English Lessons and Homestay in Vancouver, Canada Eighteen students of the University of Shimane participated in a cross-cultural understanding course during summer in 2019 by joining an intensive English language program hosted by Langara College in Vancouver, Canada. The students had amazing experiences with their host families and students from other countries.
Overcoming my fear of speaking English
By Kaito Takechi
At the beginning I felt nervous because I was not good at speaking English. And I didn’t know what it was like to live in a house in Canada. However, when I first met my host mother, I felt instantly at ease because when my name was called, my host mother said to me, “Oh blonde hair boy!” and all my classmates and teachers laughed. So I felt relaxed. I thought she was a fantastic lady who had a great sense of humor. She was very nice and made me feel comfortable by talking to me gently on our way to her house.
However, I still had my fear of talking with my host family. So on the first day in Vancouver, as soon as my host mother finished telling me how to use the bathroom, when the dinner starts, and how to go to Langara College, and so on, I immediately went to my room and closed the door so that I did not need to meet my host family.
On the second day and third day, I was still nervous due to the same reason that I had to use English all the time in the house.
But my host mother kept trying to understand what I wanted to say. She was always calm and always cheerful. She laughed a lot. Her kindness gave me a courage to speak English. I started to talk with my host family in English.
While I was in my room and being alone, I asked myself why I paid so much money for coming to Vancouver? I thought hard, but the answer was simple. My answer was that I wanted to improve my English skills through this program! After realizing what I really wanted to do, I always tried to stay in the living room to talk with my host family in English, when I’m in the house.
Two weeks passed, and I realized myself enjoying talking with my host family about host family’s cat Rio, culture, places to visit in Vancouver, where I would go and where I went on the day, what I bought, and so on. I truly enjoyed talking with my host mother and I felt using English improved my English speaking skill.
Gradually the final day in Vancouver approached, and I felt I did not want to go back to Japan, and I wanted to stay in Canada longer like one year or more.
Now I am grateful for my host mother because she made my Canadian life enjoyable. Thanks to my host mother, all the things went well! I think I overcame my fear of speaking English.
On the last day I was sad because I need to say good bye to my host family. So I wrote a letter for each family member. My host mother enjoyed reading my letter and said, “You can come back to our house anytime.” When I have time and money in the future, I would like to go to Canada to meet my host family to say “Long time no see!”
Overcoming my asking for help
By Yuko Madono
I had a scary experience in Vancouver. My homestay family’s house was located in the suburb of Vancouver and I needed to ride on a bus for 45 minutes. One day, I rode on a usual bus and paid attention to the display that showed the bus stop’s name. On that day there were not many passengers on the bus and the bus did not make many stops. I saw the name of my bus stop, so I got off.
However, the place where I got off was not at the usual bus stop. The scenery was completely different.
I managed to confirm my whereabouts, but I did not have Wi-Fi and there are no stores around, so I became anxious. But I kept walking because I was worried of asking people for directions. But after all, it didn’t help. I was completely lost. I was becoming very scared. It was getting late. I decided to ask for help.
I saw a woman and stopped her. I said to her that I was lost. Then, the woman kindly taught me how to go and then I could finally got home after walking about 10 minutes. I felt relieved to see something familiar.
Thanks to the woman, I was helped. It was very scary to get lost in land I don’t know, but I thought it was important to ask people with courage.
While I was in Vancouver, I had some troubles, but people were always very polite. I realized that there were many kind people who would were willing to help.
Bothering others means trusting others
By Kazuki Enomoto
When I woke up in the bed of my host family’s house in the morning of the second day in Canada, I realized that I did not have an important bag with me. The bag contained the important item for overseas travel: my passport. I turned pale. I usually try to solve problems by myself, but I immediately reported to the teacher by LINE because this was serious. Unfortunately, she did not reply.
It was early in the morning, but I wanted to tell this incident to my host family, so I went downstairs and waited in the living room for everyone to wake up.
Then my host father came down. After I greeted good morning, I immediately said to him, ”I lost my important bag, so I would like to go to college.” He said, “Today I was supposed to guide you to Vancouver, but would you like to go to college?” I tried to convey my problem in my own English, but I couldn’t think of good words at all and the silence continued between him and me. I thought that I needed to locate my passport immediately, and I used a translation app to communicate my problem. The host father kindly contacted the college and talked to a teacher instead of me. The teacher found the bag in the classroom where we had an orientation program in the previous night. I got the bag on the next day and found my passport.
Another incident happened on the 15th day of my stay in Vancouver. On that weekend I went to Stanley Park, where I decided to ride on a bike. I rented a bicycle and went along the bike lane around the beach. I approached a small roundabout, and I tried to make a turn, so I just applied a little brake, but I was speeding too much and I lost my balance and my body flew forward.
I was struck to the ground so hard. It was so sudden and violent that I could not tell how things happened.
People came near me immediately. Two men and women who seemed to be old couples and one young woman rushed to me immediately. At first, I heard many things in English quickly, but I did not have the translation app, so I was in trouble. They asked if I was okay with pointing their knees, because I injured my knees. They also asked me where I rented the bicycle and they help me to return the bike. Fortunately, the accident was not very serious and I only hurt my knees a bit. I sweat more in talking to them in English.
After staying in Canada for a month, I was able to experience the warmth and kindness of people overseas. My host family, my teacher and people in Stanley Park were very nice to me. They did not hate my bothering them. I think I learned a lesson that I was able to overcome troubles by trusting people. I usually act alone because I do not want to bother others, but I think it’s okay to bother others.
