How do you feel now that you have passed the exam?
It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders! I was working hard for a long time, and now all the pressure and stress of exams has disappeared. I’m very, very happy and my family are all very proud of me.
肩の荷が下りたような気分です！長い間一生懸命頑張ってきましたが、試験のプレッシャーやストレスから解放されました。とてもとても嬉しいです。家族もみんな私のことを誇りに思ってくれています。
How was the exam?
The exam was very difficult, especially the maths. There were some very complicated problems in the exam, and it was more challenging than I expected. Thankfully we did a lot of preparation in class, so I felt like I could manage it.
For the English section, the reading was pretty tough. The answers weren’t always directly stated in the passage, so I had to spend a lot of time making sure I understood the text properly. As I spent more time than I intended on the reading, I had to make sure I didn’t spend too long on the other sections. Luckily, I felt pretty confident with the listening section. It made me realize that time management really is an important skill, and I’m lucky to have had a lot of practice.
試験は難しかったです。特に数学は難しかったです。試験にはとても複雑な問題もあって、思ったよりも難しかったです。でも、授業でたくさん準備したので、何とかなったと思います。
英語のセクションでは、リーディングがかなり難しかったです。答えが文章に直接書かれていないこともあって、文章をきちんと理解するために多くの時間を費やさなければなりませんでした。リーディングに予定より多くの時間を費やしてしまったので、他のセクションに時間をかけ過ぎないようにしなければなりませんでした。幸い、リスニングセクションにはかなり自信がありました。時間管理が本当に重要なスキルであることを実感しましたし、これまで多くの練習を積んできたことが幸いしました。
How do you feel studying at GLICC helped you pass the exam?
I think the small-group environment that GLICC classes have is really helpful. The teacher really gets to know each student and can focus more to help students with any areas that they find challenging. I think this classroom atmosphere at GLICC helped me a lot more than any other cram school could have.
GLICCの授業は少人数制なので、とても助かりました。先生は生徒一人一人のことをよく知っていて、生徒が苦手とする分野を重点的に指導してくれます。このGLICCの授業の雰囲気は、他のどの塾よりも私にとってとても役に立ちました。
Did you attend any other juku? How did it compare?
No, I only attended GLICC. I felt like studying at GLICC was enough for me. I thought that if I was attending several cram schools, it would have been too stressful. I think it is important for young people to balance their studies and to have time to take breaks and spend time outside. This is what helped me stay motivated and productive when I was studying.
いいえ、GLICCだけです。GLICCで勉強するだけで十分だと感じていました。もし複数の塾に通っていたら、ストレスが大きすぎたと思います。若い人にとって、勉強と息抜きや外で過ごす時間のバランスを取ることは重要だと思います。これが、私が勉強しているときのモチベーションと生産性を維持するのに役立ちました。
What study habits / routines did you have?
I took lessons at GLICC on Friday, Saturday and Tuesday. I would usually arrive early for my classes so that I could have some extra study time. Studying at the school was an excellent way to work in a quiet environment without distractions. The teachers were also available to support me when needed. Outside of classes, I spent about 1 - 2 hours studying each day in the lead up to exams, and made sure that I had time for other activities I enjoy too.
私は金曜日、土曜日、火曜日にGLICCでレッスンを受けていました。 授業に早めに到着して、予習復習の時間を確保するようにしていました。 学校で勉強するのは、気が散ることなく静かな環境で勉強できる素晴らしい方法でした。 また、必要に応じて先生方がサポートしてくれました。 授業以外では、試験前には毎日1～2時間勉強し、そのほかに自分が好きな活動をする時間も確保するようにしていました。
Was there anything you particularly liked about the lessons at GLICC?
I liked that all members of the classes were involved. The teachers gave each member of the classroom attention, instead of just focussing on a couple of students. I always felt like if I had a problem, the teachers could notice and help me right away.
クラスの全員が参加しているのが良かったです。先生方は、数人の生徒にばかり注目するのではなく、クラスの全員に目を配ってくれました。何か問題があれば、先生方がすぐに気づいて助けてくれると感じていました。
What was something you felt like you improved during your time here?
Something I felt like I improved a lot was my math skills. I felt like my math abilities were not great, but I received a lot of extra support, and whenever I came early to classes, the teachers would support me.
ずいぶん上達したと思うのは、数学のスキルです。数学の能力はあまり良くないと思っていましたが、たくさんのサポートを受けましたし、授業に早く来ると先生方がサポートしてくれました。
What advice would you give for future students who also want to attend Mita?
I would advise that they practice their interview skills! I think a lot of students focus a lot on the exam and don’t think enough about the interview. It’s important to speak clearly and not to stutter your words, as that may jeopardize your chances of getting in. I was always confident with my speaking skills, but there were still some surprising questions. The interview practice I received at GLICC made the whole experience a lot smoother.
面接の練習をしっかりしておくことをお勧めします。多くの受験生は試験にばかり集中して、面接の対策を十分にしていないと思います。はっきりと、どもらずに話すことが大切です。私はスピーキングには自信がありましたが、それでも意外な質問がありました。GLICCで面接の練習をしたことで、全体的な流れがスムーズになりました。
Would you recommend GLICC to other students who want to get into Mita?
I would definitely recommend GLICC. The homework we received was very similar to the types of questions that appeared in the Mita exam. My friends at school always said their cram schools were all very stressful, but I actually found GLICC a very fun place to learn. Even though the homework was challenging, it never felt like it was so much that I felt stressed out.
もちろんGLICCを勧めます。宿題は三田の試験に出る問題とよく似ていました。学校の友達は、みんな塾が大変だと言っていましたが、私はGLICCは楽しく勉強できる場所だと思いました。宿題は難しかったですが、ストレスになるほど大変だとは感じませんでした。
What are you most excited about for your new school?
We are going to take a trip in our very first week of school! It will be a great chance to break the ice, meet new people and make new friends, so I’m really excited about that.
学校が始まって最初の週に旅行に行くんです！ みんなと打ち解け、新しい人たちと知り合い、新しい友達を作る良い機会になるので、とても楽しみです。
After passing the MITA exam, I felt a sense of relief and excitement. I’m really looking forward to going to MITA, especially the chance to study abroad and attend classes. My study routine mainly consisted of attending GLICC classes, doing my homework, and reviewing mock exams. I didn’t follow any special study habits, but I found the mock exams and homework at GLICC really helpful. The mock exams helped me manage my time better and get used to the exam format, which made a big difference in my preparation.