Hello everyone. I’m James Taylor, one of the English teachers at ICT Hakusanroku Campus. In this journal, I’d like to tell you about an event I held during the summer holiday.

On Tuesday, August 18th, 2026, I went to Shiramine to lead an English Café event for local children, organised by the Oguchi and Shiramine Community Centres. This year, we had seven children from Shiramine Primary School (that’s more than half of the school population!) and one child from Kawachi Nursery, along with some parents and young siblings of participants who watched.

August was very hot this year, but luckily the Shiramine Community Centre staff had brought ice creams for everyone, so we started by eating them while I read a few stories: “Leo the Late Bloomer” by Robert Kraus, about a lion who learns much more slowly than everyone else, but since everyone learns at their own pace, it doesn’t matter; “The Smartest Giant in Town” by Julia Donaldson, which is about a giant who buys new clothes but then gives them away to help his friends; and “They All Saw a Cat” by Brendan Wenzel, which shows how different creatures view the same cat. Each of these books has an important message for children (and adults).

Next, it was time to move around, so we played musical chairs: the children walked or danced around a circle of chairs while the music played and had to sit down when the music stopped. There was always one chair too few, so someone was always eliminated. The children enjoyed it enough to play three times!

Finally, we played bingo, but with a slight twist: the children had to make their own bingo cards before we could play! We used the animals from “They All Saw a Cat”, learnt the names in English, and then the children filled in the spaces on their bingo cards by drawing each animal that I said. After that, we could play! The Community Centre staff prepared prizes for everyone, along with extra presents to take home at the end.

As always, it was fun to spend time with the children in Shiramine, and I’m grateful to the staff of the Oguchi and Shiramine Community Centres for their hard work organising everything.

James Taylor

　Hello, I am Shuntaro Tanaka. I am 17 years old, a 3rd-year student currently studying in New Zealand, and I will be turning 18 soon. Living in New Zealand during this period of my life, when I am experiencing some of the biggest changes, means there are so many things to learn.
　About five months have passed, and I have learned many things and changed in various ways. I might not be fully aware of all those changes, but there are definitely many moments when I clearly feel, “I have changed.” So, this time, I want to share one key idea with you. The title is “Language Skills I Could Only Learn Through Studying Abroad.” Let me give you the conclusion first: “The only way to gain English skills that cannot be measured by numbers is through studying abroad.” Studying abroad allows you to develop English skills that cannot be reflected in test scores or numerical results. That is what I would like to talk about today.
　Before reaching this conclusion, many things happened. It wasn't one specific event, but if I were to pick one, it was when I got sick. It was August, the middle of winter in New Zealand. I caught a cold because I was a little careless. At that time, I had to tell my host mother about my health condition. It was really hard to explain symptoms like having a headache, a runny nose, or joint pain.
　Of course, a big reason was that I didn't know the specific words for those symptoms. But an even bigger challenge was "paraphrasing" (saying things in a different way).
When learning English, there is a technique called paraphrasing. Simply put, it is a skill to rephrase sentences using easy words you already know. I was really bad at this, so I couldn't express myself well. I tended to think, "I want to change Japanese sentences directly into English while keeping the exact same nuance."
　Why do I feel this way? It's because I think about my own theory: "the uniqueness of things." When people see something they don't know, they compare it to something they already know, right? For example, have you ever heard people say, "Frog tastes like chicken"? But a frog tastes like a frog, doesn't it? It cannot be chicken. For people who usually eat both chicken and frog, chicken is chicken, and frog meat is frog meat. It might be a little different, but language is similar. When we translate, we bring a word into something that matches our own language.
　"Telephone = Denwa (電話)" is obvious now. But originally, the telephone was developed in Western countries, and the word "telephone" comes from the Greek words tele ("far") and phone ("voice" or "sound"). When this concept came to Japan, people thought hard about what to call it. They took the main point—"a machine that uses electricity to talk with people far away"—and created the Japanese word "denwa" (電話), which literally combines the ideas of electricity and communication. When you say "Telephone" overseas, people might strongly picture an older landline phone. But when you say "Denwa" in Japan, most people think of a smartphone. Even with a direct translation of an object like "Telephone," there is a slight gap in nuance. So, when it comes to idioms, the gap becomes even bigger.
　In other words, you cannot simply match English and Japanese one-to-one. So, if you try to keep the exact nuance, you have to break down the meaning, recognition, and emotion created in one language, and rebuild them in a similar shape within the structure of another language. I end up thinking, "Isn't that something only language experts can do?" That is why I am not very good at paraphrasing.
　In the end, I compromise by thinking, "If I say it this way, it will probably get across." But somewhere in my heart, I still want to translate it into English without losing the Japanese nuance as much as possible. This is not just about English ability; it is a sense of how to deal with language itself.
　This isn't just about Japanese and English. It changes depending on the cultural background of Thai, Chinese, Arabic, and so on. Taking it further, even in the same language, what people receive from words changes depending on where they lived, what they saw, and who they talked with.
　Let me give you another example: the word "mate." It is often used in British English, and in American English, there is a word like "bro." It means "friend" or "best friend," but it is a very broad term that you can use casually even if the person is not your best friend. Also, the impression of the word "mate" differs from person to person. If someone you consider a "mate" is a very energetic person who drinks and says, "Yo, yo, mate!", you might have a bright and energetic image of the word "mate." But for you, a "mate" might be someone with whom you can quietly open your heart and talk about values. Therefore, the feeling associated with the word changes from person to person. Even if the dictionary definition is the same, the sense of distance changes.
　In short, language is not just a simple collection of words and grammar. In the end, learning a language means learning about a person's culture, environment, and identity, what they saw, felt, and how they came to stand where they are now. This is what I have wanted to say ever since I started studying abroad.
　While studying abroad, there are also many times when I look back at the Japanese language. Even in Japanese, I might think, "This person grew up in this environment with these people around them, so their words sound a bit strong." It is the same thing. It is not just about whether you can communicate or not, but about how people receive words and feelings.
　I believe you can truly feel these things only by traveling or studying abroad. Therefore, you shouldn't go overseas simply to study English. By stepping outside of the senses you take for granted, you can feel your own position and the relationship between language and environment.
　I was able to gain this broader perspective. So, as I said at the beginning, "You can only gain English skills that cannot be measured by numbers through studying abroad." When you start thinking about how another person receives your words, their language, culture, environment, and the person themselves, you reach a higher level of English ability that cannot be measured by numbers. It won't show up on a resume, but it is definitely a valuable strength that stays with you. Gaining this ability may be one of the special privileges of studying abroad.
　Thank you very much for reading this long essay. I hope this message reaches people who are going to study abroad or are interested in studying abroad.

