I often suffer from an inferiority complex toward English. Although I've been immersed in the world, enjoyed learning it and I'm sure the enthusiasm for English will never be gone, I'm obsessed with the inferiority complex. One of the reasons is that I've never stayed abroad to study or on business.
In fact, while hunting a job, ( Of course, I wanted to use English.) I faced a harsh and disgusting condition that a certain company required people who had experience of staying abroad such as home-stay programs. During the interview test ( After I took a Japanese, an English writing test and an English speaking test. The tests were very easy for me. I finished them with no sweat.) , I tried to show my merits, enthusiasm for English and my English environments, but an interviewer just asked me, "Well, have you ever stayed abroad?". I answered, " No, I've been studied English in Japan." Then, the interviewer frowned on me! I couldn't believe that!! I never want to work at like the company; however, I realized it was true that some Japanese companies have still required some kinds of English qualifications or such experience, even if people who had such experience can't speak English so well.
So, to get a job I want to work, I may be sticking to pass the pre-1st grade of STEP test. To add to that, I can't go abroad with an eye to study immediately because now my priority is to rear a kid and take care of my family.
Of course, another reason is that I want to prove we can learn English skills such as writing, listening and speaking, in Japan. ;D
