03/09/2025
GSE is 20 ! ✨🎂🎉🎊🍾🥳✨
When The British Council announced that it was to close its swanky premises in Karasuma well over 20 years ago there was some confusion & dismay. At that time I already had over 5 years English teaching under my belt.
Like the other schools I'd worked at, it was an enjoyable gig-2 years in total, but it did come as a surprise to all concerned. The operation in Japan was no longer financially viable. At the sayonara party I was swamped with students keen to keep going somehow.
At that time studying English at an 'eikaiwa' was all the rage & was really the only way to study effectively.
Little did I know at the time, that this misfortune was the beginnings of my setting up my own school Giant Steps English. I remember the excitement of finding my place at Nijo Kiamachi & being the new kid on the block seemingly inundated with new students.
20 happy years later & here I am today teaching, astonishingly some of the same students who joined 20 years ago! The loyalty you get in Japan is phenomenal & I shall be eternally grateful for them & all the students (and staff) who have come through the door over the years. Nothing but fond memories & it's still a joy to share one's language & culture in a relaxed, friendly two way exchange of conversation & learning.
Today, yes the landscape for learning almost anything is very different as many choose to study online or through their devices. The school is less busy, but I appreciate the balance in my life now-with my other work & activities-things change. Tonight I'll be teaching one of my newer students, and it's always nice to see a new face however infrequent.
My optimistic predictions say there'll be a trend for conversation schools once again-after all it's one of the few places where you can enjoy 'real' face-to-face conversation unmediated by technology (mostly!) and the lessons are still as enjoyable for me (& hopefully the students!) as they always were.
Anyway, I'd just like to say a big 'thanks' to the students, teachers, my wife - yes she certainly helped me get organised-& to everyone who has been involved or helped out in anyway whatsoever.
Cheers a million all! Big love from myself & GSE x✨
