2020.11.13 学校生活

Hello everybody!My name is Lewis and I come from Scotland, which is one of four countries that makes up the United Kingdom.

I started working at Assumption Kokusai from April 2020 and although I have lived in Japan for 8 years it would be my first time to work in a full-time teaching position here. Of course, I was nervous about starting; people are always nervous about starting a new job! It goes without saying that the year 2020 has been different to those that preceded it. Back in April I had no idea that the Coronavirus Pandemic would have a big influence on my first couple of months at Assumption Kokusai. It would not be a normal start; the students weren’t coming to school and Japan, like many other countries in the world at the time, would declare a state of emergency and would be going into a semi-lockdown. 

My first couple of months at Assumption were a very difficult time however it is a time I remember fondly. When I started everyone I met was incredibly welcoming and friendly. Teachers who do not teach or even speak English would engage me in conversation and those that were in the Immersion department went out of their way to ensure I was able to settle into this new environment. 

Our main duty during this unprecedented time was to record, edit and upload video lessons for our students. This was daunting at first; I had to make videos for students I hadn’t met, students I didn’t know and whose level I was not yet familiar with. My Previous schools did not use online resources or a student teacher emailing system, but Assumption does, and this helped me immensely. As my students began to contact me during this period I was able to better understand their needs and began to feel more confident about the videos I was making for them.

From June we began a gradual return to a normal schedule and I was finally able to meet my students. I have taught some wonderful groups during my time in japan but so far the students I have taught here at Assumption are beyond compare. Assumption has five core values and during this difficult year I’ve been able to see “Goodness” displayed throughout; from both the teachers and staff who helped me and the students who responded so wonderfully to me.

The end of October saw the school and sports festivals in quick succession. They were the culmination of months of hard work by the students and teachers and both days were fantastic. The school festival especially showed how passionate and hardworking the Assumption students can be. I was particularly impressed at how well the students worked together for their class. 

I consider myself very lucky to have landed a job at such a great school. That’s why, for me, this difficult year has felt so wonderful. 

November 13, 2020（Fri）
Lewis Macleod