Diffrences between Australia and Japan in Terms of Studying English

     Hello, everyone.  How are you?  Although it is sometimes a little bit cold especially in night in Brisbane, it is warm even in winter and I can spend wonderful life here in Brisbane.  This time, I would like to write about several differences between Australia and Japan in terms of English Education.

    

ICTE-UQ

     There are two main remarkable contrasts between English education in Australia and Japan.  First of all, what is the biggest difference is that English education in Japan focuses on especially grammar, while it pays attention to speaking in Australia.  In japan, students tend to learn English passively.  However, in ICTE, students can study it actively.  For example, my teacher often asks me some questions related to reading, writing and listening in the class and I also often answer her questions.  If I mistake in this conversation, my teacher tells me mistakes and teaches me some useful expressions.  This gives us the confidence to speak English in front of my classmates.  In addition to the contrast of focusing, class in Australia is totally different from that in Japan.  In Japan, almost all classes are consisted of only Japanese people so it is very difficult to talk with foreign students.  On the other hand, in ICTE, all classes include many different nationalities such as Columbian, Chinese, and Saudi Arabian etc.  Therefore, this enables me to study not only English but also other countries’ culture like music and food through conversation.  Also, I can introduce Japanese culture for them easily.

     In conclusion, these are two differences between Australia and Japan with regard to English education.  I hope that I can gain a lot of useful English expressions and speak English with confidence.

My Precious Friends in ICTE

The Most Interesting and Surprising Differences I Have Experienced between Australia and Japan

     Hi, everyone!  Approximately two months have passed since I arrived in Australia so I would like to write about the difference between Australia and Japan.  Actually, I have experienced studying abroad three times but this is my first trip to Australia so it is very easy to find the differences

     First of all, I was surprised to the differences of foods and drinks.  In Japan, we often eat rice in breakfast.  However, in Australia, people eat cereal as breakfast.  I was very confused this difference.  Moreover, people eat some fruits and snacks as refreshment break.  Although people in Japan eat snack and fruits, they do not eat them during the breaks. 

     As well as the meal, the transportation system of Australia is quite different from that of Japan.  First, the ticket system is very different.  In Japan, students who go to university by train buy a commuter pass.  This is very useful because once people pay fare, they do not have to pay during a given period.  On the other hand, in Australia, people purchase Go-Card instead of a commuter pass.  This is also very good system because if people get on train, bus and ferry nine times in a week, they can get on these transportation systems without fare.  So, in the weekend, I often go to Gold Coast, DFO near the airport and so on.

     I believe I will be able to find further differences by the time I come back to Japan and these differences will be useful when I talk with my friends in Japan about Australia.

 

My life from 9th to 22nd in May

     Hi, everyone?  How are you going?  These days, I'm very busy to prepare for IELTS because this test is approaching.  I hope that my English ability is improving day by day but I can't have a confident.  Anyway, these 2 weeks were also magnificent for me!!
     First of all, my second session began in 9th in May.  Fortunately, I can pass the test and go to EAP 1 green.  At first, I was very nervous because I hadn't studied academic English since I arrived at Australia.  However, my teachers and classmates are very good so they sometimes help me when I am in trouble in the class.  I want to try to study harder to get 6.5 in IELTS.
     Second, some previous classmates and I held small party for my friends who would come back to their countries.  My previous class is very wonderful class so I was missing.  In future, I would like to go to their countries for meeting them and sightseeing. 
     Finally, I went to the bar in Toowong with my other former classmates.  Some of my friends study by themselves so I can't meet as usual.  So I was very happy to meet them and talk with each other.  One of my friends told me that he would go to Melbourne for sightseeing.  I want to go there for sightseeing so I wanna talk with him about his recommendation after he come beck from Melbourne.
     I will go to Gold Coast to cut my hair with my friend.  Maybe, I will upload the picture after cutting my hair lol haha

My life from 2nd to 8th in May

     Hello, evryone.  How are you?  This week is my first break in ICTE-UQ.  I would like to write about my trip to Noosa as a highlight of this week. 
     Noosa is one of the most beautiful towns in Queensland.  It takes about 3 and half hour to go from Brisbane to Noosa by train and bus.  While we were in train and bus, we play the game and it was very exciting.  We went to the sea to swim as soon as we arrived there.  It was more beautiful than I expected and there were many people at that day.  The water was a little bit cold but I could swim.  After swimming, we went shopping for dinner and cooked pasta.  At second day, we went to Noosa National Park, which is one of national park in Australia.  It was very good weather.  In national park, we could find some kinds of birds and animals.  After walking for 1 hour, we could see the beautiful landscape.  It became one of the unforgettable landscapes in my life.  After dinner, we talked a lot with each other.  At last day, we went to sea again.  I borrowed the body board because there were strong waves.  All I can say is that this trip is unforgettable memory in my life in Brisbane.
     Thank you everyone!!

