This was my third time to take part in this Short-term English camp. Most of the people there I didn’t know, but by the time we arrived at the cottage, we had already made friends.

　We tried our best to use English not only in learning activities or playing games, but also right through the day. Even if my English was not as good as some of the others’, we were still able to engage in fine teamwork and to enjoy a good time together.

　The most interesting activity was cooking with other people, because when I was home my mom used to do all the cooking, and now I’m here in Japan I almost always cook just for myself. So it’s normally hard to find a chance to cook and share tasty food with others.

　Try to come next year, reader. No matter if your English is good or bad, you’ll be sure to have a lot of fun!

▲

　This was my first time at this training camp and I enjoyed it.

　At first, it was very hard for me to mix in because I didn`t know everybody and I didn`t know how to set about saying hello to people. But once we started cooking and eating together it felt much better. The first dinner brought us together across the barriers of countries and languages, and although it was only plain food it was one of the most delicious meals I have ever eaten.

　Later in the camp, I caused everyone a bit of a scare, so I want to apologize for that. Thank you, everyone, and especially the teachers, for laughing it off and for cheering me up about it all.
　
　The three days were very short, but it was an unforgettable experience. Thanks to everyone who took part in planning it. We were lucky with the weather, too. It stayed fine and allowed us to have a really good time.

　Now that the camp is over, I feel half happy and half sad. I hope I can take part again next year, at the same location and with some of the same people.

　I won`t forget these three days. Next year, I will try to speak a little more English more.

　Thanks to everyone very much.

　This was my first time to participate in the Short-term English House. I found it very interesting and enjoyed it a lot. We cooked various kinds of food during the stay, and also played games. One game we played on the first day was “Duck and Goose”. It was very enjoyable. On the first day our group prepared dinner and I was very happy to cook for everyone. We made Lemon Fried Chicken with bean salad, onions and tomato soup. I didn’t think it was so tasty but everyone else said it tasted very good. That made me happy.

　After dinner we participated in a music activity, singing songs with Prof. Bray. On the second night, we had a camp fire at which each group did a different activity. Our group sang a song.
　
　In the three days I enjoyed myself a lot and made new friends. In my country, I have been studying English since primary school but here in Japan I have no chance to speak English because we use Japanese everywhere. A program like this helps me to improve my English skills and brings other experiences too. But the duration is too short. If I have time, I will try to join the trip next year too. I would like to thank Yokkaichi University English Support Lounge and the staff who came with us.

ESL camp
S. H.

　I was glad to join in the ESL camp because I like to speak English and I wanted to make a lot of foreign friends.

　I felt nervous and didn’t speak much the first day, but I managed to find my tongue little by little. My new ESL friends were interesting people! And the overseas students’ Japanese was good. But I found I spoke Japanese too much. The activities were very good! And quite exciting! My favorite one was the Treasure Hunting game. The people in my group were a lot of fun!

　I want to join in the camp next year!
　
　Thank you.

Report about the Short-term English Camp
R. S.

　The Short-term English Camp was held from April 27 to 29 this year and it was my third time to join in the event. Just as in previous years, I enjoyed it very much. Every time I go it makes me feel good and gives me the feeling that there are things in me that have changed. This time the participants were all very friendly and we all tried to use our English to the maximum in a supportive environment.

　The indoor and outdoor activities were both very enjoyable. I like the Campfire the best, where everyone can participate and have fun together.

　As students from different countries are taking part in this event, I think of it not only as an English Cap but also as a kind of interaction program where we can share about our cultures, food habits, the different sorts of games we know, and all kinds of other things.

　I have one request for the ESL staff. We should try to make the duration of this event just a little bit longer.

　Thank You Very Much

At the English Training Camp
R. G.

