JET Tales: stories from rural Japan
This website is a record of my experiences in the JET Programme as an AET (Assistant English
Teacher) in two Japanese public high schools.
Public Speaking
The first two months of the JET experience seem to consist of giving lots of
speeches before large crowds of people who may or may not understand more than five of the words
that fall out of your well-meaning mouth. And in several cases, it may be delicately suggested that
a few of your speeches be in whatever form of Japanese you can muster. This includes introductions
to the student body at your school, introductions to the teaching staff/English teachers, and general
(repeated) introductions at welcome parties held in your honor. Before you quiver with stage-fright,
read on.
This is the speech which I assembled soon after my arrival. It comes from various sources, most
of which I've forgotten and one of which is noted below. Takaya-sensei and Nakajima-sensei
helped me clean up the grammar and tweak it here and there. Feel free to copy and adjust it for
your own use.
School Introduction Speech
Hajimemashite. Watashi wa Kaui MacDonald to moushimasu, Kaui to yonde kudasai.
- Pleased to meet you. My name is Kaui MacDonald, please call me Kaui.
Nijusan sai desu.
*Amerika no Louisiana kara kimashita. Louisiana-shu no New
Orleans-shi sunde imashita. Louisiana wa Amerika no minami no
ho desu.
- I came from Louisiana in America. I lived in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Louisiana is in the southern part of America.
*Nihon wa hajimete desu. Watashi wa hachigatsu ni Nihon ni kimashita. Koko o, sukkari
tanoshinde imasu. Kyoto-fu wa, totemo kirei da to omoimasu.
- This is my first time in Japan. I came to Japan in August. I've really been
enjoying it here. I think Kyoto Prefecture is very beautiful.
Minna-san atatakaku mukaete kidasatte kansha shite imasu. Sonobe koukou ni
korarete ureshi desu.
- Thank you all for making me feel so welcome. I am happy to be at Sonobe
High School.
*Watashi no shumi wa ongaku to bungaku desu ga, Nihon no taiko ni
kyomi ga arimasu. Sorekara shodo ga suki desu kara, shite mitai desu.
- My hobbies are music and literature, and I am also interested in
Japanese drumming while here in Japan. Also, as I like calligraphy, I'd like
to try it.
Nihongo ga mada dekimasen. Minna-san oshiete kudasai. Soshite anata wa eigo no benkyo o
gambatte kudasai. Itsudemo dokodemo koe o kakete kudasai.
- I cannot speak Japanese yet, so everyone please teach me. And you, please do
your best at studying English. Please talk to me anytime, anywhere.
Tanoshikunaru-koto o nozomimasu.
*Mina-sama to issho ni oshigoto ga dekiru koto o koei ni omoimasu. Oku no katagata to
oshiriai ni nareru koto o tanoshimi ni shite o orimasu. Dozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
- I am proud to be working with all of you and I look forward to meeting as many
of you as I can. I hope that our relationship will be a happy one. Thank you.
*Adapted/copied from the JET Diary, which is handed out on arrival in Tokyo.
Home
| JET
| Journal
| Pics
| Links
| Lagniappe
|