Shota Mizuno works at the industrial company.

I am studying business administration and innovation management in the Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Commerce, Hitotsubashi University. I am also a member of a university band club and spend my days immersed in music. From April 2014, I plan to work for a chemical manufacturer.

What are your memories of attending KEC?

I remember most that we enjoyed playing games and other activities. I don’t really feel that we were learning English; it was more like an extension of play. I also remember talking with native English speaking teachers and going on field trips. For some reason, the material, “The alphabet has sounds,” left a strong impression on me. I work part-time as a tutor, and many of my students struggle with their English pronunciation. I realize how grateful I am that I was able to acquire the “sounds of the alphabet” without even knowing it.

What does “English” mean to you?

It is a tool to encounter more people, ideas, and information. There is a term “digital divide,” and I believe that such a difference is created by whether or not one is able to use English. Even the large amount of useful information that exists on the Internet cannot be utilized without the ability to access and decipher it. Valuable encounters with non-Japanese people may be wasted simply because there is no means of communication. Conversely, however, by mastering English, you will be able to expand the world of people you can meet. I believe that English has the power to enrich your world.

What are your dreams and goals for the future?

I do not have a clear goal, but I would like to be in a position to run a whole business in some way. Naturally, I will need to cooperate with a variety of people in order to achieve this goal, so I would like to continue to train in languages (not limited to English).

Message to everyone at KEC

Many Japanese people feel some kind of hurdle in learning English, but in my case, that hurdle was unknowingly removed in my childhood. Thanks to that, I did not have much difficulty in learning English after that. I think that awareness of enjoying English is the most important thing. Please enjoy your daily lessons without being overconcerned or thinking too hard.

A word from Matoba

When I was teaching him, Shota always had a smile on his face and was quick to make friends and talk with anyone. I was impressed by the way he greeted and actively talked to foreign tutors as well. He was very focused and active during the lessons. His mother told us, “English is the only thing he has learned.” He was able to read all of the picture book CDs very well, even though they were always in his bag, unsealed. His pronunciation was also beautiful. I think he was very sensitive to sound, which explains why he is now immersed in music.