This is about my experience studying abroad in 
Canada, Victoria.

We went to Victoria by ship. Actually, our first plan 
to go there was by plane. But because of slowness 
of movement, (we got a long time loss for the 
security.) we couldn’t get on the train on time. 
Getting past some trouble, we finally made it to the 
place where we were going to stay.
The stay was two weeks. The first day of the 
program was camping for one night. Since we 
were exhausted, we thought the trip was not a 
good choice for us, but it is a program, so we 
cannot do what we want to do. We went there by 
school bus. However, the place was very beautiful 
and had a clear lake.
Also, the 2nd week on the weekend, we went to 
Tofino which has a light blue ocean and white 
sand. We surfed there. It was the first time to surf 
in my whole life, so I felt a bit scared but at the 
same time, I felt excited!
Not only did we have fun but also we studied 

As a Canadian, I am very happy that our students 
had such great experiences on the Canada 
Summer Study Tour. I was sure that they would 
find Calgary, Alberta and Victoria, British Columbia 
to be beautiful and exciting places to study. 
However, as their stay was almost 3 weeks in 
home-stays and dormitories with other students, I 
wondered if they would have any problems. But 
from what I have learned, the problems that they 
did experience were "good problems". That is, by 

English and other subjects there. As you know, the 
main subject we leaned was English of course, but 
we also learned technology, music, history about 
old Chinatown in Victoria, and went to clean the 
beach (day service).
Chinatown in Victoria is one of the oldest 
Chinatowns in the world. Our guide explained to us 
about a lot of historical events and the things we 
saw and told us about the delicious food we 
should have. 
From this program, what did I absorb? What did I 
learn? I learned the characteristics of many people 
from many countries. Every single person is not 
the same. Also, I realized that Japanese need 
more confidence in ourselves. When I was taking a 
class, many foreign student were very lively, fresh. 
I thought that they really want to share their own 
ideas. Moreover, they do not worry about others 
For me, Japanese tend to keep opinions in our 
minds. I agree with this conception, but we are 
now in internationalization, ‘We need to train 
ourselves to cooperate with world countries, 

Shawnigan Lake

ESL

 Common Room 

Tofino

especially big nations.’ This means that we should 
learn other languages such as English.
I really know that studying a new language is very 
hard, but let’s try, let’s feel, and let’s use. ‘Do not 
study English as a duty. Try to feel and study as a 
magical way to join to new sights and new 
destinations.’
That’s all for me. Thank you.

4

5

  Takumi Sugiyama

struggling to communicate with English, learning 
how to get around by themselves, trying to 
overcome their shyness and becoming more 
assertive, they were able to grow as people and 
understand the strength that they have inside 
them. I hope that their experience in Canada will 
stay with them their whole lives and that their 
interest in global cultures will lead them all over the 
world!

Sean Patterson

My country, my students