I spent two semesters at Western Sydney University from February to December 2024. In this report I will introduce my life in Sydney in detail.

Study in Western Sydney University

I attended the language school at Western Sydney University for the first half semester. I learned either fundamentals of grammar or speaking skill everyday for 4 hours. The class is divided into 2 hours so I learned basic English skill by working out a lot of problems of the exercises in the weekly module. The discussion times were also prepared everyday so I could improve my speaking skill a lot that I couldn’t improve when I was in Japan. That time really helped me improve my motivation for studying English. After 1 hour lunch break, I had another 2 hours to develop fundamentals English skills. At this time, I practiced developmentally taking advantage of what I learned in the first half. For example, we developed reading skills from long English reading. I checked answers with my partner every time, so it was also a good opportunity to have conversation with classmates. The most impressive thing is the presentation practice with my partner. It was really hard for me because of my lack of English ability and the different English accent of my partner. However, it was a significant opportunity for me to practice English and get closer to classmates.

I studied at the Western Sydney University for the second half of the semester. I took 3 subjects but 1 subject, was divided into lecture and tutorial so I took 4 classes actually. Speaking of my subject, I was taking classes relating to Australian politics and cultural differences. The content was really difficult, and especially, taking classes with local students and teachers caused a lot of pressure for me. In the lecture class, conversation time was prepared every time, so I had to think my own idea and express it in English to my partner. I did not have much confidence but I just tried to speak up to improve my English. Sometimes, I lost my confidence but I could understand the content and participate in the class little by little. The most stressful thing for me was exam. The exam at the university was much harder than the language school. At first, I was about to give up because the content was too difficult, complicated and too much. However, I worked with my friends and helped each other so that we could get it over. Exam was really hard for me but it definitely helped me improve my English and gain new knowledge.

Life in the Western Sydney University Village

I was living in the dormitory with my 7 roommates. We had individual rooms but we were using the kitchen and bathroom together. I was the only Japanese student while the others were Australian or Chinese, Nepalese, Indians and so on. Life in the dormitory was really good for me because I could eat meals and take showers whenever I wanted and I could spend private time in my room so it was really comfortable. My roommate was quiet but also friendly, so I cooked and ate dinner together sometimes. At that time, we could exchange culture together so I could talk a lot about Japanese culture and also, I became interested in other cultures and was able to get to know them. We were sharing the kitchen and bathroom together, so cleaning tasks were divided. Nobody had same life habits so sometimes, we got conflict for how to use public space. That time was stressful for me, but whenever we got a conflict, I think solutions with my roommate and try to discuss together so it was a special opportunity for me to know how to live with others and accept each other. In addition, there are various events in the village, such as free meal event, painting event, breakfast event and so on. Especially, free meal event was the best for me. I usually went to free meal event with my roommates, but I got a lot of time to talk with others in another building. It was really helpful for me because I did not need to make dinner and also, I could expand friendship widely.

Good memories in Sydney

Except for studying at university and life in the village, I tried a lot of changes, and I was able to improve my study abroad life. There are 3 special experiences. The first experience is a part time job. As everyone knows, it was really difficult to find and get a job, so I tried really hard. I had been continuing to distribute resume for around 2 months but I could not get any chance yet. At that moment, I was about to give up and lost confidence a lot, at the same time feeling like “it’s because of lack of my English ability and confidence “. However, I could get first job finally at sushi shop and also, I could get a second job later at the Japanese restaurant. Actually, working in the English environment was much harder than working in Japan. For example, I felt nervous every time because sometime, I found it difficult to understand what customers said, and I was afraid of causing some trouble. But sometimes, I still made comments be confusing Even though it was difficult for me, I could get new English words every time and especially, I could get a lot of close friends in work place so it became my best memory. We hung out or ate out often and made a lot of special memories together. The second special experience is volunteer work in a Japanese language school. I went to language school every 2 weeks to teach children Japanese. I could enjoy time with my students together not only teaching Japanese language and culture but also learning English and Australian culture from them. I was also doing a part-time job so it was a little hard for me to visit volunteer work but I was really satisfied every time when I saw their faces and smiles. They were learning Japanese really hard, so it also became my motivation for learning English during my study abroad. The third special experience is a trip to Uluru with Japanese friends. I went to Uluṟu in the middle of November. Uluṟu was really huge and beautiful created by nature. I got an explanation from the tour guide in English, and I could get some expert knowledge about Uluṟu. I could enjoy last time in Australia with my friends.

