One of the most important things to remember when learning any foreign language is that it's okay not to be perfect. In fact, forget about even trying to be perfect and learn to be okay with making mistakes sometimes. Native speakers often make mistakes in their own language, and I make a lot of mistakes in Japanese. When I make a mistake though, I don't let it stop me or get me down. Making mistakes is one of the most important parts of the language-learning process. Not speaking in the language because you're afraid to make a mistake is one of the worst things you can do if you really want to learn to speak the language. Don't be afraid to make mistakes when speaking in English (or any foreign language), just go for it. Start talking and see what happens. The more you talk, the more you'll improve. If you're afraid to use the language because you're afraid of making mistakes though, you'll never really learn to speak it.

For various reasons, English has become the most common language for people around the world to communicate with each other in. It's the language of the Internet and of international business. It's also a language that economists around the world use to share ideas, research, and opinions in. A strong foundation of English understanding and knowing how to communicate in it will be essential for students who graduate from the Department of Economics and hope to be successful on the world stage.

So, when you take an English class at Nanzan, please don't have an "I'm only taking this class because I need the credits" kind of attitude. Of course, credits are important, but also think about how interesting it is to learn a foreign language and to learn about different cultures. Think about how useful English will be in your future career or how you can use it when you're travelling overseas. Take a minute and imagine your future-self discussing economic issues or research in English with a foreign economist at a conference overseas somewhere. Maybe you even give a presentation in English about your own research while you're there. That sounds pretty cool, right? Good luck with your journey and enjoy your time at Nanzan.