
A few sentences do not do justice to the impact Komatsu Summer School had on everyone. The students initiated conversations in English as much as possible, and consequently, they not only improved their speaking skills but also became more confident in trying new things. Additionally, the students’ participation during the seminar I taught blew me away. Despite the challenges that come with learning a foreign language, the students I worked with fearlessly presented their thoughts in front of their classmates in English. They improved their critical thinking abilities by listening carefully to others’ comments, developing their own opinions, and being intellectually curious when engaging with the course material. Seeing the students grow and build strong connections with each other within the span of only a week truly inspired me.