Sayonara to Chihiro Sensei 

For the past three weeks, Chihiro Sensei from Hyogo, Japan has been volunteering in the Languages Department. With a background in language education, Chihiro quickly built a meaningful rapport with our students. Her presence will be greatly missed by both our junior learners and especially the senior IB cohort. Chihiro is very grateful for the opportunity and has shared her reflections on her time with us.

‘I have really enjoyed assisting the Japanese classes at MLC School. I must first express how fortunate I feel to have been placed at such a wonderful school. From the moment I arrived, I was captivated by its beautiful, modern architecture, thoughtfully designed learning spaces, and delightful students.

I was especially lucky to connect so easily with the students. Sharing photos and fun facts about my hometown, Hyogo, I was touched by their genuine curiosity about Japanese culture and their enthusiasm for language learning. The juniors were especially enthusiastic, expressing excitement over even the simplest discoveries – like naming their favourite colours in Japanese. For those students near the end of their high school journey, the senior students, whose Japanese speaking proficiency was truly impressive, showed me that it is no doubt due to their diligence and passion for the language.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude. Every person I have encountered has been exceptionally kind and welcoming, for which I am deeply thankful. Special thanks to Collins Sensei and the Languages Department staff for their constant support, which made my experience truly rewarding.’
– Chihiro Ogawa

– Natasha Collins
Assistant Head of Department – Languages

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