Yuta Koike is studying marketing at Canadian univesrity

I am currently studying at Simon Fraser University in Canada, focusing on marketing and strategic analysis. Last fall, I was given an internship at a local agricultural consulting firm, fulfilling a long-held dream of mine since I was 4 years old to “work abroad using English.

What are your memories of KEC?

My most memorable experience at KEC was participating in a speech contest. When I was in the fifth grade, I gave a speech titled “So Cool Japanese Comics,” which was based on my own personal experience. I was a little anxious because it was my first time to give a speech, but the teachers in the class kindly supported me and asked me how I could put it in a way that would be easier to convey.

I also remember practicing every day at home, thinking, “How can I engage the audience?” I always keep in mind the gestures, and intonation I learned at that time when I give presentations in my university classes.

What does “English” mean to you?

For me, English is an irreplaceable tool that has greatly expanded my possibilities in life. By learning English, I am able to communicate with more people, and because of that, I am able to interact with more diverse ways of thinking.

There are about 1.5 billion people who speak English, and it is somewhat exciting just to imagine being able to converse with that many people.

What are your dreams and goals for the future?

My dream for the future is to contribute to the future of Japan in any way I can. When I introduced myself as “I’m from Japan” at the orientation for first-year university students, many people responded in the most positive way imaginable: “I/we love Japan! I remember that they responded more positively than I had imagined. Studying in Canada, a country rich in cultural diversity, made me realize how much Japan is loved by people all over the world.

In addition, while living away from Japan, I felt gratitude for the “normal” things in Japan, such as the convenience of Japanese transportation and the high quality of food. On the other hand, however, it is also true that many people in Japan feel uneasy about Japan’s future. I hope to help create a society where Japanese people themselves can feel that “Japan is a good country” just as people overseas love Japan.

Message to everyone at KEC

I would like you all to see English not as a language to study, but as a part of yourself. English is a tool that enriches your ability to express yourself and expands your possibilities.

So how can you make English a part of you? The most important thing is to sprinkle English into your daily life. When you were born, you could not speak anything, but by daily exposure to Japanese, you have become able to speak Japanese before you know it. In the same way, I believe that daily exposure to English is the most important thing you can do to make English a part of you.

You can start by watching foreign YouTube videos in English. By experiencing what you enjoy and find interesting in English, you will naturally learn new words, improve pronunciation, and so on!