　This was my first time to take part in this English training, and I found it was interesting for everyone. I had too little sleep, though, so maybe I missed some of the interesting parts. During the training activities, I found out what communication is about. People all have different ways of thinking depending on what country and culture they come from and so on. Now I feel that this experience has changed me and given me some different ideas. That’s a good thing. In fact, the training camp was good for everyone.

The ESL Trip
M. T.

　Every year the ESL trip is interesting and a lot of fun. That was true this year as well. For me, the most interesting thing was the chance for everyone to prepare meals together.

　A difference from last year was that last time in the introductory session we just introduced ourselves but this time we had to introduce a friend.

　Unfortunately, I was unable to stay to the end this year because I had a job hunting commitment. Next year I want to go on the ESL trip again.

My First Stay at the Short-term English House
M. A.

　This was my first time to participate in the short-term English House trip. I can read and write in English, but I am not good at speaking. But this spring vacation when I went to Oz, I found that I was able speak a little. I had a good time talking with English-speaking people. So this time, when I heard about this camp I decided to join in. I’m glad I did, because I found it great fun, with a lot of exciting moments.

　Let me write about the thing that made the biggest impression on me. On the first evening, we were told to prepare a team skit activity for the campfire the following night. So in our team we decided to conduct a quiz. But then on the second day we heard that all of the teams were planning to do quizzes! So we changed our arrangements and decided to sing a song instead. Although I had sung songs in English before, it was not an easy thing to do. We decided on “Twinkle twinkle little star”. Of course we knew the Japanese words to this song, but we didn’t know the words in English. So we researched the words and practiced a lot. I thought we did pretty well singing “Twinkle twinkle little star”. At any rate, we had a good time trying.

　Thanks, everyone, for a memorable three days. Cottage life was a very good experience. I want to join in again next year, and to speak English more. I mean to study hard and speak a lot of English in preparation for that!

Camp Report
H. G.

　Hi, I’m Gotame. The three days and two nights spent at the English Support Lounge camp at the end of the 2012 academic year were a great opportunity for me to do various things. The number of people taking part was small, I thought, and the staff and most students spoke in English, which was a valuable experience for both the international students and for the Japanese student participants. I was given the chance to listen to the teachers talking in English, and also to exchange ideas with other people in activities such as quizzes and games. I find I can understand the English, but it’s not so easy joining in the talk.

　I enjoyed joining in the communal meals with everyone. There were a few problems here and there, but it was fun enough for us to forget about them quickly. The two or three days in the cottages went like a dream. I hope to be able to join the trip again next year.

Short-term English Training Camp
C. S.

　Participating in the training camp this year, I felt anxious at first because I don’t have much confidence in my English ability. However, I found I was able to enjoy everything very much, and the three days were a precious experience for me.

　It was hard for me to follow the English when we were playing games, but the fact that I was able to use English to have fun was important. It was still a pity that I couldn’t understand the English better, though.

　I was able to use English more than usual during these three days, and this gave me the feeling that I wanted to study English more from now on. I want to try really hard to talk better in English than I do now.

　Thank you for these three days.

Short-term English House report
A. G.

　I had a good time again at this year’s Short-term English Camp in Ago Bay. This was my last camp, and I was looking forward to it from the beginning. On the express train out to Kashikojima, we were soon making friends and enjoying lively conversation..

　I wanted to talk a lot of English in this camp, and I enjoyed the outside activities most of all, especially it was a lot of fun exploring around as we talked in English in our activity team about what to do for the three days.

　All of the cooking was done in teams, and making the meals was more enjoyable when we tried doing it in English. First we were able to get a rapid initial impression from reading the recipe ingredients and instructions. Then we cut up the ingredients and cooked them, still talking English together. It was all such fun. Chopping up and cooking in English was great, and eating what we had made was even better. I will look back on this camp as one of the closing memories of my student life.

　I also appreciated the chance to get to speak with students from the Nursing and Medical University. Altogether, I was able to meet a lot of people and to learn a lot of English at this ESL camp. I went to keep on pushing my English level higher and higher.