 24. Augst 1997 |
| Everyday life in Juilliard as a foreign student by Miss. Makiko Narumi In Juilliard School of Performing Arts, youngsters from all over the world compete furiously to become the top-level artist. It is one of the most admired educational institutions for anybody aiming to study music. Miss Makiko Narumi(28) from Aomori, who will join this prestigious school from September, reports her everyday life in Juilliard. On 24th August, I arrived in New York. “Makiko, welcome back!” My friends in NY greeted me. It was after 6 months since entrance examination in March. The friends’ words and smile reminded me that I was entering Juilliard, and I was simply looking forward to anything that might follow. My status as a registered student in Juilliard may give you an image of a fluent English speaker. But because of my poor English, I am registered as a student in vocal AND IET(Intensive English Training) courses. If I could present good results of the test in end of this year, I will be formally accepted as a student in masters’ course and will be permitted to attend lessons and lectures. There had been some unfortunate students in the past who could not succeed in IET and had their registration canceled. I hope I can come up with good news around May next year.  Students from Various Countries This picture is my IET class members and the instructor Mr. Di Francesco(Back row on the right). The group consists of 3 Japanese, 3 Koreans, 2 Chinese, 2 Russians, 1 Bulgarian, 1 Greek, and 3 instructors. In this class, we must admit that the only language common to us all is English. Everybody tries to make himself/herself understood in English using body languages or pictures. Meanwhile, during my first week in the dormitory, one of the toilets was clogged(I was not the reason, by the way). I explained the situation to the Member of the student council and wanted to tell “that thing made of a stick with hemisphere-shaped rubber to get rid of the clogging” was necessary, but did not know how. Therefore I wandered around other toilets, finally found the tool, closed myself in the compartment and working hard when my worried friends asked me from outside “Makiko, are you OK?” I repeated “OK, OK.” and kept on working. Finally the task was accomplished. Difficulty in Describing Subtle Feeling The hardest time comes when I have to narrate subtle feeling. In my dormitory where various nationalities, cultures, sets of value gather, rules of life must be decided through a discussion. I was very much frustrated and acquainting with others became because I had university student’s mind but linguistic ability was that of an elementary student. But I had learned that in this country “one who speaks out first will be the justice.” So I desperately fought to make my self understood, pointing at words in the dictionary. Then the other side will try harder to understand me. Thus, I study English even more because I want to be better next time. Looks like this everyday life is my classroom. |
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