ALT Experience: My farewell speech to teachers at Miyayamadai Junior High School

Friday morning, 7th day of March 2014, I have bid farewell to such wonderful friends that I have come to love with all my heart. Loving them was so easy. But leaving was so hard to a place I could call home. From the genki and bright students, to all the school teachers and staff. All teachers had been very open-minded and friendly. They always have a welcoming smile. You could feel the warm regard on you when you're there as they greet you with either 'Ohayou gozaimasu' or 'Good morning'. They were very much open to all of your suggestions so working with them was easy. It's like a piece of cake. It won't be easy to forget the kindness and warm hospitality that they have showed. I should warn the next NS that will come to their school because he/she will be up for a mind-blowing surprise. I am not kidding. I have broken down into tears when I left them. As I waved my hand goodbye, I could just want to come back and hug and kiss them again and again. So much love and happiness. Alas! Good things just don't always last. 


Kate Teacher, Hashimoto-San, Mitarai Teacher, Kitani Teacher, Nakayama Teacher, Yanai Teacher, Monta-San, Toyoura Teacher, Suganuma Teacher, Kawata Teacher, Ohira Teacher, and Kato Kyoto Teacher, I will forever miss you!!!

I have written this goodbye speech that I presented before the usual faculty meeting in the morning. It was a cold winter morning. But my heart felt so much warm inside as they all stood around the teacher's room. I made this speech at home, didn't sleep until 2 am in morning. I made sure that through this speech, I could express my warmest gratitude and happiness to have worked with them. And I did. I made them smile. I made them cry. 
I started with a bow, warm greetings, and a smile.



おはようございます。

今日は寒いですね。でも暖かい、とても暖かい先生たちの心が。

私にではなく生徒さんにそのやさしさが私まで届きました。何回も弁当を忘れていた生徒さんたちが職
員室に来て、そして担任の先生は違う先生でも自分の弁当をあげたり、忙しい中に外に買いに行ってあげたりとか、自分より生徒さんが大事にしているんだなと思いました。先生たちの誠実で、愛情をもった親切を子供たちに与えて、だから私もとても楽しく生徒さんたちと触れあうすることができました。私はとても子供たちが大好きです。だからこの機会でいっぱい遊んで、しゃべって、生徒さんたちからのたくさんの挨拶と笑顔をくれてとても良かったです。

後最後の二ヶ月の通勤でやっと授業を見に来た教育員会の代表が、普通は十二月までくるんですけれども、なんで遅いかなと聞いて、困っている外国人の先生がいればすぐに見に来ます。確かに私は困ったことはありませんでした。それは周りの先生の方々がたくさんの指導やアドバイスをしてくれましたからです。

中山先生、隣にいてくれてありがとうございました。授業がすぐに終わった後、なにかが起こったことに対して中山先生が安心させてくれました。

橋本さんと門多さんたくさんお話ができて素敵な時間でした。

上江州先生、私に話しかけたり手伝ってくれたりしました。とてもここにいるのはやりやすいようになって先生のご親切と友情をくれてありがとうございます。

御手洗先生と木谷先生と、

You helped me to get closer with the students. I made a great connection with them. I have gained their trust and love.

そして英語科の先生、豊浦先生、柳井先生、菅沼先生、

Teachers,  I am very impressed with your patience and dedication. No words can express the gratitude that I feel. Thank you very much for all your help. I have enjoyed our fun lessons together. 

先生たちも英語で話してくれて、とても楽な仕事をできました。私は大阪弁を不要でした。最高です。そして水曜日に行った終礼で生徒さんたちの前に挨拶ができて、時間をかけて教頭先生校長先生ありがとうごいました。この学校でとってもたくさんの良い思い出が出来ました。言葉では言い表せないくらい、みなさんに会えなくなることがさみしくなるでしょう。私は全ての方にとても感謝しています。私はみんなさんに生徒達に勇気を与え続けることを望みます。
Miyayamadai School is the best.
ありがとうございました。





Romaji:

