This is an All Ears English bonus episode.
How Koyo learned to listen better in English.
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Today we have a fun adventure story from Koyo, who was a part of the October Immersion Adventure in Boston.
Find out just a few of the strong skills that he built while he was in Boston talking with native speakers.
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Maybe you know what you want to say. but you can't always say it naturally.
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That's allearsenglish.com slash letter B number two.
Hey, Koyo, how are you doing today?
Welcome to All Ears English.
Lindsay, I'm good.
I'm good.
Thank you for inviting me to the show.
Hey, happy to have you on the show.
How long have you been listening to All Ears English?
Since this June.
So it means I have listened to your podcast for one two three four, about five months.
About five months.
Awesome, Koyo.
And you're on the show today because you joined us for the second Urban English Adventure in October in Boston.
And why did you decide to join that adventure?
It is because I wanted to build up my English skills and skills.
And especially, I loved your way of teaching English.
So, for example, when it comes to all these English podcasts, you always bring up the topics about questions that
So many English learners are supposed to have in common.
So the topic is very interesting.
Oh, very cool.
Okay, and?
And about your course, The Secrets of the Connected Communicators.
Okay, let's start again.
So, all right.
So you joined the English Adventure because you were excited about the way we learn here at All Ears English.
Is that right?
Yes, correct.
Okay.
Any other reason?
What were your professional goals for your English?
Like, what do you do for work and when do you use your English every day?
Yes.
I'm working as a receptionist at a hotel in Japan, and sometimes the guests from foreign countries come to my hotel.
I often talk with them in English, so I enjoy it too much.
And it is my work.
And when it comes to my private, I love traveling around the world so much.
Yeah, you've done a lot of traveling, haven't you?
Yes, so I was a backpacker this year from April to June.
And a few years later, I want to challenge that work again.
So I will practice English more and more and enjoy the conversation with a lot of people using English.
Okay, awesome, Koyo.
So tell me about you know, when you finished the weekend and you went back to Tokyo, back to your hotel job, how did you feel different and how did you speak differently?
What were the results that you saw from the weekend?
I came to speak English slowly and fast.
I came to be calmed down so that others understand what I say.
Okay, good.
So is that something that you were struggling with before?
What were you doing before the weekend with your English?
During the conversation with others, I used to get panic when it comes to my mind.
So when speakers, when someone is speaking to me, I always thinking about...
What word or phrase should I choose?
What answer is the best to this conversation?
My mind is so congested.
My mind is so panicked.
I couldn't focus on listening and speaking.
Yeah.
And yeah, and so you had your action plan meeting with Jessica.
And what was her suggestion for you?
Okay, so first, calm down when you speak.
When you listen to someone, focus on only listening, which means you don't have to think about the answer you're supposed to do.
Yes, I love that.
I love that.
I feel a difference in you.
I mean even when.
So after you had your meeting with Jessica, we did your testimonial video and I could feel that shift in your confidence level.
It was amazing.
It was amazing.
And congratulations.
That's what I just want to say to you here, you know, in front of our listeners.
Congratulations for taking on this challenge and moving into it and improving after it.
So I'm so very, very happy to success and improve my skill.
And I'm so glad to hear that.
Awesome.
So let's get into some of the details, Koyo, of the weekend.
So how did you feel when you entered the informal happy hour, when you came to meet us at that bar that first night?
How were you feeling that night?
Actually, I had a lot of feelings at that time.
Actually, I was late for informal happy hour a little bit, so...
So at that point I got a little nervous and tired because I had a hard time to find the place, find the location of the bar.
And that's after finding the bar and meeting you guys.
I feel so happy, so I had a very great feeling, such as happiness and excitement and a little bit nervous.
But Lindsay and Jessica and other students and other native speakers were so excited and very supportive to us and I enjoyed the conversation in English so much so it was my first time to English for a long time two hours.
It was the first time to speak English so much longer.
Yeah.
And yeah, it wasn't just us too, right?
The native speakers were there as well.
And how was that for you?
Was that scary?
I mean, right when you arrived, the native speakers were there ready to talk to you.
How did that feel?
