EC San Diego English Language School

EC San Diego Volunteer Placement Program

Miki Shimamura, La Jolla Elementary

 

 

 

Miki Shimamura is an EC student with a love for kids.  When she returns to Japan, she plans to teach English to kids.  In order to gain experience with kids, she decided to become involved in EC San Diego’s Volunteer Placement Program.  She was placed at La Jolla Elementary School as a Child Care Volunteer.  Read more about her wonderful experience below!

 

Why did you choose to volunteer with kids?

I chose to volunteer with kids because when I go back to Japan, I want to start teaching English to kids, so I think I need to have experience.  When I was in high school, I studied in Australia and I had a small host brother.  When I was in university, every year I would go to Portland and live with a host family with kids.  My experience with kids made me want to volunteer with kids.

 

What was your first day like?

Before I went there, I was a little bit nervous because I didn’t know anything.  Also, I was excited because I didn’t know what I would do.  But the first day, the kids came to me and asked “who are you?”  And the teacher introduced me and told them to ask me if they had any questions.  It was amazing.  The kids are so cute.  They are like the kids that I see in a movie.  They always run away and scream.  It was like a zoo.  They always make me laugh.  It was so great. 

 

What do you do as a Child Care Volunteer?

I play with kids.  I play tag because they tell me to play tag. I make origami.  Sometimes, if I can, I help with homework. I also draw pictures and play football on the field.  I teach them Japanese words like “hello” and “goodbye”.  I do as many things as they want.

 

What is your relationship with the YMCA teachers like?

The teachers are so kind to me!  When I first opened the door, they greeted me.  They want me to do many things and they are very patient with me.  They gave me their email addresses and want to keep in touch with me.  They want to know about Japan, and so I talk about when I was a student and the school system. 

 

What is the most memorable thing about this experience volunteering with?

My favorite thing is playing tag because they always invite me to play tag.  When I first arrived there, they wanted to play tag with me.  Also, on my last day, last Friday, the kids made me cards.  They jumped on me and they said to me “Don’t go! Don’t leave me!  I am sure I will go to Japan when I grow up!”  I really wanted to cry at that time.  When I go back home, I will read the cards and then cry again. 

 

How has volunteering helped to improve your English skills?

I think that even though the words that the kids speak are not always correct, it is good for my English because it is easy to listen to.  I have to listen carefully.  I think I have to answer correctly, but I can’t always because it is difficult; more difficult than studying here at EC San Diego.  I really feel that my listening skills and speaking skills have improved because I learned new words and I learned kid’s songs.  The kids recommended some songs that they like.  The teachers taught me how to take care of the children. For example, when someone is crying or when they are noisy and have to be quiet. 

 

Do you have any advice for people who are interested in volunteering with kids?

Just enjoy.  I really enjoy myself with them.  I never had this experience in Japan.  Students should do this because you can have a new experience which you cannot get in the classroom.  Volunteering with kids is a real experience and prepares you for the real world. 

Have you taken an English language course at EC San Diego? Here’s a great chance to share your experience with other English students. Mylanguagetravel.com is a new website for language learners. The site lists language schools as well as comments from students. Time to tell the world about your wonderful time at EC San Diego:

http://www.my-language-travel.com/language-school/EC-SAN-DIEGO

Makiko Fukuda is a 21 year old Intensive student from Japan. She arrived to San Diego at the end of September and has really blossomed as a student. Her bubbly personality and cheery disposition has made her a target for friendship. Read the interview below to learn more about Makiko!

Why is EC San Diego the best English school ever?
Hmmm…I think this is the best because of the teachers and my friends. They are all friendly people! I have never met such friendly people!

Are you learning English effectively?
Yes, because everyday I speak only English. If I have a question, I can ask teachers very easily. They give me good advice. For example, every day I ask my teacher, Ronnel, questions and he is very friendly. In Japan, it is difficult to ask my teacher in my classroom, but here it is very comfortable.

What is the best thing about San Diego and La Jolla?
Of course, the sunset. I’ve never seen such a beautiful sunset. I think it looks like the picture from the Malibu Rum bottle. In Japan, I never saw such a beautiful sunset.

How is your life in Japan different from your life now in San Diego?
First, people here are different. Here, everybody is very friendly. Also, in Japan, I was really busy and I always followed the time, but here I have a lot of time to take a walk on the beach, swim in the pool, go to the gym, or sit in the jacuzzi at Bay Pointe Apartments.

What is a typical day like for you?
In the morning, I wake up at 7am and I cook my breakfast. I eat toast and salad. Then I make my lunch. It is a sandwich. After I eat, I go to the bus stop and I take the bus to school. After I get off the bus, I meet my friends and we talk, of course only in English, then I go to class. At break time, I speak with my friends in English. After morning class, I eat lunch with my friends, sometimes on the beach. Then I have afternoon class. After class, I usually go with my friends to a café or to an ice cream shop for a snack. After that, I go back to my apartment and I cook dinner. After dinner, I go to the gym to exercise and then to the jacuzzi. Every day my schedule changes; sometimes I go shopping and sometimes I have a ramen party or sometimes I watch a DVD.

What are your goals in life?
I want to be a toy designer. I really want to join Bandai, the most famous Japanese toy company. It is very very famous and popular for students to apply to and it is very competitive to get a job there. When I go back to Japan, I have to find a job. Before I came to San Diego, I thought I was not good enough to join this company. Learning English will help me with this job because Bandai is an international company. I really want to work there, so now I really want to speak, write, and read English very well.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In 5 years, I will graduate from college and I will join Bandai. Maybe I will be making toys. I think after I go back to Japan, I will enjoy my life more than before because here everybody enjoys their life more. I have learned how to enjoy my life.

To celebrate Halloween, EC San Diego English language school had a day of fun in the sun on Friday October 30, 2009. Students and staff came to school dressed up in a variety of very interesting costumes. While the students were in their morning classes learning English associated with Halloween, students from a competing English school made a surprise visit and paraded their costumes through the halls of EC San Diego. The day’s festivities included a plethora of fun-filled activities: a pumpkin carving contest, costume contests, obstacle races, relay races, water balloon fights, a special “Thriller” dance performance by the teachers, and a pizza party, all of which took place in beautiful La Jolla Cove.