From July 10 (Friday) through July 12 (Sunday), over three days, we held an “English Camp” at the Iwai Training Dormitory for first-year students in the Global Course.

On the second day of English Camp, we set up six floors in the morning, each themed around a different country: “United Kingdom,” “United States,” “Australia,” “South Africa,” “Canada,” and “Ireland.” Students learned about the culture and customs of each nation. Each floor was staffed by a native-speaking teacher from that country, who shared insights into local culture, daily life, and values. By engaging with practical content that cannot be learned from textbooks alone, students worked through quiz-format activities and other engaging exercises, deepening their understanding of different cultures.

In the afternoon, each group selected one country and gave a presentation in English about that country’s culture and characteristics. From slide creation to presentation, everything was done in English. During preparation time, students received repeated advice from native-speaking teachers and practiced extensively to deliver better presentations. In the actual presentations, each group showcased creative work, and it became a valuable time where not only English proficiency but also initiative and cooperation were fostered. Additionally, during free time, students increasingly approached native-speaking teachers on their own and engaged in active English communication. We can see that student awareness is gradually shifting from simply “studying” English to actually “using” it.

Tomorrow is the final day of English Camp. We look forward to students continuing to engage actively with English and deepening the learning from these three days.