Guys, today you're meeting Koyo, who was in the Boston Immersion Adventure in October.
This summer we have two locations Boston and New York City, and we've added one-to-one coaching so that, after sitting down with us for just a few minutes at the end of your program, you'll understand your strengths, your weaknesses and what to do next to keep your motivation high and keep improving.
Plus, you spend one third of the program speaking directly with native speakers.
Guys, it doesn't get any better than this.
Go to allearsenglishcom forward slash immersion and choose New York City or Boston and apply today allearsenglishcom forward slash I-M-M-E-R-S-I-O-N.
At the beginning of it, it was a little bit scary.
I feel scared because it was my first time.
However, the so they were so kind so if I didn't understand what they said they kindly repeat what they said for me and paraphrase and and after that they asked me a question about me so I I feel relaxed and I enjoyed too much adventure awesome awesome and what was your favorite challenge during the weekend and A lot of challenges were so much fun.
For example, a neighborhood challenge was so interesting for me.
Which one?
The neighborhood.
Okay, the neighborhood of Boston.
Yep.
Yep.
And so I had a partner from France, a family friend.
So we walked down the street and tried to speak to local people for interviews, and both of us were so nervous.
And actually he looked so nervous and actually he was the great thing it was.
Even though he was nervous and scared, he had the courage himself to speak to others for his improvements.
So I was so impressed with his attitude, his passionate attitude.
That pushed me so much.
Gradually, I came to be calmed down.
After that, I tried to speak to native speakers so much.
That was a very great trigger for me.
Yeah, awesome.
It sounds like that first challenge, right?
That Friday morning challenge really inspired you working with Fabrice and watching him be nervous, be afraid, but also move into the challenge right.
We have to like approach what we're afraid of.
We have to take action, even though we're afraid.
And that set the tone for you.
Is that right?
For the whole weekend?
Yes.
That's so good.
That is so cool.
That's so cool.
All right.
So it sounds like you enjoyed our.
What was it like for you being on a group of four, a team of four?
There were four of four students in this program.
How was that for you?
It's Before the waking.
When I found that there was only four students for the program, I was surprised.
Yes, we have just the three students.
But it was so great because I had many opportunities to speak with native speakers and we understood.
As a team, we helped each other and inspired each other.
So they were my very, very great very, very good friends, and so I'm so happy to meet these guys.
Yeah, this experience brings you close to the other students, doesn't it?
Because it's an intense experience.
Yes, of course.
So Koyo, if some of our listeners are thinking about joining, I mean, what kind of student should join this adventure, this immersion adventure?
Any kind of students should join this program, but especially the students who wants to improve English skills and who wants to make friends with native speakers, and the students who are.
Who is interested in this podcast?
All is english, very cool, awesome.
I'm so excited that you came.
I mean, what is one final piece of advice koyo, that you would give to someone who is thinking about coming, but they're not sure?
What would you say to them?
Uh So, in my opinion, for me, students might feel that some challenges are too hard.
For example, I had a very hard time to catch what native speakers said during the conversations.
And sometimes at first time I feel stressed out a little bit.
But i want to say you don't have to worry about that because everyone, everyone in this group it's so supportive to us students.
So when i didn't understand the meaning of words, of places, When I asked someone about it, everyone definitely answered the questions kindly.
This is a very important thing.
Awesome.
If someone who wants to join this program but scared of making mistake, I want to say you don't have to worry about it, just ask them.
I think that, And don't hesitate to ask someone for help in this program.
That is the best thing for me.
Oh, that's fantastic, Koyo.
That's so good.
I'm glad it was such a positive experience for you.
And now you are seeing the results at your work.
Has your boss made any comments to you like, oh, your English seems different?
I mean, you feel different, right?
When you're talking to your customers.
Yes, correct.
So let's wrap this up here.
Koyo, thank you so much for coming on the show today.
This has been so cool to hear your voice and to hear your experience.
I mean, I'm proud of you.
I'm so glad that you took on the challenge.
And thanks for coming on the podcast today, too.
You did a great job.
Okay.
Thank you so much, Lizzie.
Thank you, Koyo.
Take care.
Bye.
Bye-bye.
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