Soraka Agata

Which ELC program(s) did you attend?

I attended the Intensive English (ELPI) and Summer language and Culture programs.

What made your ELC program special?

I studied English with students of various nationalities who had the same goal of improving their English. At first, it was difficult for me to understand what they said because they had different accents. However, the more time we spent together, the more I got used to the way they talked, and the more we got to know each culture. In addition, my teachers and CAs were incredibly kind and friendly. Thanks to them, I became able to speak English with confidence and learned useful phrases and idioms. Moreover, CAs definitely made my experience at UVic so much fun. It was a special experience that I couldn’t have done if I hadn’t been to Victoria.

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

It’s hard to choose one, but I think the day of my 20th birthday was the memorable thing. My host family and roommate prepared my favourite homemade pizza and birthday cake and gave me a birthday present. I was happy to spend my birthday with my wonderful host family and lovely roommate. Furthermore, not only my friends, but also my classmates, teachers and CAs celebrated my birthday. They made my birthday an unforgettable day.

Do you have any favourite memories of Canadian culture?

Multiculturalism is my favourite memory of Canadian culture. It’s because there are various kinds of restaurants, for example, Japanese food, Korean food, Mexican food and Greek food, and I had opportunities to eat food that I had never eaten before.

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

They shared their experiences, food and culture in their countries, so I felt attracted to their countries, wanting to go there someday and realized how different they are from my culture. When I had a conversation with them, we had to speak English even though English is not our first language, but I could get along with them and we could make friendships. Therefore, I learned I can communicate with foreigners even if I can’t tell my feeling well and I can’t understand what they said perfectly. Thanks to it, I thought I would be nervous talking to foreigners, but that barrier disappeared.

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

I hadn’t decided on my future before I went to Victoria, but I was able to know the fun of communication in English throughout my Victoria life. Accordingly, I decided to go on a working holiday after graduating from my university and work abroad in the future. In order to make my dream come true, I have to get a high score on TOEIC and TOEFL test, so I’m studying English hard.