交換留学生として、アメリカで過ごした戸梶潤子さんが、２学期から１年ぶりに登校しました。

始業式での報告をご紹介します。

Hello!! I am Junko Tokaji. I am a freshmen in high school.
こんにちは、戸梶潤子です。今年で高校１年生になります。

I studied in America from last August until the end of June.
去年の８月から今年の６月末まで、カリフォルニアのサリナスで学んでいました。

During my stay in the US, I had difficult times but it was worth
the great experience.
留学中は大変な時期もありましたが、たくさんの経験を得ることができました。

I went to Salinas high school there.
向こうでは、サリナス高校に通っていました。

I participated in drama class, and played the xylophone at parades
and in Disneyland.
演劇のクラスでは舞台に出たり、バンドのクラスでは、町のフェスティバルやディズニーランドのショーに出たりもしました。

Every experience was a first for me. It was so much fun.
それらの経験はわたしにとって始めてでした。とても楽しかったです。

The memory I will always remember is my trip to Hawaii.
留学の中で一番印象的なものは、ハワイに行ったことです。

About 50 of us exchange students went on a one week trip to Hawaii.
約５０人の留学生と一緒に１週間、ハワイを巡りました。

Every day we swam in the sea. We went to Aloha Towers,
Waimanalo Beach and Diamond Head.
毎日、海に入り、アロハタワーやワイマナロビーチ、ダイアモンドヘッドにも行きました。

And I also went surfing.
そしてサーフィンもしました。

I was getting along with so many exchange students.
This brings back lots of memories.
たくさんの留学生と仲良くなり、本当に楽しい思い出がつまっています。

Of couse, I learned English, and also a new culture and several
other skills.
留学では英語はもちろん、人との関わり方や文化の違いを学びました。

I had a hard time getting used to it.
最初はとても苦労しました。

I went through rough times too, how to deal with my host family,
or not being able to make friends at school.
ホストファミリーとの接し方や、学校でもなかなか友達ができず辛い日々もありました。

But I changed that situation by forming my own opinions,
self esteem, and staying positive.
でもしっかり自分の意見を持ち、自分をアピールし、積極的に動くことで周りも変わってきました。

So from this experience, I want to be a bridge between Japan and
foreign countries.
その経験から、将来は国と国をつなぐ架け橋のような存在になりたいです。

I was an aware that I was not good at English.
私は英語にとても苦手意識を持っていました。

But I thought it was necessary for me to have a challenge and not be
afraid of failing.
しかし私は、挑戦し間違いを恐れないことが必要だと思いました。

That's why now I like to speak English.
今は英語を話すことが好きになりました。

I will make use of this experience, I want to draw from this experience
and do my best.
私はこの経験を生かして、一生懸命やっていくつもりです。

I would like to tell people what I learned from America.
アメリカから学んだことを、人々に伝えたいと思っています。

Thank you for listening.
ありがとうございました。

I went to Osaka with the ESS club members in Spring break, because we had an English camp.

The first day, we went to OEV (Osaka English Village). It looked like the USA there!! We tried our hand at the broadway musical, "You are the Dancing Queen". We also learned how to visit a restaurant and buy clothes. Moreover, we went to Hollywood!! I became an actor. It was difficult for us to speak English, but we enjoyed American life. I felt as if I were in a foreign country.

The second day, we went to a folk museum. We learned about various cultures such as Southeast Asia, Europe and South Africa. I felt as if I were in a foreign country again.

These experiences are very good memories for me.
Someday I want to go to a real foreign country!!

Mitani Maiko

Hi!

My name is Evan Coombes and I am an Assistant Language Teacher, or ALT, at Tosa Joshi. I am fairly new at Tosa Joshi, so let me introduce myself.

I was born in Brisbane City in Australia and have lived in Kochi for the past 20 years. I have been teaching English for most of that time, but during my first year here I was studying Japanese language at Kochi University. Yes, I'm also a language student!! Learning a foreign language is a great way to broaden your experiences and knowledge. And it is very rewarding (and fun!) to be able to express yourself in another language.

In my free time, I enjoy sports such as running, swimming and cycling, and often take part in local events.

I look forward to meeting you!

Yesterday all of the sports clubs cleaned in the gym.
This is the second time I helped cleaning the gym,
but every other week we all have to clean somewhere in the school
after all the classes are over.
When I first came to school here in Japan, this surprised me.
In America, none of the students help clean the school.
We have janitors who are paid to clean.
Even though sometimes it can be a pain,
I think helping to clean gives the students a sense of unity and also
a feeling of giving back to the school.
At my school in California, teachers world never be able to get all,
or even most, of the students to help out around the school.
I think it's very remarkable that schools here are able to do that.

Caitlin Murphy

Last Saturday and Sunday, there were entrance examinations at Tosajoshi junior high school.
It reminds me of when I took the entrance examination.
Students taking the examination must have been so nervous, of course I was, too.
But, I think you can have a lot of memories and make best friends after entering Tosajoshi.
We're looking foward to meeting the new students!
Let's enjoy Tosajoshi.
See you in April!

Mana Inoue