スミス英会話相模原校の“Company”

“Sagamihara English school classroom has good company.”

これはどういう意味だと思いますか？スミス英会話相模原校が別の、良い“company (会社)”を持っているという意味にもなると思いますが、違います。スミス英会話は良い会社だと保証しますが、そういう意味でもありません。今日の相模原校英会話レッスン中に、これで混乱した場面がありました。

この生徒様はスミス英会話相模原校でマンツーマンレッスンを受けています。今日のお題は“Age (年齢)”についてで、“Do you enjoy the company and friendship of people who are not your age?”*と質問をしました。彼女は私を見て“What company? (どの会社？)”と言いました。私は彼女に何歳か聞くと（彼女は年齢を聞いても失礼だと取らないと分かっていたので聞きました）、44歳だと言ったので、私が「I’m64, 20years older than you. I always enjoy your company, even though you are 20 years younger than me. (私は64歳で君より20歳年上だね。君は私より20歳若いにもかかわらず、いつも君との時間を楽しんでいるよ。)」と言うと、彼女は理解しました。オックスフォードの英語辞典には“company：特に友情や楽しみをもたらすような形で、他の人や他の人々と一緒にいるという事実または状態”と載っています。私は今日“company”を“being with you (あなたといる)”という意味で使いました。

* Do you enjoy the company and friendship of people who are not your age?　=年齢の違う人との付き合いや友情を楽しめる？

Sagamihara English School Classroom Has Good Company!

“Sagamihara English school classroom has good company. What does that mean? I suppose it could mean an English school classroom in Sagamihara owns another company; a good company; but it doesn’t. I can assure anyone that Smith’s School of English Japan is a good company, but it doesn’t mean that either. Today (March 2025) I had a confused student.

She takes private English lessons here at Smith’s School of English Sagamihara. Our topic today was “Age,” and I posed the question “do you enjoy the company and friendship of people who are not your age?” She looked at me and said “what company?” I asked her how old she was (because I knew she wouldn’t be offended). She said “44.” Then I said “I’m 64, 20 years older than you. I always enjoy your company, even though you are 20 years younger than me.” She got it. Oxford dictionary defines company as “the fact or condition of being with another or others, especially in a way that provides friendship and enjoyment.” I defined it today as “being with you.”

Although she then understood “company,” she couldn’t provide an answer other than “my friends are of the same age so I don’t know”. Then I said “how old am I?” She said “64.” Then I said “do you remember the “English lesson” we had outside of this classroom at Kiwami Yakitori Restaurant (actually twice)? Were you in good company that evening?” THEN she really understood. Ine is a great English student at Smith’s Sagamihara and I, too, always enjoy her company, in and out of the classroom.

I always think about my English lessons at the end of the day. What English students came, what did we talk about, was it a successful English lesson, etc. The word “company” stuck with me today. It made me think about all of my English students. Do I enjoy their company? You bet I do. We have all ages here at Smith’s Sagamihara, currently ranging from 17 to 72! I love them all; am comfortable with everyone, so I can say they are all “good company.”

I’m reminded of one English class in particular that studies on Thursday evening. All of them decided to join Smith’s School of English Normal course; that is a fixed lesson- same time, same day, every week. Those three English students are the highlight of my week-  a high school teacher of Japanese language, a careworker, and an office worker. They connect so well and literally bring me to tears of laughter every week! I can see that they enjoy each others’ company, and so do I. How lucky I am to have a job like this!

I love to see new faces join Smith’s School of English Sagamihara. It’s a good company, a stress-free learning environment, and I know the “company” in this English classroom is always good! Free trial English lessons can be easily scheduled. Thanks for reading!

Jim