Message and Advice for people who are planning to go to study abroad

During my study abroad, I faced a lot of difficulties and challenges o sometimes, I lost my confidence and I felt like I could not achieve anything. However, I just tried my best every day even if it is just a small step. As a result, I could improve my English skills a lot after all and especially. I could make a lot of memories with a lot of new friends who are from other countries. In addition, I personally recommend studying in Sydney because the atmosphere of Sydney was really nice for me. Australia is a multicultural environment, so I could feel a lot of cultures and eat a lot of food from various countries. There are a lot of beaches in Sydney, so if you really like the sea or beaches, I’m sure that you can enjoy a lot in Sydney!!

I went to Sydney, Australia for study abroad from Feb. to Dec. in 2023. Before I start to write my experience, I want you to know what Sydney is like. Sydney, Australia's largest city, is a multicultural metropolis that blends urban sophistication with natural beauty. It has a mild climate, diverse cuisine, and a vibrant arts scene. With renowned beaches like Bondi and Manly, Sydney is a captivating destination where modernity and tradition converge seamlessly. As I describe, therefore, I personally recommend Sydney for study abroad in terms of convenience and opportunities for cultural immersion.

Study

For the first semester, I attended a college organized by Western Sydney University, primarily functioning as a language school. Most students enrolled there to prepare for entry into actual university programs, where we focused on learning academic English, covering writing, reading, listening, and speaking skills for the second semester. Students were grouped into classes based on their English proficiency levels, which made me feel comfortable actively participating in classes without any sense of inferiority. The classes included students from diverse nationalities, such as Vietnamese, Colombian, Indonesian, Chinese, Saudi, and more, with a predominant representation from Asian countries. Classes took place from Monday to Friday, concluding shortly before 2 p.m., allowing me to frequently spend time with my friends after school.
For the second semester, I attended Western Sydney University with local and international students. I could choose 3 subjects in my program, so I chose subjects related in tourism, cultural differences, and psychology that I am interested in. Compared to the first semester, it was many times harder than I had imagined. Preparation and review for ever classes were essential. Preparation, before every class, there were more than 2 or 3 article and 1-2 hours on-demand video for each class that I had to do understand. If I neglected them, I could not keep up with the class and could not actively participate. In the class, I sometimes did some discussions and small presentations with group. The study at WSU with students who are at a much higher level of English was not easy at all; I would say it directly improved my English proficiency.

Student Accommodation

I lived in student accommodation for the entire semester. While I had experienced a homestay program before, I preferred living in student accommodation with multicultural people for several reasons. First of all, I could easily make friends in the student accommodation. In the dorm, there were numerous events, parties, and community activities, so I tried to attend as many of these as much as I could. Moreover, luckily, I made the closest friend who worked as a resident assistant, so I sometimes helped her run events. Every night, I visited different rooms, walked around the dorm, or chatted with friends. These are lovely memories that will never be forgotten!

Part-time Job

I worked at Starbucks from the beginning of May. This also created lovely and unforgettable memories in Sydney. However, the path to securing this job wasn't without its challenges. After COVID was terminated, it became harder to get a job because of the increase in the number of people coming on a working holiday. The struggle to find a job was real, and I encountered moments of uncertainty during the nearly two-month-long search. However, this period of adversity became a lesson in resilience and perseverance. I used to work at Starbucks in Japan, so the transition to Starbucks in Sydney felt like a continuation, and the work was not so difficult. Initially, I had a very hard time communicating with my colleagues and customers, but by the time I left Sydney, I could interact with people easily and even engage in small talk. After all, the best part was that I could create a new community in the workplace. The best memory is a trip to Melbourne with my coworker!

Study abroad has not only broadened my academic horizons but has also definitely connected to my personal growth. I am always missing my lovely people and memories in Sydney. I have been keeping touch with them：）