Being a large Ekimae type station Kyobashi has hundreds of thousands of people walk through every day. Some of those people do not want to study English Conversation for a long time but do have immediate needs. Leaving Japan to Ski in Canada is one such need.
I have mentioned this young lady however her story is one worth reviewing as I am sure any truly devoted English teacher would love teaching this young lady.
When I say young I mean compared to me. At 52 years of age and having come to Japan in 1988/9 I am told I may consider myself a veteran in this work! Anyway this young lady has passed the 20s a while back and I am not sure if there are any 30s left or not. Her best learning years a behind her but is still very young at heart and a very good downhill skier.
She came to Smith’s School Kyobashi with zero English and only a few weeks to study. For most this may seem impossible but not to her. We got to work and set up her needs list. English Conversation for Hotel, Ski Fields, Restaurant, Emergency transport and medical assistance.
She has mastered the lot and as of yesterday we moved into Wh and How questions. Our goal for the next and final 3 lessons is to get her to some sort of conversational level. I believe she will master this as well.
What I love most is her happiness at her own achievement. Every lesson she walks out laughing at her own progress saying “I can’t believe it I am speaking English” .
Leave a Reply