スミス英会話で働く講師の一員として、講師同士お互いのことをよく知っています。それぞれのスクールは離れた場所にありますが、スミス英会話のコミュニケーションツールを通して頻繁に連絡を取り合っています。私たちはスクール運営のためのアイディアや情報を交換し合い、お互いに助け合ったりアドバイスをしたりします。スミス英会話本部のスタッフも同じツールを使っています。本部のスタッフは私たちのコミュニケーションツール上での会話を全て読んでいて、必要な時にはサポートをしてくれます。何度か私もサポートをしてもらったことがあり；一番最近では英会話ブログサイトの技術的な問題があった時に対応してくれました。そして私たちスミス英会話のオーナー講師たちは年に数回顔を合わせてミーティングをします。普段は離れたスクールにいますが、密接な関係で私たち全員にとって上手く機能しています。

教室内でも、スミス英会話ならではの方法で、やりがいをもって働くことができます。私たち講師は全員教え方の違いがあったり、違う教材を使ったりすることもありますが、スミス英会話のカリキュラムも使います、特に初級者～中級者の生徒様にはこのカリキュラムが効果的だからです。スミス英会話の創立者、マーク・スミスは私たちオーナー講師を信頼して、私たちの方法でレッスンを作り生徒様に教えることを認めてくれています。そのため私たちは、生徒様の要望に合わせたレッスンを行うことが可能となり、生徒様との間にさらなる信頼関係を築くことができます。

Trust and Sustainability; Smith’s School of English, Sagamihara

As a group of teachers working with Smith’s School of English Japan, we all know a little bit about each other. Although we are spread throughout Japan, we remain close, by communicating through a private network of our own. We exchange ideas, information about how our schools are doing, offer help and advice to each other, etc. Smith’s School of English staff is also a part of our private network. They read everything we write and don’t hesitate to jump in and help us. They have responded to me several times; most recently concerning a technical issue I was having with our blog site. We also have in-person meetings two or three times a year. We are far apart, yet very close. It works well for all of us.

What we do in the classroom is also something I find unique and rewarding to working with Smith’s. We all have different styles of teaching, different materials, yet we all depend on Smith’s original curriculum from time to time, especially with lower to mid level students-   because it works well. Founder Mark Smith has full trust in us and encourages us to create lessons and teach them in our own way. So we are able to base our lessons on students' needs and desires, thus creating a second tier of trust between students and teachers.

Other companies that I have worked for (not “with” as in Smith’s) required a strict regimen of presentation and instruction, all based on a textbook. “Lesson steps” were required, as in “do this first, then this, this, this, and finish with this.” The students grew to expect the same format in every lesson, and I can tell you-  they were bored. So was I.

Students didn’t last long. Many quit. And to be honest, many teachers quit soon and went home to their respective countries. Why? One reason was that the company controlled everything. So “burn-out” happened quickly for students and teachers alike.

As a foreign-owned English school in Japan, that doesn’t happen at Smith’s. My colleagues are happy to stay in Japan and continue. Most of us have been doing this in Japan for over 15 years. Our students? There is plenty of longevity; most staying with us for multiple years. Speaking for myself, currently my longest continuing student is in her 16th year. There’s a reason for that. Teachers and students are very satisfied. Why would I ever leave a job like this? I can't answer that question.

I am always happy to see new teachers join our team, and new students walk in for a free trial lesson. Don’t be afraid to take the first step. My door is open here at Smith’s School of English Sagamihara!