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Background Information

The eighth poem describes a moment when I studied for Center Exam to enter Gunma University. I was eighteen years old. I neglect my studies, especially English when I was tenth and eleventh grade student. So, I had many things to study for entrance exam when I became eleventh grade student. I studied not only English but also other subjects. Studying made me tired, but, when I studied English, it made me a little happy because I like English very much. However, I don’t like to study something, so it made me sleepy.

The ninth poem describes a moment when I was staying in Australia as studying abroad. I lived with my host family for one month. The last day of staying there, they held a party in the evening for me. There are various dishes on the table. They looked delicious and smell really good, especially sausage. Before we eat dinner, we had to pray because my host family is Cristian. I’m not Cristian, so, when they pray closing their eyes, I thought I immediately eat delicious sausage. While they prayed, I had a lot on my mind about that sausage.

The tenth poem describes a moment when I took a part time job in Torihei. When I was selling Torimeshi there, a man came. He was a foreigner. I tried to talk with him in Japanese, but he couldn’t understand what I said. Then, I spoke to him in English “What do you want to eat?” Pointing to matsu picked lunch, he answered “this one.” I succeed to hear what he wanted. After this incident, when foreigners came to Torihei, I began to respond on behalf of members of staff.

Background Information

The first poem describes a moment when I attended the first lesson in Myojo Kindergarten. I was three years old. It was my first time to use English and meet a native speaker. First, she made me sit on the wooden chair. I was very nervous because she speak to me in English. I listened English for the first time, so I didn’t understand what she said. I wanted to talk with her, but I can’t. I got crying and said “Mama! I wanna go home!” However, the lesson was not finished yet.

The second poem describes a moment when I attended the first English lesson in ECC. I was nine years old. I was sitting on the wooden chair. I didn’t get nervous because teacher is not a native speaker, a Japanese woman. It was my first time to talk with Japanese woman and classmates in English. In the class, I pronounced and wrote alphabet from A. I also practiced phonix like “A, a a apple.” I had already studied alphabet, so I could pronounce and write easily. However, I really enjoyed using English and communicating with my teacher and classmate.

The third poem describes a moment when I attended the English lesson in Jonan elementary school. I was eleven years old. My English skill was little bit level up. I could easily greet other people in English. Also, I learned a lot of English vocabulary by heart. In short, I was probably good at English than my homeroom teacher. I think that my homeroom teacher is not good at English because she always “I’m good, thank you.” in every English class. Some my friends and I listened what she said and laughed. I laughed at my homeroom teacher at that time. I was a cruel child.

The forth poem describes a moment when I attended the first lesson in the first Maebashi junior high school. I think that I was the top of my class in English. I was quite a genius student at that time. You know, I went to ECC to study English when I was an elementary school student. Almost Other students studied English for the first time, so studying new things would be interesting for them. However, I had already studied. So, Studying English in junior high school was too easy for me.

The fifth poem describes a moment when I attended the final lesson in Maebashi South high school. It was around five days before graduation ceremony. My English teacher graduated Gunma University about twenty years ago. I like him very much. He knew that I want to be an English teacher. His final lesson was almost finished, then, he said to everyone in the classroom,“Do your best at university”. He also said to me, “When you graduate the university, I hope that I work with you in this school”. He must be my best teacher. By having that encouragement, I decided to study English more to work with him.

The sixth poem describes a moment when I experienced TOEIC for the first time. I was eighteen years old. I studied for only one month to get high score. At first, I could easily solve listening comprehension questions. However, after listening sections, I faced to very difficult reading comprehension questions. I was not able to concentrate at that time. Time passed very very fast. I had little time to solve all questions. Finally, I could not finish solving all questions. After the test, I decided to study more for TOEIC and make an effort to be a great English learner.

The seventh poem describes a moment when I experienced Eiken grade three for the first time. I was thirteen years old. I got nervous at that time. I went to Kyoai high school and waited a waiting room for about an hour. My heart was beating fast. I was called an examiner and move to the examination room. My turn was coming. Male American welcomed me with great smile. I still got nervous, but I could easily answer his questions. Finally, I enjoyed talking with him and I could pass the exam.

Explanation of my theme

The theme of the book is about my English language learning experiences.

I wrote 10 poems. These poems come from my English language learning experiences from a kindergartener to the present.

I chose these experiences because these are my memories that changed me a lot. In these experiences, I felt a lot of feeling such as happiness, nervous, satisfaction, disappointment, and so on. Then, my English skill was getting higher and higher.

Of course, I learned English outside of school, so this book is not only about school life but also other place including outside of Japan.

So, please enjoy my wonderful 10 poems.