Shuntaro Tanaka

Hi, my name is Ady Rohizam, and I am a 1st year student from Malaysia. During my summer break, I had the opportunity to take part in my first-ever go-kart competition on August 8th, 2026.
The event was Round 4 of the Rookie Rush Karting League 2026, organized by PROJECT KAR7ING. I competed in the Junior category. For this competition, I drove a 270cc engine (cubic centimeters) Sodi RX8 go-kart, which could reach a top speed of around 60 km/h on the straights. We were provided with separate karts for qualifying and the race.
Karting has many different types and classes of karts, and I am still very new to the sport. This was my first real experience competing on a track.
Qualifying was a difficult start for me. I struggled with the grip of the rear tires and spun out around five times. During my third hot lap, one of my friends spun in the middle of the track, and I unfortunately bumped into him. Luckily, I was not seriously injured and managed to continue.
Despite the difficult session, I qualified 11th out of 16 drivers.
Starting 11th on the grid, I was quite nervous. The red lights came on one by one. Then, suddenly, they went out. Everyone launched towards the first corner.

 

My start was slow, and I dropped four positions. I was now 15th. I kept looking for opportunities to overtake. Lap by lap, I slowly gained positions and worked my way back through the field.

 

Then, on the final lap, I saw an opportunity at the last corner. I stayed close behind the driver in front of me and waited for the right moment. As we approached the corner, I made my move and managed to overtake him.
I crossed the finish line in 10th place.

For me, this was more than just a competition. I have always wanted to experience racing, and this was my first chance to actually get on the track and compete.
I enjoyed every part of the experience, even the mistakes. The atmosphere at the track made me feel like I belonged in this community, and it made me want to race again and continue improving.
I know I still have a lot to learn. I am not an experienced karter, and I am only at the beginning of my journey. But that is what makes this experience important to me.

To anyone who dreams of becoming a racing driver, whether your goal is Formula racing, GT racing, or another form of motorsport, do not let your starting point stop you.
You do not have to be the fastest when you begin. You do not have to know everything. What matters is that you start, keep learning, and keep working towards your goal.
If racing is your dream, take the chance to start. You never know how far you can go until you try.

