Interview-Syracuse University

Interview Syracuse University

Tomokazu Osaki, from Japan, studied at the English Language Institute, Syracuse University, in Syracuse, New York. He is a Graduate student in Public Administration.

Why did you decide to enter a U.S summer intensive English program?

I decided to enter the ELI in order to prepare for study in graduate school for the coming fall semester. Before my credit classes started, I wanted to study not only English itself, but also the U.S. education and social system.

How did you choose your summer English program?

I hoped to become used to the living and academic environment in Syracuse, make some friends who would go to the same school, and mostly, take organized academic English courses such as oral communication (presentations, discussions, etc.) and textual communication (academic writing, intensive reading, etc).

What did you like best?

I liked the strict environment to make me concentrate on study. I felt comfortable to study due to the cool summer weather and the many green spaces like parks. Having small number of students in each class (8 students) was also fine for us to have more opportunities to speak in the class and establish closer relationships. The ELI also offered several pleasant events such as parties, short trips, and sports events to deepen friendships among students.

What did you miss most?

I missed Japanese food very much. I could not eat any Japanese food because I lived in a dormitory, and it provided residents with every meal at its cafeteria.

What was your biggest surprise?

Everything’s huge! I was surprised not only by big humans and large clothing, but also by big cups of juice and large boxes of popcorn. Especially for Asians, “Large” size is really large, beyond your imagination.

Š your biggest disappointment?

Sometimes some classmates without a sense of purpose would disturb your study, but please stick to your goal.

How did you handle language differences?

I tried to become used to hearing English by watching TV. The ELI offers additional opportunities to talk with native speakers in “conversation groups” (in the fall and spring semesters).

...Finances?

Fortunately, I got financial assistance from my office. However, the initial cost for an automobile and housing was expensive, so I bought some stuff cheaper at moving sales.

...Adjusting to a different educational system?

The ELI teaches us the differences in the education systems and how to handle them.

How did your English improve?

Imagine taking English classes the whole day, from early in the morning, to 3:00 P.M, Monday to Friday. Thanks to homework, I also had to study after classes. My score on the TOEFL exam I took after the course indicated my hard work and improvement.

What were your activities?

Syracuse is located in New York State, and it is possible to go to a huge waterfall, Niagara Falls (3 hour drive), another country, Canada (2 hour drive), and a great city, New York City (5 hour drive, or 1 hour flight).

Syracuse is surrounded by nature, so you have no lack of outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and even rafting. SU owns a golf course which is free for undergraduate students!

How relevant was your U.S. summer English program to your personal goals and to the needs of your country?

My personal goal is to solve international conflicts as a public servant. Our country, Japan, also places emphasis on responding to internationalization. English was essential as a communication tool, and knowledge acquired by academic study and the Alumni network will be valuable assets for me in the future.

What is your advice to other students?

Time seems to go by faster than expected, so please don’t waste your time. You should just enjoy all opportunities to be exposed to something new in your limited time.

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