Makiko on learning English
Here’s the first of many interviews with people whose native language is not English, but speak English fluently now.
To kick things off, I asked my good friend, the creative and wonderful Makiko, about her experience, and she also shares her best advice!
Name: Makiko Mikami | 三上万紀子
Born in: Tokyo | 東京生まれ
First language: Japanese | 母国語：日本語
A bit about me: I was born and bred in and around Tokyo until I reached the mature age of 18. Then, my adventure took me to the grey and mysterious land of Britain where I acquired magic called “physical theatre”. Now back in Japan, I continue to entertain both the old and the young.
東京で生まれ、１８歳まで東京と神奈川で、のほほんと生きてきた私は高校卒業とともにイギリスへと渡りました。そこで演劇を学び、演じて魅せることと共にコミュニケーション力の魔法も取得しました。現在日本で老若男女を楽しませながら教育中！
How has English impacted your life?
It certainly opened up many doors for me and broadened my views in some ways. I am not an English language worshipper like so many people in Japan but to be able to communicate in more than one language can give you freedom and more choices in your life. For example, the ability to read in English can give you a hundred times more reading materials and the information can reach you direct and unfiltered.
英語でのコミュニケーションが、色々な扉を開けてくれたり、自らの視野を広げるのに役立ってきた事は確かです。英語を信仰、崇拝する必要はないですし、英語でなくても良いと思います。ただ、２つ以上の言語でコミュニケーションできたら、人生においての選択肢も広がるし、色々な意味での自由にもなります。例えば、英語で読む事ができると読めるものが百倍位に広がり、情報が直接、誰の意見も通さずに入って来るのです。
What did you enjoy most about learning English?
Luckily, I loved reading and was addicted to TV. So I didn’t think I was learning English but I just wanted to watch TV dramas and kids TV shows and read some books.
幸運にも本を読むのが大好きで、テレビ中毒だったので、英語の勉強というよりは好きな事を英語でやってました。だから全て楽しかったです。
What challenges did you face learning English? How did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge for me was writing dissertation in my third year at the University. It was not about fun anymore but I needed to step up my game in order to compete in an academic environment. I just put more hours than my friends who were all British.
大学卒業の年に書かなければならなかった卒論が一番のチャレンジでした。コミュニケーションには不自由しないという程度の英語力から、他の学生と同じ土俵でアカデミックな部分で競えるようにならなければいけなかったので、ただただクラスメートよりも長い時間を費やしました。
Please share an incident or a moment where you felt that you had reached a milestone. Any insights?
I cannot recall any particular incidents where I felt I had reached a milestone but I remember myself thinking everything would be ok when I heard my friend says that I was funny and she loved my sense of humour.
一つの出来事として覚えている訳ではありませんが、自分の英語力に関してもうこれで大丈夫と思えたのは、友達が私のユーモアのセンスやジョークをほめてくれた時です。
What advice do you have for people studying English?
There is only one thing I tell all my students. Do the things you love or enjoy but do them in English. And do it everyday! Have fun!
私のアドバイスはいつもひとつだけです。自分の好きな事や興味を持っている事をやればいい。でも英語でやってください！毎日ね！楽しんで下さい！