A farewell speech


(Just because it's fun to remember...and because I got so much help from my friends, I might as well post it here in case it can help someone someday.)

The teachers and students were super surprised and super excited that I spoke so much Japanese in my speech. Obviously I didn't write all, or even most, of the Japanese in this speech, but the students and teachers appreciated the gesture so much that I am really glad I just asked for help from as many Japanese-studying/speaking friends as I could. 

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Mina-san, konnichiwa/ohaiyogozaimasu. Good morningeveryone!  

I have been in Japan and teaching at Ikakita (my school's nickname) for one year, and it has been very enjoyable. Ima made watashi wa ichi-nen-kan Nihon ni ite, Ikakita de oshiete imashita, taihen tanoshikatta desu. It's a shame that I have to leaveIkakita. Ikakita o sarukoto ni nari, zannen desu.

Kocho-sensei, Kyoto-sensei…o-sewa-ninarimashita. Thank you for takingcare of me during this past year.

Komattakoto-gaaru-to, X-sensei-wa itsumo tasukete kuremashita. X-sensei, thank you for being my supervisor andhelping me when I had a problem.

Sensei-tachi-wairoiro-nakoto-o oshiete kuremashita. Tokuni eigo no sensei ni arigatou to iitai desu. The teachers at this school taught me many things. Iespecially want to thank the English teachers. I hope to become a good teacher like you someday.

Minasan… itsumo yasashiku shite kurete, arigatou gozaimashita. Thank you everyone for being kind to me. Thank you for welcoming me to your wonderful school.

I learned many things during this past year, and I hope that the students have enjoyed my lessons, and hopefully learned a little. Kono aida ni takusan naraimashita. Seito wawatashi no jugyoo o tanoshinde, tabun sukoshi wa ete kureta to omoimasu.

1-nensei, 2-nensei…minasan-to isshoni eigo o benkyou surukoto gadekite shiawasedeshita. To the ichinensei and ninensei, I was happy that I was able to study English with all of you.

1-nensei…call me maybe to iu uta wo kiitara, itsumo 1-nensei wo omoidashimasu. Ichinensei, I will always remember the ichinensei when I hear the song Call Me Maybe. 

Subarashi eiga wo tskuta 3-nensei OC Class no seito-tachi wo hajime, minasan wo hokori ni omoimasu. (I am especially proud of the students in 3-nensei OC class who made great movies, and I am proud of all my students.)

From now on, please study English hard. Korekara, eigo no benkyou wo ganbatte kudasai.

Minasan wa mamonaku otana ni narimasu. Ji bun no kokoro no koe oyoku kitte, ji bun no yume o kanaete kudasai. As you grow up, please listen to your heart and follow yourdreams.

Koko-wa watashi-ni totte tokubetsu-na gakkou desu. (For me, this is aspecial school.)Kono gakkou-no koto-wa wasuremasen. (I won’t forget this school.) Minasan-no koto-gako ishi kunarimasu. (I will miss you all.)

 Let’s meet again somewhere sometime! Please visit me in California. Mata itsuka dokoka de aimashou. Minasan, o-sewa-ni narimashita. Arigatougozaimasu.

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Being able to communicate with my students was one of my biggest shortfalls as an ALT. Limited Japanese and limited exposure time with the students, I tried as best I could. This speech gave me a small taste of what it would have been like if I could talk to the students freely and they could understand how highly I thought of them and how much I loved being their teacher...and let me say that it was such a bittersweet taste. I loved it, loved how many compliments I received from the teachers, my students, students that never got to have my class...but how I wish it could have been more. 


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