Tag: student

5 Things Every Student Thinks Before a Test

Category: Academic / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Whether you’re learning English abroad or just studying for those end-of-year tests, you know that there are certain things that every student experiences in the run up to exam day. Sure, you’ve studied (or sometimes, maybe not), but that doesn’t mean you’re free from those horrible things called ‘nerves’. Between coming up with plans for summer and revising for final exams, this is a busy time of year for students – but we’re here to have a little laugh about it all. Here are 5 things you’ve probably thought about before a test!   1. I’ve got so much time, I don’t have to study yet. This is the stage you’re on a few days before the test, when you’re still deep in the procrastination zone (procrastination is the act of saying you’ll do something later, because you just don’t feel like doing it now). Once you’ve cleaned your bathroom from top to bottom, re-organised your wardrobe, and binge-watched everything on Netflix you reach the next stage… actually sitting down and studying. 2. I’m OK. I’ve totally got this. You’ve started making flashcards or reviewing your notes, and you’ve started to feel like you really understand the material. Well done! It feels like you’ll be able to get it all finished in time for the exam without a problem. Have a biscuit. 3. I AM NOT OKAY. This feeling sets in after you’ve been studying for what feels like hours and realise that you’re barely a third of the way through your notes. This usually comes with a feeling of dread and a feeling that maybe you should have paid more attention in class. 4. What is the lowest mark I can get on this test without failing the class? You start frantically using your calculator app to figure out the … Read more

Satoko: A Student’s Success

Category: Success Story, Testimonials / Tags: , , ,

This week we talked to Satoko, a student and attorney whose dreams came true after learning English at EC Boston. She’s already returned to her school to give an inspirational speech to current students, and we thought it would be great for you all to know what she had to say about her EC experience. A little bit about Satoko’s life before Boston… I used to work as a public defender for eight years in Japan, and I came to Boston to study “the access to justice”. This is about reaching out to people who have difficulty accessing appropriate legal support due to poverty, disabilities, lack of education, and so on. Her major aspirations… I had two dreams: one was becoming a lawyer and the other was studying abroad. Fortunately, I passed the ‘bar’ exam when I was an undergraduate student and soon started my career as an attorney. I became one of the first public defenders in Japan.Through my job, I realized there were many people who are pushed to crime by poverty, which is tragic. The geographical distance from an attorney also prevented people from gaining legal support, and thus many people suffered. I decided to set my goal to study ‘access to justice’ and saved up money. Two years ago, I achieved this, and I came to Boston! Her decision to study at EC… I was so busy that I didn’t prepare enough to apply to universities from Japan. I thought that I should leave Japan anyway and find a way later, and began to look for an English school that could give me I-20. At EC, there were less Japanese students and that seemed a good environment for me to learn English. First I only chose Boston as a place to study because it is close … Read more