Basically Japanese education in school consists of individual study, not group study. It is true that individual study helps us concentrate on our study and increases efficiency for memory work. We especially need to be alone in preparing for examinations. However, studying in a group has some merits over individual study: for ample, it provides us with the opportunity to broaden our experience, and it stimulates and broadens our perspective.

First, group study gives us rich experience that we can not experience in individual study. For example, to master English conversation in E.S.S. (English Speaking Society) activities, I think the speech section or the debate section is more efficient than the drama section. The mode of study in the speech section and the debate section consists mainly of individual study, while the drama section concentrates on group study. The drama section is less efficient for proficiency in English conversation, although, we can experience the importance of the cooperation in practice, and strong emotion together with the other members after completing a production. Actually, in a summer camp I burst into tears with drama members after practicing hard and completing a play on a stage. We can seldom experience such things in individual study.

Second, group study stimulates us by communicating with others and develops our opinion. The other day I had a discussion with my friends on Japanese politics such as the constitutional amendment, declining birth rates, and English education. What I learned from the discussion is not their way of thinking on such matters, but their enthusiastic attitude on politics and their positive way of speaking their opinion in front of others. After the discussion, I was determined to try to read as many newspapers so I can develop my point of view on a variety of things. Therefore, I was stimulated by the discussion with friends and it promoted my interests. I can't experience this in individual study.

In conclusion, individual study is sometimes more efficient than group study. However, group study has some merit over it. These are to enrich our experience, and to stimulate us and develop our personality. Group study helps us not be a frog in the well, but a fish in the ocean.