Yumi Inoue

Home University: Chuo University
Departments of Study in Sheffield: Law

I remember that my study abroad program started with feelings of anxiety towards rest of my time in Sheffield. The last thing I wanted to do though was to build up a barrier around me and not make any friends during my stay in the U.K. So I tried to communicate with people in the same way as I did in Japan even though the language is different. I did not want to be unfriendly or to avoid non-Japanese people just because of my English ability.

I felt that while the international students were open-minded and easy to get close to, it took time to become friend of British Students. I think that British students like to keep certain distance with foreign students at first. But if you keep talking to them patiently, they start to understand you and your English level and finally they will feel comfortable being with you. That is what I did and I got to know many people in the end.

How does the workload/classes/teaching styles vary to back at home?

Studying and books were on my mind most of the time. I took time to have fun in the pub or somewhere like that, but I made sure I studied hard in the library. Since I had two or three seminars in a week, I had to do some reading to participate in the discussion during the seminar. Although I could not say much of my opinion, I wanted to follow what other students were talking about.

If you could give advice to a prospective student thinking of choosing Sheffield, what would you say?

My time in Sheffield really flew by. Early summer is the best season in Sheffield with a lot of green and relatively calm weather. I did not want to leave such a nice place by saying goodbye to people I met throughout the year. Studying abroad might be hard at first, but I am so pleased that I choose to study in Sheffield.

I loved the situation when I bumped into people I knew on the street, and it happened so frequently. Sheffield is a nice small student city and people there are friendly. Every small trouble I had turned out to be an element that made my stay more memorable and exciting. I had a lovely year.