Ayano Hisada

Which ELC program(s) did you attend?

I attended Intensive English (ELPI) and Monthly English (ME). 

What made your ELC program special?

I would say class levels made the ELC program special. I changed class levels four times over the course of a year and I was able to truly feel the improvement in my English skills. Each time I moved to a new class, I felt that the level was too high for me. However, as I completed each level one by one, I gradually gained confidence. In the end, I can confidently say that my English has improved significantly compared to studying abroad before.

What is the most memorable thing that happened to you as an ELC student?

During my third ELPI program, I made more multinational friends than ever before and I started speaking a lot more after class, which became a memorable experience for me. That experience definitely helped me improve my speaking skills.

Do you have any favourite memories of Canadian culture?

My favourite part of Canadian culture is Christmas. I know It's not only in Canada. However, I could feel the differences. In Japan, Christmas is usually spent with friends or a partner, but in Canada, it is more like New Year’s in Japan, where people celebrate with their families. I enjoyed opening presents together and having a special dinner. I was especially surprised by the number of presents, as in Japan, we usually receive only one per person.

How did learning with students from other cultures change how you see the world?

Throughout the five programs, I interacted with many people from Latin American countries. Before studying abroad, I was focused on accents and thought that Latin Americans would have the same accent as Americans or Canadians, so I was a little scared to be in the same class with them. However, I realized that they also had their own accents and seeing them speak confidently made me understand that accents are part of one’s individuality. Additionally, I was really happy because they often complimented me.

Did studying English with us open any new opportunities for you? What are you doing now?

I decided to go study abroad because I wanted to improve my English, as I felt I was far behind my friends. Now that I have improved, I believe I can attend classes with more confidence, so I want to actively take the optional English courses at my university that I had been avoiding before studying abroad.