Nearing the completion of my third year since coming to Japan to take over an existing school, I can honestly say that it has been well worth it to make this career change. Oh yes, there were hard times in the beginning and I can’t allow myself to drop the quality level of my lessons, because my students deserve the best I can offer. However, it has been a lot of fun so far and I expect that this will continue. Teaching English in Japan is very rewarding. It is exciting to see the gradual improvements in your students’ ability to speak and use English. But it is even more exciting to have the chance to run a small business, to be your own boss and to be able to try things and find out how effective they are to promote your school and add students.
Today, I decided to pass out copies of President Obama’s inaugural address with only my school name, the free-dial phone number and the website address shown. I got a lot of good reactions from this. Many people seemed to be happy to have this to read on train during their commute. I feel that the message that I want to help potential students reach a level where they can read or listen to this speech and simple contact information is all that is needed now-a-days as the Smith’s name is becoming well recognized and comes up fairly easily in a web search. We shall see how effective my idea was in the coming weeks. Wish me luck.
President Obama’s speech has some excellent English that my higher level students can benefit from learning. One example is given in the sentences below:
“What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility – a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudging accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and promise of citizenship.”
These sentences are quite inspirational and uplifting. My hope is that words like these will help the American people to escape the funk they are in. Confidence is precious and it is what is so sorely needed now. America is still a great nation of generous people, capable of working hard, inventing and creating a new future that is inclusive and seeks to help all the people of the world. America needs to lead the world by setting an excellent example. I, for one, truly hope that Barack Obama can instill confidence and a positive future vision in the American people. I have put the link below for my students and anyone reading to watch the speech.
President Barack Obama’s Inauguration Address
Now back to work. The fun continues!
Al, SSE Okamoto
Hi Al,
I cannot agree with you more. Why would anyone want to work for anyone other than themselves? The Smith’s School of English franchise system is undoubtedly one of the best ways to so and may I say the only English School franchise system I’d ever want to work with.
スミス英会話高円寺
Well said Al. Owning my own school and being my own boss is great!
Derek
SSE Tsukaguchi
I also agree totally. Owning my own school has helped me grow in ways that I could not forsee, and I am a much happier person for it. Growing is hard, but it is soooo worth it. running your own business is sometimes hard, but it is soooo worth it!
I also do some part time work at an international school and having the liberty to stand up and take care of myself instead of being brow-beaten is a great feeling. Not that I ever have to stand up to anyone or anything. Just knowing I CAN has made it all worth while.
-Les
Al,
As you have obviously noted, President Obama’s speech and actions are front page news everywhere. As such, I’d like to recommend Let’s Talk “Current Affairs” for your high level students next week. Grab The Japan Times or Daily Yomiuri and stick it on the desk as a prop/ realia and then get into it, using “Current Affairs” to guide the lesson. Student’s want to talk about Obama, and love this lesson. Try it!
Edward, SSE Ohtsu
Edward,
You are right. I have already been using this topic and other articles to discuss the Obama election etc. with my students. The economy in Japan is also being heavily affected by the situation in the US.
Al, SSE-Okamoto