Giant Steps English

The autumn season is now truly ushered in 🍂
'Koromogae' complete (for the first time ever!) & boozy choccie firmly in hand-
courtesy of a student's mum who every year without fail welcomes in the season with these tasty treats 🙏🤩🎶

The stifling heat is gone, lets reenergize our studies. Let's English (!) ✨

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✨

N-n-n-n-Nineteen !

GIANT STEPS ENGLISH, KYOTO is proud to celebrate its 19th Anniversary today 🎊🎉🍾👏🏻🥳✨

Super thanks to all the lovely students (and staff) that have been part of our story over the years ✨

And a super special thank you to the handful of students that have been with us for the whole duration-there's LOYALTY for you! So heartwarming!💚

It's been & continues to be a wonderful cultural exchange where the art of conversation can flourish & the joy of language & culture can be celebrated for life enrichment ! ✨🎶

This exciting project is as much a window into Japan and its people for myself as it is for our cherished students to have a portal into the world of English. For this I am exceedingly grateful 🙏🏻✨🎶

Well, as the summer heat is subsiding, now is as good a time as ever to ditch those devices & come & enroll for some face-to-face English learning, whatever your goals.

Of course for busy people we also continue to offer online lessons, and our usual suite of English at all levels for general or professional purposes, hobbies or travel, kids, adults or exam classes of all types, private or small group.

A massive thanks again. Please book a free level-check via our Line page (see QR code below). Thanks for sharing ✨🙏🏻

Thank youuuuuuui!!!!!! 🙏🏻✨🙏🏻✨🙏🏻✨🙏🏻✨

Yummy rummy! Wonderful perks of the job. Thank youuuuuu! Autumn is definitely here now! Great lesson as always today guys. Many thanks! ✨🙏🏻

It’s time to study English! Giant Steps English Crazy Campaign! 🤪👀✨👍🏻✨

GSE CRAZY CAMPAIGN ! 🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪

Spring has come to GSE around Kiamachi Street🌸

Now is the time to start something new! ✨

We look forward to continued service to the local community & as always welcome new faces with a smile ✨

GSE would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas & a happy 2023! Thanks for everything! Lets keep going! 🌟🎄

Teacher’s fave! Autumn has officially arrived! Boozy choccies from my Saturday student’s mum. She never forgets. Food perks rock ! 🌟🍫🙏🏻