Ohayōgozaimasu. 
Kyō wa samuidesu ne. Demo attakai, totemo attakai sensei-tachi no kokoro ga. 
Watashi nide wanaku seito-san ni sono yasashi-sa ga watashi made todokimashita. Nankai mo bentō o wasureteita seito-san-tachi ga shokuin-shitsu ni kite, soshite tan'nin no sensei wa chigau sensei demo jibun no bentō o age tari, isogashī naka ni soto ni kai ni itte age tari toka, jibun yori seito-san Ga daiji ni shite iru nda na to omoimashita. Sensei-tachi no seijitsude, aijō o motta shinsetsu o kodomo-tachi ni ataete,dakara watashi mo totemo tanoshiku seito-san-tachi to fureau suru koto ga dekimashita. Watashi wa totemo kodomo-tachi ga daisukidesu. Dakara kono-ki-kai de ippai asonde, shabette, seito-san-tachi kara no takusan no aisatsu to egao o kurete totemo yokattadesu. 
Ato saigo no nikagetsu no tsūkin de yatto jugyō o mi ni kita kyōiku-in-kai no daihyō ga, futsū wa 12gatsu made kuru ndesukeredomo, nande osoi na to kiite, komatte iru gaikoku hito no sensei ga ireba sugu Ni mi ni kimasu. Tashika ni watashi wa komatta koto wa arimasendeshita. Sore wa mawari no sensei no katagata ga takusan no shidō ya adobaisu o shite kuremashitakaradesu.
Nakayama sensei, tonari ni ite kurete arigatōgozaimashita. Jugyō ga sugu ni owatta nochi, nani ka ga okotta koto ni taishite Nakayama sensei ga anshin sa sete kuremashita. 
Hashimoto-san to kadota-san takusan ohanashi ga dekite sutekina jikandeshita. 
Kamie-shū sensei, watashi ni hanashikake tari tetsudatte kure tari shimashita. Totemo koko ni iru no wa yari yasui yō ni natte sensei no goshinsetsu to yūjō o kurete arigatōgozaimasu. 
Mitarai sensei to Kiya sensei to, You helped me to get closer with the students. I made a great connection with them. I have gained their trust and love. 
Soshite eigo-ka no sensei, Teachers, I am very impressed for your patience and dedication. No words can express the gratitude that I feel. Thank very much for all your help. I have enjoyed our fun lessons together. Sensei-tachi mo eigo de hanashite kurete, totemo rakuna shigoto o dekimashita. Watashi wa Ōsaka-ben o fuyōdeshita. Saikōdesu. 
Soshite suiyōbi ni itta tsui rei de seito-san-tachi no mae ni aisatsu ga dekite, jikan o kakete kyōtō sensei kōchō sensei arigatō go imashita. 
Kono gakkō de tottemo takusan no yoi omoide ga dekimashita. Kotobade wa iiarawasenai kurai, minasan ni aenaku naru koto ga samishiku narudeshou. Watashi wa subete no kata ni totemo kansha shite imasu. Watashi wa min'na-san ni seito-tachi ni yūki o atae tsudzukeru koto o nozomimasu. 
Miyayamadai School is the best. Arigatōgozaimashita.


English Subscript:

Good morning.
It is cold today. But I feel very warm in front of very warm teachers.
Not to me, but the kindness that you are giving to your students has been felt all the way through me. There were many times that some students forget their box lunch and approach the teacher's room, the homeroom teachers or other teachers would rather give their own box lunch. Or even go out to buy for them in spite of your busy schedule. Giving your students that kind of love, tenderness, and sincerity, means students are more important than yourselves. Because of that, I made a whole lot of fun-loving interactions with the students. I love these children. It was such a wonderful experience to have chatted and played with them. The warm smiles and greetings I got from them every time is something I will cherish forever.

It was almost a month left in my contract when finally, the representative from the Board of Education came to visit my class. I wonder why it took place at a later time when usually, the schedule was supposed to fall within the first three months of the probationary period. I asked why, and knew that they usually schedule to visit teachers at a later time if the performance of the teacher is going on smooth with the school and no reports of bad behaviors of the NS teachers themselves against any school staff and students. Well indeed, I didn't experience any problems. That is because of the teachers who were around me over the course of my stay who gave me gentle guidance and advice.


Nakayama Teacher, thank you for sitting next to my table here in the teacher's room. Whenever I fell short soon every time my class was over, you were there giving me assurance that all things is fine and the shortcomings that I'm dealing is just normal. You were very kind.


Hashimoto-san and Monta-san, thank you for the chats and laughs. It was such a nice time with both of you.


Kamieshu Teacher, you always find time to talk to me and helping me always. Staying here has been an easy task. It was a great pleasure to be able to experience your kind heart and friendship. 


Mitarai Teacher and Kitani Teacher, you helped me to get closer with the students. I made a great connection with them. I  have gained their trust and love.


To all the English Teachers, Yanai Teacher, Suganuma Teacher and Toyoura Teacher,

Teachers, I am very impressed with your kindness and dedication. No words can express the gratitude that I feel. Thank you very much for all your help. I have enjoyed our fun lessons together. 

Language hasn't been a barrier and communication was never a problem. Teachers had always spoken to me in English. I didn't even need to speak Osaka Japanese dialect that I know. You're simply the best!!!


The ample time that you gave me last Wednesday to be able to bid farewell and say words of thanks to all the students at the gym, Kocho teacher, and Kyoto Teacher, thank you so much.


I had so much great memories.


I will definitely miss everybody and it is something beyond words can explain. I am very grateful to all of you.


Please continue to give your loving support and courage to the students.


Miyayamadai School is the best.


Thank you all!



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