Katsuyuki SHIODA

Student of Meiji University, Japan
Exchange to Western Sydney University, Australia

During my exchange in Australia, there were two experiences in particular that had a great impact on me.

Initially, I was surprised that most students were willing to express their opinions in class discussions. I had never experienced that kind of classroom interaction. The following week, although I was very timid, I plucked up my courage and expressed my opinion. My classmates were very kind, listening attentively and giving me constructive feedback. As time went by, I found it more and more fun to share my views with others.

I also joined a programme called "Global Scope" to test my own limits. This programme required working with my teammates on a business project through meetings with professionals. At first, I was worried whether I could keep up with my team, because my teammates spoke English very well and I barely understood what they were discussing in the first meeting. However, I prepared well for the remaining meetings and made a greater effort to communicate with my teammates. As a result, I was able to complete the programme and receive the certificate.

This valuable exchange experience enabled me to learn to adapt to new environments and communicate effectively with other people, which I believe will be enormously helpful in the future.

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