From February 13 (Fri) to February 21 (Sat), 2026, eleven first- and second-year students from all departments of our university, along with ten students from our affiliated Kobe Tokiwa Girls’ High School, participated in a language training program at the TAFE of NSW English Language Center in Newcastle, Australia. Through daily interaction with classmates and their host families during homestay, the students experienced firsthand the differences of Australian culture and lifestyle. By studying and interacting with international students from various parts of the world, each participant reflected on many things, gained new insights, and completed the program with significant personal growth. Below are some of the participants’ reflections.

Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Radiological Technology, First-Year Student (at the time of participation): E.O.

“This program was my first time traveling abroad. At first, I felt a little nervous, wondering how different other countries would be from Japan. However, once I actually went there, I realized that ‘overseas’ is not a special or unfamiliar place, but simply a place where people live their everyday lives, just like in Japan.

I was worried about whether I would be able to communicate in English and about cultural differences. However, after living there, I learned that having the willingness to communicate is more important than speaking perfect English.

Because I was in a completely unfamiliar environment, I knew that I needed to take the initiative to speak to others. Still, I often felt too nervous to act right away, which I see as something I could improve. Even so, when I gathered the courage to speak, people responded with kindness and smiles, which boosted my confidence.

I also realized that many customs and values I had taken for granted in Japan can be quite different overseas. Learning about these differences broadened my perspective and deepened my understanding of other cultures.

Through this experience, I set a new goal for myself: to become able to express my thoughts more clearly in English. If I have another opportunity to go abroad, I would like to be more proactive than I was this time and take the initiative to communicate with more people.”

Faculty of Education, Department of Child Education, Second-Year Student (at the time of participation): S.M.

One of the ways I feel I grew through this program is that I became less afraid of making mistakes. In Newcastle, there were times when my English pronunciation did not come across clearly, and shop staff could not understand me. At those moments, I felt very embarrassed and discouraged. However, I kept trying to get my message across by repeating myself, speaking more slowly, and using gestures. In the end, I was able to make myself understood, which gave me confidence.

Through this experience, I learned that it is important to take the first step and try, even if things are not perfect.

I was also surprised by cultural differences, such as the fact that many people walk around barefoot outdoors. After going to the beach, I even walked home barefoot with my host family. Although the soles of my feet hurt, being able to experience local life firsthand became a valuable and memorable experience.

In addition, my host family showed me photos from their travels around Australia, which inspired me to visit other cities as well and gave me a new goal. This program gave me both the courage to challenge myself and a broader perspective on the world.

Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, First-Year Student (at the time of participation): I.N.

Through this overseas training, I feel that I have become more decisive and willing to take action. Until now, I often worried too much about small details and hesitated to act. However, during the program, I adopted a “just give it a try” mindset and challenged myself with many different experiences. As a result, I realized that things often work out even without overthinking, and I gained valuable experiences simply because I took action. I learned the importance of acting boldly.

Also, the fact that I spent nine fulfilling days abroad has boosted my confidence. The experience of successfully communicating in English and living entirely in English is truly irreplaceable to me.

My understanding of international cultures deepened through conversations with friends at TAFE and life with my host family. For example, when a student from Saudi Arabia told me about fasting, I learned things that go far beyond what is written in textbooks. I also encountered systems unfamiliar in Japan, such as “morning tea time.” During my homestay, I noticed many differences from Japan, such as entering the house with shoes on, doing laundry only every few days, and mostly taking showers instead of soaking in a bathtub. I was also able to directly experience differences in food culture.

Furthermore, I was deeply impressed by the friendliness and warmth of the people in Australia. It made me wish that I could live more open-mindedly in Japan as well. While being cautious is important, I thought it would be wonderful if, like in Australia, we had stronger connections with our neighbors or could casually chat with strangers in town, as it creates a sense of warmth.

I have three goals for the future. First, to act more decisively in Japan as well. Second, to improve my English skills. Third, to travel abroad. I became especially close with my host mother’s sister, and we had many conversations. She told me, “It’s good to go to different places rather than staying in the same place your whole life. You can learn so much, and it’s fun. I hope you will visit many countries if you have the opportunity.” That inspired me to want to go abroad again.

These nine days were a period of growth for me, both intellectually and personally. I made many wonderful memories, and I truly enjoyed speaking English. In addition to the overseas experience, I was also happy to make friends with both senior and junior students.

Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Second-Year Student (at the time of participation): H.K.

“Before the program, I was not very good at English and, to be honest, I did not like it very much. However, I decided to participate in this program because I wanted to experience a homestay. Once I started living in Australia, I initially felt anxious and nervous about speaking in English. However, thanks to the kindness of my host family and the other students, I gradually became able to enjoy my time there.

At TAFE, people from various countries communicated with each other in English. Even though everyone had a different first language, I found it wonderful that they were able to converse through English. Also, although there are many issues in the world today, seeing how people at TAFE respected each other’s countries and cultures made me feel as if the world is somehow connected as one.

Through this program, my sense of difficulty toward English has lessened, and I have developed a stronger desire to become more proficient in speaking it. First, I would like to acquire English skills that I can use in daily life, and in the future, I hope to visit Australia again and communicate with even more people than I did this time.”

Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Oral Health, Second-Year Student (at the time of participation): M.S.

“What I feel I have improved compared to before the program is that I was able to actually make use of the English I had been studying, which made me realize the value of learning it. Also, by living in an environment where I was surrounded by English all the time—both at school and in my homestay—my ears became accustomed to the language, and my listening skills improved.

During classes at the language school, the teacher often asked people from different countries questions such as, ‘How is it in your country?’ The answers varied greatly depending on the country, which I found very interesting. It made me want to be able to talk about my own country in English as well.

In terms of a change in my perspective, I had not previously been very interested in countries other than Japan. However, through interacting with people from various countries at the language school, I became interested in learning about the current situations in other countries.

My goals for the future are to continue studying English and to learn more about other countries. By being able to speak English, I would like to travel to various countries and make many friends from overseas.”