Today, I'm interviewing a former Aichi University student of mine, Koki Sugie.
He studied abroad while he was a student and he has some great advice for people who are
thinking of studying overseas.
Hello, this is Andrew from Victory English Online and today we have another interview.
Today we are interviewing Koki Sugie.
I would like you to introduce yourself, please.
Hi, I'm Koki, so I'm from Japan.
I live in Nagoya, Aichi.
I majored in English and studied American society in Aichi University.
Now, I graduated from Aichi university last year.
Now, I work at logistics company around Nagoya...port of Nagoya.
When you were studying at Aichi University, you also did a study abroad at Southeast Missouri
State University, right?
Yes.
How long did you stay there?
It was for 5 months.
The program is 5 months, but after the program,
I went to Kansas City to take part in Christmas homestay.
And I spent New Year's eve in Kansas City.
So, to be honest, it means 5 months I was in U.S.
Great!
And so, why did you decide to do that study abroad experience?
First of all, I really wanted to study English in foreign countries, like America.
Why America?
Because I really like American culture and American movies.
So to feel that directly...so in Southeast Missouri State University, there is lots of
international students from India, Bangladesh.
I'm interested in communicate with them, so I decided to go there and study English there.
Sure, you can get that experience talking with a wide variety of people different countries, can't you?
I did.
Is there anything else that you think you could get...some experience you could get
in America, that you couldn't get in Japan?
A lot.
First of all, for example, I could join the Bangladesh night.
It's a kind of festival to share their own culture to other students.
Why did I take part in the festival?
Cause one of my friends, who is Bangladesh asked me to join the festival and help this
festival because I have a lot of Bangladesh friends at that time.
They are really kind and they really interested in Japanese culture too.
One day, I saw one friend...Bangladesh friend...I tried to say "Hi".
After that, this guy asked me to join conference to discuss how does it go well.
Suddenly, one of my friends asked me to join.
I didn't expect that I join Bangladesh night, because there are some culture event, like
Japan in samurai night.
Most of Japanese students going to join this event and help create an awesome event.
But I didn't take part in this event because I might have used Japanese with them all day.
But to join the conference, you could be using English more.
Definitely a good plan.
When you first started living in America, did you have any culture shock.
Yes, there is.
For example, I'm just confused how did I communicate with them, especially my roommate and floor friends.
But they were really friendly and talked to me.
But it's kind of no border line between me and them.
And also, on Friday nights, they are going out somewhere to have drink or hanging out.
I hung out with one American friend, so it's kind of fun.
But it's really kind of culture shock because I was...they all want to do fun thing at midnight.
I asked one friend..."I'm so sleepy, so can I go back to the dormitory?"
But one of my friends, "No, Koki.
You need to stay there to enjoy until midnight or 5 am."
Sometimes late nights.
Party culture is maybe different...Yeah, there are some differences when you first arrive.
Overall, did you have more good experiences or were they any bad experiences that you had?
Actually, a lot of good experiences in U.S.
For example, in Thanksgiving break, my roommate's family invited me to join the Thanksgiving party.
It was the opportunity to know Thanksgiving culture and how do they treat me
and what they eat.
It's a nice experience to have.
As well, you also spent Christmas and New Year's there, so you get to enjoy some holidays...Yes,
I did.
Those are good experiences if you can join with the people from the country, right?
From American people in your situation.
Were there any negative things that happened that wouldn't expect to happen in Japan?
One thing I experienced negative thing, but it's also kind of culture shock as well.
One of my...I went to see the movie often with my friend.
Usually, in Japanese movie theaters, before showing a movie, it has an announcement to
manner...switch off smart phone and be quietly.
Of course, in U.S. movie theaters has a same announcement about manner, but when I see
a movie someone's iPhone's Siri...I heard someone's Siri's sound and melody tone.
It's kind of disrupting me, but the other people didn't care about that...
just focus on the movie.
You're used to a more quiet movie theater, but they get used to people not caring.
I see.
That would be some culture shock...a negative experience if you're not used to it.
So how about...if some Japanese student in university is planning on studying abroad.
What kind of advice would you give them, so they could have a good experience.
In my study abroad, I made some goals about what would I like to do in U.S. I think it's
really important to achieve my goal and to create awesome study abroad.
For example, my goal is don't be shy to speak English with other people, especially the
local people and of course my roommate.
Japanese English learners, including me, try to speak English without mistake, but so they
try to...they worry about that because they think that making a mistake is a shame.
But I made lots of mistakes when speaking English, but they tried to understand what
I said and after they gave me some advice, so how to improve my English,
especially communication skills.
That's great.
This is important thing to study abroad and make an awesome study abroad.
If you're shy, then people can't help you, and you're English won't improve, will it?
Just explain what I would like to speak.
That's a big help.
And any other pieces of advice that you would give?
Yeah, just...making goal is important, so...just enjoy the conversation...with other people,
even other international student from India and Bangladesh.
They also speak English, but sometimes they made a mistake like me.
Communicating with them, it's possible to get to know each other and their own culture.
That's true.
This is an opportunity to create awesome relationships as well.
New friendships and international people...that's great.
Recently, I saw that you taking Eiken test.
Yeah, I did.
Which level were you taking?
Pre-1.
Why did you decide to take the test?
I just wanted to check my English skills through Eiken Pre-1, but before taking this test,
I heard it's really difficult to pass Pre-1 easily.
I was busy with my work, so it's difficult to make a time to study Pre-1.
You have to make a careful study schedule if you need to...
How long did you study before the test?
About 2 months.
That's a good amount of time.
I'm just curious, why did you choose to take Eiken rather than TOEIC or TOEFL or some other test?
First, I often take a TOEIC many times, because to write my score on my resume for job hunting.
But Eiken is really important for me to have.
I need to use English at my work and I wanted to check my English skills regularly.
I was a long plan to take Eiken.
Actually, I tried to study and memorize vocabulary at the train and during lunch time.
Any free time that you have.
I'm curious, how did you find Eiken test compared with TOEIC test.
Compared?
More difficult or different styles?
TOEIC is just business English communication skills because it's good for business men
to use English or negotiate with foreign people.
But Eiken is just a test to check English skills regularly and focus on...everyday English.
What part of the Eiken test gave you the most trouble?
Reading section.
It's a lot of articles that I needed to read,
so it was not enough time to read everything at that time.
You need a fast reading speed to finish in time.
Next, is the vocabulary.
I think it's really important to memorize vocabulary to take Pre-1 because it's divided
each section, like society, education, nature.
How did you...you said you were studying on the trains, studying vocabulary...were there
any other methods you used?
I just create my vocabulary note.
I didn't know the word and I took the previous test...Pre-1 test from textbooks.
From that test, I picked up the vocabulary I didn't know and write it down.
If some student was thinking of taking Eiken, learning vocabulary is important.
Is there any other advice you would give them?
Just read some English articles.
For example, I try to read Japan Times on my smart phone.
Japan Times is good for studying Pre-1, because there are lots of...like sports section and
nature section and society section...a variety of articles, not just business.
That's a good idea.
You need that practice reading to improve your speed and improve your understanding.
That's great.
That's good advice.
Well, I want to thank you very much for this great interview.
You have very good advice that other students can get from watching this.
Thank you very much for doing this interview with me.
Yes, same to you.
It's a pleasure to meet you and it's nice talking with you.
I hope you could get some good advice from Koki from that interview.
To see more interviews like this, please subscribe to this YouTube channel.
And to get the free TOEFL Tips course from Victory English Online, please click here
to go to my website.
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