David Lee

STUDENT INTERVIEW: David Lee, USA, Acceleration

Euan: Why are you running away?
David: Oh no, not you.

E: Thank you very much for volunteering to be interviewed. You don't mind, do you?
D: Do I have a choice?

E: No. So, where are you from?
D: Tennessee, USA, but my family are from Taiwan. Can we get this over with quickly?

E: No. What course are you studying on?
D: The Acceleration course, since late May.

E: What do you think of the program and the teachers?
D: Well, my program is called acceleration, and it's really fast. If you study really hard you'll be able to absorb most of the material, but if you don't you'll forget a lot of the stuff. I liked the people - mixing up and rotating the teaching faculty was good. I just wish we could smoke in class. Other than that it's been fine.

E: What were you doing before you came to Japan?
D: Sleeping.

E: Don't say things like that. You know I'll put them in.
D: I was studying Biology and Philosophy. I graduated this year.

E: That's a kind of strange combination. Why those two?
D: Philosophy is an easy course to sleep in. It's interesting too.

E: When you came to Japan, did you start as a beginner?
D: Yes - well, I studied for a year at university, but that doesn't really count - I mean, what can you do when you're always sleeping?

E: I see. Is this the first time that you've lived in Japan?
D: Yes - I've been here two times before, just for family holidays.

E: What are your plans for when you graduate from here?
D: More study - go on to Medschool. I'll probably go into psychiatry. I don't really think I'm up to surgery. Perhaps family practice - that sounds quite interesting - or perhaps my own practice, work for myself.

E: Where are you staying? What do you think of the accommodation?
D: In the Student Village. It's really comfortable. It's been really great - I've met a lot of people, the aircon is great - really comfortable place.

E: What is the biggest problem you've faced so far in Japan?
D: Just understanding the Japanese language. The way of speaking outside the classroom is faster. It's just harder than listening to tapes where it's all standardised.

E: Is that a problem with the course? Should there be more realistic conversations?
D: No, I think it's up to the students to get out and talk to people. I went out to lots of places like karaoke bars and so on - not the boxes that you rent with friends, but the small bars run by a mamasan where you sing in front of everyone. It's really easy to talk to people there - you could go out every night and talk to Japanese people if you wanted. Would get expensive though.

E: What were the people you met like?
D: They were all really friendly. They just like to know what's going on in the world, meet people, you know.