time, I made so many friends. And some of them enlightened my future course. What I've found is that I'm too young to be a part of society. In other word, I need to study more and see the world. Even though my English has got better than it used to be, it still needs to be polished. Even though I studied a lot at uni, I have too many things that I don' know. Now I'm very happy that I figured it out.

Kakadu National Park

Moreton Island

Stradbroke Island

Sunset in GBR

Great Barrier Reef

What I just mentioned was a bit serious, so I want to show some photos. As you can see, this country has magnificent nature. I've visited many beaches in Australia but each one has its own beauty, like people here. I still have another month and I'm really excited to see, to touch, to feel Australia.

Gold Coast

All right, so that's just a part of my experience here and I need 100 hours or even more to talk about it, which means I have so much feeling. Anyway I love this country and I think this is the best choice I've ever made in my life. 

Predictions of Culture

Buddies

Hi everyone, how's it going? Now I am feeling a bit nervous as my 'studying abroad' is coming to the end. Last week, I actually went to Cairns to get the licence of scuba diving. I had really great time there. Here are some photographs, and if you are interested in my story, just come and see me and I can talk forever...

Me in GBR

Anyway, today I want to write on a culture-rerated topic; however, as an English learner, I've tackled on this kind of topic many times, so I would like to make some predictions about the future of both Japanese and Australian culture this time.

As for Japanese culture which is known as a monoculture, I guess it will change into multi-cultural in the future for some reasons. According to Japan Ministry of Justice, as a matter of fact, there used to be a small number of foreigners in Japan, but it has been increasing recently. People all around the world seem to start finding the uniqueness and attraction of the culture such as anime, music and custom. I did not expect the high popularity before I came here, but now I have many Australian friends who love Japanese culture, some like Pokemon, others like music.

People looking for rare (poke) monsters  (South Bank)

So, what I mean by putting emphasis on the popularity is that those people can be big impacts on Japanese culture, which can result in mixing with other cultures. Interestingly, as people from other countries are not good at handling it, there is a possibility that chopsticks would be used in a different way if it get prevalent. It sounds a bit wired but I am sure it could happen.

With regard to Australia which is successful for a multicultural country, I think that country-like areas (areas which consist of only one nationality) would appear in the future. For example, 'Sydney for the Chinese', 'Melbourne for Australian people' and 'Brisbane for Japanese people'. As you know, Australia has many immigrants from various countries and if it continues to do that, the population will be grown enough. Then those people might get together in some specific place, for example, Chinese people will find Sydney is the perfect place for them to work for some reason, which makes the city China.

Blue Sky and Ocean

OK, these are my predictions. Just prediction. I know some sound stupid. If you can think of any, just leave your comments and I would happy to hear that. See ya.

What I've found recently

Hello everyone. How's it going? I'm feeling much comfortable here now, I love the winter in Brisbane. Anyway, today I want to talk about what I've found recently about language: the importance of mother tongue.

I guess some foreign students who study English consider it's waste of time to speak their own language, but it is not always true.

Broadly speaking, studying in the native-speaking country is more efficient than that in your country. In the first month, you might have seen your achievement or improvement in your speaking or listening skill. In the second month, you still might have felt your growth in English... However, unfortunately, as time goes by in the native-speaking country, you would less improve your English skills (of course it depends) because your brain starts getting used to the new life and taking it for granted, which limits your potential. Your brain needs to be activated in order to keep on polishing by some stimulation which can be 'mother tongue'.

Let me give you an example which is based on my experience. If you have a conversation with your parents for the first time in a while, you would have some questions like 'Oh, now I said this phrase in Japanese but how can I say in English...?', which is what we call stimulation. Then you would probably look for the answer. This is the mechanism how your mother tongue works for improving English skill.

Therefore, don't get depressed even if you speak too much your language because it is a chance to stimulate yourself. 

That's what I've found recently and if you have any idea about this concept, please let me know or feel free to leave your comments!

