Hello everyone. I am Nodoka Kawahara, a senior student in the Department of Global Tourism. This time I would like to introduce Ms. Akari Kajihara.

① Hometown
I am from Nagoya, Japan. I have a special attachment to Seattle, having spent precious time in Washington State in the U.S. during my student and working years.

② Why did you decide to study English?
It was a teacher at the English cram school I attended who gave me the opportunity to develop a yearning for America. At the time, I liked English but could not speak it very well. Through that teacher's introduction, I was given the opportunity to do a one-month homestay in the United States. I was very anxious and nervous about going abroad by myself for the first time, but I was able to experience a different lifestyle than in Japan. All the Americans I met were friendly and spoke to me, but I was frustrated because I could not speak as well as I wanted to. I still remember how I felt when I swore to myself, "I will definitely learn to speak English!" It was an invaluable experience that made me realize the significance of learning English.

③ Favorite things
I love Thai food so much that I could eat it every day. In Seattle, where I lived, there was a street that was said to have the most Thai restaurants in the United States. Even though I lived in the US for a long time, I was more excited about a Thai dish called “Pakki Mao” than hotdogs and pizza. I hope you will give it a try. My latest hobby is collecting Goshuin. A student gave me a Goshuin book as a gift, and I would like to fill up that book by visiting shrines and temples in Kyoto.

④ Student days
I tried many different things: classes, club activities, part-time jobs, volunteering, traveling abroad, and short-term study abroad. At an American university, preparation and review for classes were important, so I worked on assignments almost all the time during the semester. There were days when I had two to three hours of sleep. I did not want to use “being an international student” as a reason to attend an American university, so I am confident that I took the classes seriously enough to be able to say what classes I was taking and all of them. All of my classes were very interesting. I was able to enjoy my time off as well.

⑤ Specialized field
My research specialty is cognitive training called Cog-Tr. Cog-Tr is a training developed for people who need assistance. I believe that special support is effective for all people. I am researching the application of English Cog-Tr to university students to develop both cognitive function and English language skills. I am also promoting the use of Cog-Tt to support children and students whose native language is not Japanese.

⑥ How you became interested in your field of study
In the U.S., I majored in education and took a program that took me to a juvenile reformatory for lectures. Juvenile training schools in the U.S. offer educational programs where students can earn high school and college credits. When I returned to Japan and heard Dr. Miyaguchi's lecture, I felt that Cog-Tr could be effective for the children and students in the educational settings I had encountered, which is what made me want to start my research. I hope to provide opportunities for many people to utilize Cog-Tr in the future. For more information about Cog-Tr, please read "The Boys Who Couldn't Cut the Cake.”

⑦ Message to students
The world we usually live in is actually very small. That is why I want you to step out of your comfort zone and look at a different world. Of course, there is fear and anxiety about something you have no experience with. I still vividly remember how anxious I was when I went to the U.S. for the first time. But that one thing I was not sure if I would have been able to make it through. But the courage it took to take that first step was an invaluable experience. You can't take that first step unless you are the one to take it. So have the courage to try something new. Going home by a different road than usual is also an admirable step. You will surely discover something new.

Also, while you are still a student, please learn about your “roots,” where you came from and what kind of person you are. Recognizing your roots will lead to the ability to be active globally in the future. Since I am from outside of Kyoto, I would like to discover the many good qualities of Kyoto from an outside perspective. I am also attracted to the culture and perspectives of everyone who studies at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, so please let me know.

It was a very enjoyable time for me to listen to the professor's experiences. Thank you very much, Prof. Kajihara.