Interviewer: I
Koizumi Kanae: K
The period of Japanese teacher training course: 2008/10/01-2009/09/30
I: After completed a Japanese teacher training course at ECC in September 2009, you passed through adoption test of ECC and became a Japanese teacher?
K: Yes, I received notification from ECC and another school. Before I completed a Japanese teacher training course, I attended a job guidance which was held by ECC, the teacher advised me that I’d better apply to every school which is recruiting.
I: Have you thought in any other schools before?
K: I have worked at a kindergarten for two years as a preschool teacher 27 years ago.
I: 27 years ago!?
K: Yes! I have three children and the eldest child is 21 years old.
I: Wow! You look so young! What is the secret that you got over the inexperience and the age so that you could be employed as a Japanese teacher at two schools?
K: I suppose the most important is an enthusiasm to teach Japanese. I know clearly what I want to achieve through teaching Japanese.
I: Could you tell us what it is?
K: I like communicating with people originally, so I'd like to have heart to heart cultural exchanges with people who have different cultural backgrounds.
I: Why did you attend the training course at ECC?
K: My previous job was a clerk at a trading company which exported used cars. I had a lot of opportunities to contact foreign customers who could speak fluent Japanese. So, I had a simple question that how they could master Japanese. Through my research, I found out there was the training course at ECC, so I decided to attend.
I: How was your studying there?
K: It was very hard to finish the curriculum while working full-time. However, thanks to good teachers and classmates, I could complete my studying.
I: Please introduce us your students whom you teach now?
K: At a private lesson I teach a Hungarian who works at an automobile company. During the class we always have a lot of topics of conversation. For example, where did you go at the weekend? How your days went at the company? He is very active, studies very hard. He also likes joking so we have a lot of fun in every lesson.
I: When did you start teaching class lessons?
K: Immediately after I was employed. The ages, cultural backgrounds and academic backgrounds of every student at the class are totally different. Their strengths and weaknesses of Japanese are also different. I try to observe each student and give them some advices individually in order to make them improve well-balanced Japanese skill. The day before my lesson I surely read three books about grammar and check good/bad examples so that I can take up teaching with a perfect preparation. However, I still feel that I need more studying.
I: I believe the students surely know your eagerness for teaching. What usually do you do on days off?
K: I have learned YOGA for 2 years (Thai style). I want to make my body and head "soft" so that I can be resourceful whatever will happen.
I: Sounds nice! Through doing yoga, you are always young-looking, aren't you?
Please tell us what is the best worthy of teaching Japanese? And how do you feel about working at ECC?
K: There are original curriculums for all levels at ECC. It’s very helpful for me to teach without any concerns. I can receive instructions by an observing system. My boss tells me my weak point. It helps me improve my teaching skills. When I see my students speaking Japanese with the sentence patterns which I taught, I am so happy.
I: Finally, please give some messages to the students who are considering studying in Japan.
K: I think it’s very tough to study at ECC. However, there are a lot of kind teachers. It has a good environment for your studying. So why don’t you meet your dream at ECC?