Self Introducion

Hello, I am Keigo Uchida. Everyone calls me Utchy. I was born in Nigata prefecture and moved to Gunma when I was three. I am nineteen years old. I am a member of English major in Gunma University. I like playing soccer and watching soccer games. I have been a big fan of Kashima Antlers since I was an elementary school student. So, I often go to Kashima soccer stadium and enjoy watching soccer games. Of course, I like to read and make poems too. I have studied English for about thirteen years.

Revised Poems

The last day

of staying in Australia

The dining room is a little dark and cool

Praying with with my host family

Much sausage on the table

The prayer is not finished

Never finished

When can I have this sausage?

Sitting in a pleasantly cool room

My first challenge of taking TOEIC

Many questions face to me

Reading comprehension questions kill me

One tough question to another

My brain freezes

My hand stops

Wanna escape

Time passes so fast

Cold sweat is on my forehead

Four New Poems

Today is the first lesson in ECC

I am not good at English

Get nervous

Room is good peach smell

Teacher is kind

I get calm

I am three years old

Today is the first lesson

Native woman speaks to me

Can’t understand what she says

Wanna speak English

Wanna listen to her speaking

But I can’t

Wanna go home

I am 11 years old

JTE and ALT come in the classroom

They communicate

ALT asks JTE as to how she is going

JTE always says she is good

She can say only she is good

Students are laughing

I am 13 years old

Today is the first lesson in junior high school

I am good at English

Studying alphabet

Studying pronounciation

Studying how to write

I’m sleeping

Three New Poems

I take part time job in Torihei

Tall Foreigner come there

Hardly speak Japanese

I talk with him in English

He is smiling

I am smiling

Tomorrow is the Center Exam

Class makes us sleepy

English clast is over

Teacher cheers us up

Do our best

I am very nervous

Knock the door

Come in the room

Native American is here

I am very nervous

Answer some questions

Have a chat

I am very happy

Revised Poems

The last day of staying in Australia

Room is a little dark and cool

Pray with my host family in the dining room

Much sausage on the table

Smell really good

Prayer is not finished

I get hungry

Today is the first time of TOEIC

Get nervous

Room is pleasantly cool

The test is difficult

Room is very cold

Lot of things to study

Write unknown words

Read Target 1900

Pie up many textbooks on the table

Very tired

My notebook is almost black

Three Poems

1. Studying Abroad in Australia

The last day of staying in Australia

Room is a little dark and cool

Before the dinner starts, I pray with my host family

We make circle and hold hands

Much sausage on the table

Smell really good

Prayer is not finished

I get hungry

2. The Experience of TOEIC

Today is the first experience of TOEIC

I get nervous

Room is pleasantly cool

The test is quite difficult

Room is very cold

3. Studying for Center Exam

I have a lot of things to study

Write unknown words

Read Target 1900

I pie up many textbooks on the table

I’m very tired

Wy notebook is almost black

10 Memories (Moment)

1 The first English lesson in ECC

・There is a whiteboard.

・There is a kitchen behind the whiteboard.

・There are 5 people in the room.

・The room is good peach smell.

・Table is made of wood.

・The toilet is the right of the kitchen.

2 The first English lesson in Myojo kindergarten

・A native woman speak to me.

・There are many wooden chairs.

・The floor is made of wood.

・There are some low Tables.

3 The first English lesson in Jonan elementary school

・A native man speak to everyone.

・He is very tall.

・He put on light brown pants and white T-shirt.

・There are many students in the classroom.

・There are some funny pictures on the blacboard.

4 The first English lesson in The first Maebashi junior high school

・The Japanese woman teacher say hello.

・The students look nervous.

・There are many students in the classroom.

・Some students are laughing.

5The last English Lesson in Maebashi south high school

・Our English teacher cheer us up.

・Some students look sleepy.

・The classroom is very cold.

6 The experience of TOEIC

・The room is pleasantly cool.

・There are about 50 people in the room.

・The questions were so difficult for me.

・My friend is in charge of the examiner

7 The experience of Eiken

・I was very nervous.

・I talked to native male American.

・I told him I got to here by car.

・He put on a watch on the left arm.

8 Studying for the Center Exam

・I write a lot of words to memorize

・I read “Target 1900”.

・I am very tired.

・I pie up many textbooks.

・I sleep with my textbook as a pillow.

9 Studying abroad in Australia

・I pray with my host family before the dinner starts.

・We hold hand.

・A black dog sit on the cushion.

・There is a lot of sausage on the wooden table.

・The room is dark and a little hot.

10 Experience in part-time job

・I respond a foreigner in English.

・He is very tall.

・He can hardly speak Japanese.

・The outside is very cold.