ジョセフとの出会いと言葉の壁を超える会話、英語上達の重要性/Meeting Joseph, crossing the Language Barrier through Conversation and the Importance of Improving English Skills

Please scroll to the bottom of the page for the English version.

一期一会 in バンクーバー①

2022年の6月彼に出会いました。私の前の職場とジョセフの職場のアートギャラリーが同じ建物に入っているのでゴミ捨て場を共有していて、そこで偶然出会い挨拶をしました。日本にいた頃にやっていたオンライン英会話で何度も練習した自己紹介を辿々しく話したのを覚えています。

その後もこの建物の通りで何度か会ったり、ゴミ捨て場でばったり会ったりを繰り返し1ヶ月ほど経ち、ある日彼が私の職場に来て連絡先を聞いてくれたことがきっかけでデートが始まりました。
初めてのデートはサンセットビーチ。夕日を眺めながら暗くなるまで沢山話をしました。この頃は何度もGoogle翻訳を使いながら話していた記憶があります。

言葉の壁がありながらも彼との会話が心地よかった理由

①話題の相性

私は他人の噂話や不平不満、過去の話の割合が多い会話が苦手です。このビーチで自分自身の話、現在と将来の話をお互いにたくさんしました

②質問と返答のバランス

個人差はありますが海外の人って基本的に本当によく喋るんです。しかも早口だから話すタイミングが掴みづらくて日本人ってどうしても聞き役にメインになりがち。
でも彼はこの時私に沢山の質問をしてくれました。相手に興味がある気持ちって言葉の壁関係ないですよね。
確かに同じ日本人でも相手に全く興味がなくてひたすら自分だけ話す人いますよね。
(でも聞かれなくても話し続ける強さと勇気も時には必要なんでしょうね笑)

③興味のあるものや価値観に共通点がある

人生においての価値を置いてるものや大切にすべきことに共通点がある人との会話は、言葉の壁があっても心地の良い時間になりますし、自然と深い話に繋がります。　

でも！その反面、言葉の壁が原因で大事件が起きたり、喧嘩が耐えないころもあり、ここには書ききれない事が山程ありました。英語上達の重要性をその度に感じていました。育った環境も国も全く違えばもちろん文化も違う。言葉も違う。そして男女の違い。もともとの人間性の違い。それにしても男女の関係って奥が深いですよね。

初めてのデートの日は、彼からしてもかなりコミュニケーションを取るのが難しかったそうです。今はあの頃よりスムーズに会話ができているそうなので、英語も少しずつ上達しているのだと思います。

語学習得は自分の世界を広げます。お話しした①〜③が言葉の壁を超える力があるのは確かですが、もっとスムーズに彼の言う事を理解したい！自分の気持ちを日本語を使っている時のように表現したい！と毎日思います。精進あるのみ。

英語習得に興味のある方、留学やワーホリに興味のある方是非留学エージェントへの無料相談から始めてみてはいかがでしょうか？オンライン学習ももちろん素晴らしいですが現地に身を置くからこそ得られる経験や素晴らしい出会い、チャンスが沢山あります！

Meeting Joseph, crossing the Language Barrier through Conversation and the Importance of Improving English Skills

Once in a Lifetime in Vancouver, Part 1

I met Joseph in June 2022. Our workplaces were located in the same building, with my previous workplace and Joseph’s workplace both being art galleries. We shared a garbage disposal area, and it was there that we coincidentally met and exchanged greetings. I remember awkwardly recounting the self-introduction I had practiced multiple times during my online English conversation lessons back when I was in Japan.

This is the building where I met him. His workplace is a gallery that deals with native Canadian art. After that, we kept running into each other on the street near this building or accidentally meeting at the garbage disposal area. Eventually, one day he came to me and asked for my contact information, which led to our first date. Our first date took place at Sunset Beach. We talked a lot while watching the sunset until it got dark. I remember using Google Translate multiple times during that period to aid our conversations.

My favorite Sunset Beach. I’ve already been there many times this year.

Reasons why conversations with him felt pleasant despite the language barrier:

Compatibility of conversation topics

I’m not particularly fond of conversations that revolve around gossip, complaints, or discussions about the past. On this beach, we talked a lot about ourselves, our present, and our future.

Balance between asking questions and providing answers

:Individual differences may exist, but generally, people from other countries tend to talk a lot. Moreover, they speak fast, making it difficult to catch the timing to speak for us Japanese. However, during that time, he asked me a lot of questions. Showing genuine interest in the other person transcends the language barrier. It’s true that even among Japanese, some people are not interested in the other person and only talk about themselves. (But sometimes, the strength and courage to keep talking even without being asked are also necessary, haha.)

Shared interests and values

Conversations with someone who shares common values and the things they consider important in life are enjoyable and comfortable, even with a language barrier. It naturally leads to deeper conversations.

However! On the other hand, there were many incidents and fights caused by the language barrier, which I can’t fully describe here. Each time, I felt the importance of improving my English skills. Our upbringing, countries, and cultures are completely different. The language is different too. And there are also differences between genders and differences in our inherent personalities. Nevertheless, relationships between men and women are incredibly complex, aren’t they?

When I was talking about our first date earlier, Joseph mentioned that communication was quite challenging for him as well. Now, he says that conversations are smoother than back then, so I believe my English skills are gradually improving.　

Acquiring language skills expands one’s world. The aspects of overcoming the language barrier (1-3) are undoubtedly true, but I constantly think about wanting to understand what he says more smoothly! I want to express my feelings as naturally as I do in Japanese! Diligence is key. Not only did English, but also meeting him, greatly expanded my perspective and worldview. I am grateful.

If you are interested in learning English, studying abroad, or working holiday, why not start with a free consultation with a study abroad agency? Online learning is also fantastic, but being in the actual country offers many experiences, wonderful encounters, and opportunities!