今年度の英語集中合宿は9月12日〜14日、箱根にある本学のセミナーハウスで行われました。例年より参加者の数が少なく、8人に対してネイティヴの先生２人という英語の勉強には理想的な環境でした。4人ずつのグループに分かれての様々なアクティビティ、全体でのゲームなどが全て英語で行われ、充実した「英語漬け」の合宿となりました。

 

This year’s English Summer Seminar（ESS）was in a word, FANTASTIC! As this group was smaller than usual, Professor Jeff. B. Jones and I, Anne Wishart Young, were able to give all students a great amount of concentrated time each. They also helped and encouraged each other to use English freely in a wonderfully friendly atmosphere at Komazawa Hakone Seminar House.

Beyond engaging in many lessons, starting from the first night with English Language games and activities, to the second day where four students at a time were alternately taught by us, we were also able to do some ‘Right Brain Thinking’ sessions that accelerate language learning.

The ‘de-stressing’ of students' attitudes towards using English as a Second Language, has always been of paramount importance for all ESS experiences. They were challenged, but were not worried about expressing themselves in English, rather they found it enjoyable. What we did was to create an English home stay atmosphere right here in Japan.

Anne Wishart Young