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Dolphin Tales

From NIS Student to NIS Teacher

After graduating from Nagoya University, Akira, Class of 2017, finds herself back in Nakashidami. But this time she’s in front of the classroom receiving valuable mentorship and experience as a student-teacher to eventually become a full-fledged teacher in an international school!

日本語訳はこちら

Where are you living now?
I'm still living in Nagoya! 
 
What kind of work are you doing?
I'm currently a student-teacher at NIS while taking an online teaching preparation course. 
 
What do you enjoy most about what you’re doing?
I like lesson planning the most! I get to be a little creative and think about how I can deliver the content effectively for the students but in my own way! I'm also enjoying my small personal teaching victories, like not forgetting to take attendance in the morning. 
 
What kind of challenges does it hold for you?
It's been challenging to see the school from a different perspective. I was a serious and studious student, so it's been a challenge to distance myself from thinking about how I used to approach school as a student. Now, I reflect on how I want to think about school as a teacher. Finding my style or identity as a teacher is still in the works, but I have amazing people around me who support me. 
 
Did NIS help you prepare for your current position in any way?
I'm not sure. I remember teaching and helping out many of my peers during high school, but it never made me want to become a teacher. Though coming back here, I've met so many incredible people, and it's very heartwarming to know that I received my education in such an environment. 
 
What's the one thing that you are really enjoying or getting most excited about these days?
My teaching practicum has been, as expected, tough but it is as equally or even more rewarding than I expected! I'm really focusing all of my energy into my teaching practice and enjoying every single second of it! 
 
What's the one thing you miss most about Japan/Nagoya? 
Because I still live here, I still get to experience Japan and Nagoya in all its glory! But, I do miss all my friends who have moved away from me and now are living abroad. 
 
And of course, we need to know, what words of wisdom do you have for today's Dolphins?
Grow as you go! A school is a place full of opportunities to build your interests, try new things, and gain new knowledge. It's also a place where you can make lots and lots of mistakes and learn from them! I wish that I was less afraid of not being perfect, made more mistakes, and challenged myself when I was younger. 

今はどちらに?
まだ名古屋にいます。

近況を教えてください。
オンラインで教員になるための勉強をしつつ、NISで教育実習生をしています。

実習中にいちばん楽しいのはどんなことですか?
いちばん好きなのは、授業計画を立てることです。生徒に分かりやすい授業が出来るよう、自分なりに創造性を駆使できるからです。あと、小さな成功が嬉しいです。朝、出席をとるのを忘れなかった時とか。

大変だと思うことは何ですか?
学校についてこれまでとは違った視点で考えることが難しいですね。私自身は真面目で勉強熱心な生徒でしたから、学生の頃の自分のやり方と切り離して考えることが難しいです。今は教師としての視点で考えるようにしています。教師としての自分のスタイルはまだ模索中ですが、素晴らしい方々に支えていただいています。

NISでの経験は役に立っていますか?
よく分かりません。高校時代は同級生に勉強を教えることもありましたが、教師になりたいと思ったことはありませんでした。でも、教育実習生として戻ってきてたくさんの素晴らしい出会いがあったので、改めてこのような環境で教育を受けたことを知るととても心温まる思いです。

最近夢中になっていることや興味のあることはありますか?
教育実習は想像通りに大変ですが、想像していた以上に楽しくやりがいがあります!今はそれに集中して頑張っています!

名古屋や日本で懐かしく感じることは何ですか?
名古屋に住んでいるので、名古屋や日本の魅力は存分に味わうことができます。でも、海外に越してしまった友達のことは恋しいですね。

後輩たちへのアドバイスをお願いします。
前進無くして成長なし!学校とは、興味を追求し、新しいことを試し、学ぶ機会を与えてくれる場所です。どれだけ失敗してもそこから学び、成長できるのです。あまり完璧さを求めず、失敗を恐れず挑戦しておけば良かったかな、と自分の学生時代と振り返って思います。