One Month at Language School
It's been a month since I started attending a language school in Malaysia. I was placed in the highest class on my first day after taking an entrance test, and I've been working hard every day, inspired by my classmates.
I've gotten used to life at the language school, so in this article, I'd like to summarize and introduce what a typical day looks like for me.
Morning School
School starts at 9:30 a.m. I usually arrive about 15 minutes early after taking care of things like going to the restroom and reviewing homework.
Lately, my classmates who used to arrive earlier than me have completed their study abroad period and left. As a result, I'm often the first one in class now. Sometimes, the teacher arrives early, and we engage in conversations even before class begins, which is a great opportunity for extra English practice.
Morning classes are taken with other students at the same level. The content is primarily grammar and writing based on our textbooks. Unlike classes in Japan, we often have time to check answers with our classmates at the same table for each exercise, and there are moments for discussions on specific topics, providing many opportunities for conversational practice.
One of the drawbacks often mentioned when studying abroad at a Malaysian language school is that classes are group-oriented. Some might prefer one-on-one classes. However, even though it's a group setting (which I think may also depend on the number of students in your current level), our classes rarely exceed 15 people. Occasionally, there are only three of us during holiday periods or when new students arrive. It's a small class setting.
Being in a class with friends of similar English levels, we help each other out when we can't find the right words during conversations. This has boosted my confidence in spoken English, something I wasn't very comfortable with before.
We also ask questions and get explanations about grammar and nuances in word usage. This is a unique advantage of studying at a language school, where you can focus on English.
Lunch
During lunchtime, I go out to eat with my classmates at nearby restaurants.
In particular, the food court in the nearby shopping mall and fast-food joints like Jollibee are quite popular choices.
While I sometimes eat alone, it's easier to find good places to eat by gathering knowledge from friends about which restaurants are delicious or where foreign visitors might find prices a bit higher.
Afternoon Classes
In the afternoon, business class and university preparation class students attend separate classes. In my case, I'm in the general English class, and I have a different teacher for the afternoon session.
These classes are more focused on speaking and listening skills.
During class, we engage in discussions more frequently than in the morning. The teacher listens to our discussions and corrects us when we use English incorrectly or when we need help with new expressions. It allows us to learn new English expressions and correct our usage on the spot.
Recreation
After afternoon classes, we have recreational activities several times a week.
I don't participate in all of them, but I've gone for a Batik art experience in Malaysia with university students interning at the language school. We also played Bingo in the classroom and had a great time.
Since I'm in a class with people of similar English levels and don't have many friends in other levels, these recreational activities help me make a wider circle of friends.
Shopping and Dinner
After school, I often go shopping and then have dinner before returning home.
Malaysia has many shopping centers, and besides the shopping malls near Bukit Bintang, I've also visited AEON Mall and SOGO by taking the train.
In September, I cooked at home more often, but in Malaysia, it's said that there isn't much price difference between eating out and cooking at home. So, in October, I'm planning to increase the days when I dine out or get takeout.
No comments:
Post a Comment