With the goal of "mastering English and standing on the world stage," the first installment of the groundbreaking English education series "How to Become an English Master" (organized by the Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce) took place over three days, with two instructors each day. On February 12th, March 3rd, and March 24th, 2024, as the spring sunshine gradually began to be felt, the bustling downtown venue, SELC Language College, was filled with even more enthusiasm and hope thanks to the passion of the young participants. At the start of the program, Consul General Satomi Okagaki of the Consulate-General of Japan in Vancouver spoke about working with English.
Day 1:
"Making English Your Own Language Through a Neuroscience Approach" by Naoko Hall (Representative of Gabby Academy)
"Instantly Translating Japanese into English" by Mari Kato (CEO of Focus Education Services)
Kato stated, "Just because you live abroad doesn't automatically mean you'll become fluent in English. What's important is to learn and practice using effective learning methods."
“Addressing the common problem of "getting bogged down because you have to think about it first," the two instructors focused on "how to get English to come out automatically," incorporating explanations and practical exercises into their presentation.
Day 2:
"Both English and happiness stem from loving others" by Eiji Yoshikawa (Boxers Without Boarders)
Yoshikawa, the "social reform boxer" who continues to give lectures and write overseas, passionately shared his experiences traveling the world.
"Imitate native pronunciation" by Sammy Takahashi (Principal of SELC Language College)
It's possible to pronounce words like a native speaker even if you don't have a high level of English proficiency. I explained in an easy-to-understand way that it's all about learning about the unique vowels and consonants of English, and then practicing.
Day 3:
"The North American Expansion of Japanese Anime and Video Translation" by Nobuaki Fudetani (Representative, Japan Video Translation Academy (JBTA) LA)
Mr. Fudetani, who runs a video translator training school at the Japan Video Translation Academy (JVTA) based in Tokyo and Los Angeles, gave a lecture on the video translation market and anime translation, while showing subtitles produced by his company. Many of the audience members were anime fans, and there was a lively question-and-answer session.
"Global Career Development: Making a Difference with Networking and Informational Interviews" by Miki Takabayashi (CEO, AK Jump Educational Consulting Inc.) & Blair Jordan (CEO, Highmont Advisors Inc.)
Blair shared essential tips for building connections when job hunting in Canada. "Simply creating a good-looking resume and submitting it won't guarantee you'll get hired. The key is building a network of connections and being able to meet and talk to recruiters informally," Blair explained.
Each seminar was filled with numerous helpful tips that allowed English learners to further refine their English skills from different perspectives and become able to use English in practical situations.
(Article contributed by: Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce)
