Kanon Okawa

Which ELC program(s) did you attend?

I attended the Monthly English program.

What made your ELC program special?

Classmates made my ELC program special. I'm very happy to meet them in this new place and learn with them, even if for a short time. Everyone had a different background, and we talked about our own hometowns, culture, and so on. Also, I was very motivated by talking to them about their own goals. And I'm still proud of my classmates even though we live in another place now. I hope we can grow up and see each other again someday.

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

The most memorable thing that happened to me as an ELC student is giving a speech at the farewell party. It was a very valuable opportunity to express my gratitude in my own words to my wonderful classmates, friends and teachers. When I was in high school, I was not good at English, so it was an unimaginable achievement. From this, I think that if we continue to work with goals, even if we are not good at something, it will become our strength, and we will be able to feel more confident.

Do you have any favourite memories of Canadian culture?

I have seen a lot of Canadian kindness in the past month. When I went downtown for the first time and didn't know how to go back home, there was a woman I asked for the address, looked up the bus together, and took me to the bus stop. I can't forget that she helped me kindly. Also, it was very nice that everyone says thank you to a driver when they get off the bus. And, I was impressed with everyone willing to help people with strollers or wheelchairs to get on the bus.

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

I think that learning with them has broadened my perspective. Unlike previous classes in Japan, this program had more time to exchange opinions among students than the time the teacher taught something to students. We were able to understand each other's cultures and customs, and I realized the importance of having a new and broad perspective. 

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

Learning here had many opportunities for discussion, and I was not only able to get new knowledge and perspective from other students, but also to organize and reflect on my thoughts to convey my thoughts clearly to others. I think that made me understand myself better and when I communicate my thoughts, I can speak more clearly. Now I'm back at a Japanese university and studying performing arts. Based on this experience, I'm planning to study the distribution of art due to differences in cultural backgrounds. I would like to work in the future so that each art can become familiar across countries.