Ady Rohizam

Walking With Anthony
By Dr. Pauline Baird

 At ICT, students are encouraged to "SHINE IN YOUR OWN WAY." Let me introduce one such student.
His name is Anthony Purba, a 2nd year student. On almost any weekday at about 4:45 p.m., you can find him walking around campus. His route takes him past the gymnasium, the dormitories, the onsen, the cafeteria, the main office building, and the school building—circling the campus again and again.
 At first, I simply noticed him walking. Then one Sunday, I decided to join him. As we walked, I discovered that he often uses this time to call his mother in Indonesia. Since then, we have walked together after school on most weekdays and occasionally on weekends. Anthony has made walking something worth noticing.
 Many students shine in sports such as basketball and badminton, while others excel in academics. Anthony may enjoy those activities too and do well in his studies, but what stands out to me is his commitment to a simple daily habit. From approximately 4:45 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., when the cafeteria opens for dinner, he walks steadily around campus. On his busiest day, he completed 17 laps. More than once, we have ended our walk by heading directly from the pathway into the cafeteria for our evening meal.
 When I asked Anthony how this routine began, his answer was surprisingly simple.
 "Nothing inspired me to start walking every day," he explained. "I just wanted to spend time on my own by calling my mom or listening to music. Sitting made me feel bored, so I decided to make my body move by walking."

 For Anthony, the walk is also a chance to stay connected with home.
 "I wanted to talk with someone I trusted the most in Indonesian," he said.
Over the past two months, a few other students have joined us from time to time. As we walk, our conversations wander naturally through topics such as family, hobbies, future dreams, personal challenges, and everyday life. Sometimes, we spend several laps simply enjoying the quiet.
 Anthony says what he enjoys most is "talking about any topic while keeping my body fit." He hopes more students will join in the future so they can "share a lot of stories while keeping our body sustained."
 Walking with Anthony becomes more than physical activity; it becomes a time for friendship, reflection, and connection. What appears to be an ordinary walk is, in fact, something quite meaningful. Anthony is quietly demonstrating another way to experience campus life—by spending time outdoors, enjoying the fresh mountain air, maintaining a healthy routine, and making space for conversations with family and friends.
 When I asked Anthony what he would say to someone who thinks walking is boring, he smiled and replied,
 "Be grateful to have the ability to walk. Not all people can enjoy what you have."
 At ICT, students are encouraged to shine in their own way.
 I believe Anthony is doing exactly that.

By Dr. Pauline Baird

Hello everyone. My name is Ayane Ito, and I am currently spending a year studying in New Zealand.

It has been about four months since I started my life here, and living in a foreign country has gradually become part of my everyday routine. While Japan is probably entering the hottest time of the year, New Zealand is heading into the middle of winter. Whenever I talk with my friends back home, we always end up realizing how opposite our seasons are. Every time it happens, I am reminded of how far away I am from Japan. At the same time, it makes me realize that no matter how much my daily life changes, I am still very attached to my home country.

In this ICT Journal, I would like to share one of my memorable experiences during my study abroad program: my involvement with OJSA. OJSA, or the Otago Japanese Students' Association, is a student organization at the University of Otago in Dunedin. The association regularly organizes events related to Japanese culture. I joined an OJSA skating event after being invited by a friend. OJSA members include Japanese students, local people, and others who are interested in Japanese culture. Anyone can participate by paying a small fee, so I would definitely recommend it to future ICT students. It provides a great opportunity to speak English, and above all, the events are a lot of fun. If you search for OJSA on Instagram, you should be able to find more information.

Among the events I joined, the most memorable was a viewing event for the soccer match between Japan and Tunisia. By a lucky coincidence, the president of OJSA invited me to help organize the event. Together with my classmates, Kotori and Madoka, I became part of the organizing team. We spent a lot of time discussing ways to attract participants and make the event enjoyable. After promoting it through social media and distributing flyers, we were happy to welcome around 90 people to the event.

My role was to create a presentation and a short video introducing the Japanese national team. On the day of the event, I gave the presentation together with my two classmates and the OJSA president. I had never given a presentation in English in front of such a large audience before, so I was extremely nervous. However, the atmosphere was lively, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. In the end, I was glad that I challenged myself and stepped outside my comfort zone. To make the day even better, Japan won the match by a large margin, allowing the event to end on a high note.

Looking back, I feel incredibly fortunate to have met so many wonderful people during my time in New Zealand. The members of OJSA, my friends, my host family, and even people I happened to meet around town have all helped make my study abroad experience meaningful and enjoyable. Even when I am simply walking through Dunedin, people often greet me or start conversations, which reminds me how wonderful it is to connect with others. Recently, I have also noticed a change in myself. English, which I used to think about constantly, is gradually becoming something more natural. I can communicate more comfortably than before, and that is one of the things I am happiest about.

My study abroad journey is only halfway finished. Living in an unfamiliar place can be challenging, but it has brought me far more exciting discoveries than difficulties. I am looking forward to seeing what experiences await me in the months ahead, although I still have a little bit of anxiety as well.

I hope that my experience will be helpful for those who plan to come to New Zealand in the future.

Greetings from New Zealand,
Ayane Ito