When I was a high school student, I started learning spoken English.
Of course, English has been a compulsory subject since Junior high school in Japan. But in those days, there were no native English teachers. It means we had no chance to see any English speaking people much less speak with them.
To tell the truth, I hated those English grammar classes in school.
One day when I worked for a jewelry shop as a part timer. one foreign man asked me, “Is this a cultured pearl?” But I couldn’t answer because I didn’t know the word ‘cultured’.
Since then, the word has printed in my brain.
I started to learn through TV and radio English conversation programs every day. As I learned it very hard, my father bought me a tape recorder which cost very expensive and when I came late for the programs due to school schedules, my grandmother was the one who would often tape the programs for me.
Their support encouraged me not to give up my studies.
I really appreciate their kind cooperation.