私と同年代の男性Kennethさんと世間話をしました。
塾を始めて10年、一番記憶に残っている生徒は誰かと聞かれ、72歳で英検準2級を勝ち取ったNさんのことを話しました。
Kenneth
So you founded an English school about 10 years ago, Toshi-san
Toshi
I think you’re putting it a bit exaggerated. It’s not a school in real terms.
It’s just a JUKU, as we call it.
Kenneth
Anyway, whatever it is, you are sharing your knowledge with your students, which is enough to call you a school founder.
Toshi
Oh, thank you for putting it that way.
Kenneth
You have taught many people, young and old, male and female for the past ten years.
Some of them are very unique and unforgettable, aren’t they?
Toshi
Yes, I can still remember those students.
Kenneth
I want to hear some anecdotes or interesting stories from your 10-year career.
Toshi
The first one that crosses my mind is a woman. She enrolled in my school at the age of 70.
Kenneth
Seventy?
Toshi
Yes. She was always telling me that she couldn’t get the higher education due to the postwar confusion and her family’s financial reasons.
Kenneth
Uh huh.
Toshi
She grew up, got married, had some kids and now she found some time for herself.
Kenneth
She wanted to do something that she had given up long time ago, correct?
Toshi
Exactly. She started to chase her dream of studying English.
Kenneth
How was her learning attitude? Did she work hard?
Toshi
Oh yes, she did. She was really self-disciplined enough to work her way up higher.
She even passed EIKEN (STEP) pre-second grade at 72. It’s very rare for a person her age to get to that level.
Kenneth
Well, age is just a number. It’s never too late to learn.
Thank you so much for the heart-warming story, Toshi-san.
Toshi
You’re welcome.