In Noosa Heads

 
 

My life from 25th in April to 1st in May

 

     Hi, everyone!!  How are you?  1 month has passed since I arrived at Australia.  I can spend good time here.  There are two big events this week lol

     First, I finished my first session in ICTE-UQ.  My class, 5 green is very wonderful.  At first, I was very nervous because everyone around us can speak English more fluently and they can answer questions immediately.  However, as the class was proceeding, I could be familiar with my classmates and I could go to Japanese restaurant with some of my classmates lol.  Now I am missing because some of my friends go back to their own countries or travel around Australia.  But I believe that we can meet each other some day.   

 

     Second, we held a birthday party for my best friends, Jun and Bobby after we enjoy the BBQ party in ICTE-UQ on Friday in Red Room.  There were a lot of people in Red Room so at first, it was very difficult to find avaliable seats but I could find them eventually.  We drank some kinds of alchole including beer and wine.  It was awesome.  After we ate dinner, we went to the table in front of the pizza restaurant and we ate birthday cake.  It was very tasty.  We spent good time with my friends there.

     Now, I am on vacation.  I will go to Noosa (it takes about 3 or 4 hours from Brisbane)  from 5th to 7th of May.  I will swim in the near beach.  I would like to enjoy the trip to Noosa.

 

wonderful class, 5 Green

 

 

 

 

 

My life from 18th to 24th in April

     I would like to summarize my life from 18th to 24th in April.  This week is also fantastic for me.  There are two interesting events.

     First of all, we held Birthday Party for 2 of my classmates, Bobby and Tyler on Friday.  Tawfiq, who is one of my classmates brought birthday cake so everyone was surprised.  After this nice birthday party, I ate lunch with my classmates in 5 Green.  We went to the pizza restaurant in UQ.  I ordered a pizza which is a little bit spicy but is tasty.  we talked a lot such as our class, something related with our hometown and so on with each other in English.  I couldn't tell all things which I wanted to tell them so I thought I have to improve my speaking skills through these conversations.

     Next, I went to the BBQ party which was
held by ICTE-UQ students yesterday.  It was held in Roma Street Parkland, which is near Roma Street Station.  There were a lot of students who are from different countries.  We talked with each other about our life in Brisbane, our hobby, our hometown and so on. Also, the meal was very delicious.  I felt as if all had been finished in a moment lol

     Anyway, I want to do my best in my approaching test in this week.

 

My New Experience in Brisbane

I want to write about my new experience in Brisbane up to now.  There are three big events which I cannot experience in Japan. 

First of all, the homestay is my big events in Brisbane.  I have experienced it three times but it was only 2 weeks.  Therefore, this is the first time to stay at host family’s house for 9 months.  For the first time, I felt very nervous but my host family is so kind that they teach me a lot of things such as Aussie English, Australian lifestyle and so on.  Thus, I can spend valuable time in Brisbane.

Second, the trip to Gold Coast is one of the most unforgettable memories in my life in Brisbane.  I went there by train and bus on 3^rd of April.  It takes around 2 hours to go from Brisbane to there.   Gold Coast was more wonderful and beautiful city than I expected.  Especially, the ocean was very awesome.  Although there were a little bit strong waves, there are a lot of people on that day.   I had lunch by the side of the ocean and after that I swam there.  I could spend a good time there and I want to come back there as soon as possible.

Last, the school life is the big event which I cannot experience in Japan.  There are some differences between Japanese and Australian educations.  For example, it is different in terms of the length of the class: in Japan, it is 90 minutes while it is 120 minutes in Australia.  Thus, it takes much time to grow accustomed to Australian school life.  However, the class itself is very interesting for me because there are a lot of people whose nationalities and personalities are different.  Also, I can speak only English in the class so it is good opportunity to acquire English.

Anyway, I spend very fantastic life in Brisbane.  I would like to keep on studying English.  

My trip to Gold Coast