Well, as for other things... I went to Byron Bay with my friends the other day, and I was touched by everything. Here are some pictures!! 

OK, so that's all. Thank you for reading.

My study at ICTE

Hello everyone. I completely forgot to do this task by the deadline and I know it's too late to post this today, but anyway, I want to talk about my study at ICTE.
When I started studying here, I had difficulty with communication with other students from other countries. What I take it for granted is sometimes unnatural for them while I can share the same feeling with Japanese students, which made me confused. As for teachers, I feel Australian teachers are more dedicated than the tutors in Japan. (It doesn't mean the latter is better.) Needless to say, it's not always true and it depends. In my opinion, Australian teachers give me much homework, they are willing to spare extra time to respond my question and always think about improving student' skills. By the way, I am surprised by the technology in classroom. For instance, teachers use 'Socrative', which gives each student to answer questions on the Internet and then, the answers are shown on a screen and the teacher can give each student their feedback. When I was in Japan I never used such a system, and I was seldom given feedbacks.
The last thing I want to tell you is punctuality. So many things including transportation, teacher, appointment, opening hour are not punctual here. On the day of an IELTS test, the train I wanted to take was cancelled without any information, so I had to research how I get to the destination and it took much time. I was almost late for the test, which made me furious. On the other hand, if a train is delayed in Japan, the information will be passed along as soon as possible.
All right, if I try to find more differences, it would go on forever, so I will finish here. Overall, I am happy with these differences. Thanks for watching.

Interesting & Surprising Differences

Hi everyone. Today I want to talk about some Interesting and Surprising Differences between AUS and JPN I found in last 2months.

It's hard to choose a topic since everything is quit different, but I'm sure the most obvious difference is 'culture'. As you know, Australia is a multi-cultural country while Japan is mono-cultural. I've talked with many people from other countries and they've got their own backgrounds, which gives me opportunities to get rid of prejudices. To be honest, I had negative biases against some Asian countries before I came here. However, I found the bias was not true and people are really kind. Now I try not to judge people by biases or I even try not to have them, which is really important thing for people who live in multi-cultural countries.

As for the geography, I'm surprised the scale of Australia, which is based on my experience. During the last break, I traveled Darwin for a week and visited many places including Kakadu National Park, Ubirr, Katherine and Edith Fall. At Ubirr, I climbed rocks and I was lost for words when I reached to the top. I thought that was because Australia is a big country. Japan is narrow and dense, so it is advantageous for transportation, but it also means it doesn't have many places like Ubirr. (But it took me 3~4 hours to fly to Darwin from Brisbane. Moreover, there are time lags. What a long, huge and inconvenient country...Just kidding.)

All right, that's all. I believe there are still countless differences that I don't know about Australia, so I am really excited. What sorts of difference are you surprised? Food? People? I would be happy if you leave your comments! Thanks for reading! 

Hello!

Hello everyone.

I'm Junichiro. Please call me Jun!!

It has already passed a month since I came here, Brisbane. Actually I had a run of bad luck this month. However, recently I found several ways to get over difficulties, so if you have some troubles, you can ask me because I am a little bit more familiar with them than you.

Anyway, I also have good experiences here. On every Friday I go to a gym in UQ to play indoor soccer, which gives you a good opportunity to speak English. I think there are many activities like that so I am really excited.
On holiday I usually hang out with my friends but we spend most of the time speaking Japanese. It's not good for improving my English skills so I have to change this situation. However, I don't want to study English. I mean, I want to enjoy English by playing soccer with native speakers, joining in a party and something like that rather than studying it. Personally I think enjoying English encourages you to know more about it and helps you understand it in real conversation. Actually it works when I play soccer and share the feelings with other team mates from other countries including Australia, China, Columbia, Taiwan, Peru and so on. Enjoying English is one of my goal. I don't know what will happen next but actually now I'm planning to go to Darwin in the next break. I am so excited. What will you do during the break? I'm waiting for your comments! Good bye!