While I was teaching in junior high school, I was taking an English conversation class at the YMCA in Makigahara. My original plan was to quit the junior high and study in a graduate school in the States. But since I was also thinking of getting married at that time, I gave up studying abroad and decided to start teaching English at the YMCA.

Yes, but the major reason was that I wanted to experience living in a place I don’t know, struggling by myself.

Though I once gave up studying abroad, I repeatedly went to study in Pacific Lutheran University in Washington State during my summer breaks and acquired a master’s degree. I learned “Classroom Teaching” there. I also took Reading, Drama and Literature classes.

For elementary children, I try to make sure they enjoy and always feel they like English.

For youth students, I teach what they need to learn at school. And at the same time, I want them to  get used to listening, expressing themselves in English, and making presentations, which are skills that are not focused at school.

For adult students, I think it is important to understand the goal of each student.

I want to be a teacher who can bring out each student's ability and motivation.

When I was teaching a big class in junior high school, there must have been some children in the class who actually didn’t understand English and didn't like English.

At the YMCA, the teacher notices when the student is having difficulty, which leads to further understanding. I could teach a student for only three years in junior high school, but at the YMCA, I feel happy that I can watch a student grow for four, five, six years… as long as he/she continues to study here. 

The former director, introduced the seminar to me. It was a very active seminar, even hard to make a reservation. I felt it is attracting attention in the teaching industry.

For phonics private lessons, I pay attention to the student’s reaction and try to cover what he/she enjoys.

I want them to become global citizens, who can think about themselves and the world and who are willing to solve problems happening in the world through what they have studied in English lessons.