“My motivations for founding SES”
This is a recollection of my memories as a young student. I had plenty of free time back then, so I would often spend hours in the library reading science or math textbooks, various documents, fables and research papers in English. I was very much drawn to those books and literatures at that time, and I can still recall the excitement I felt reading each page.
Needless to say, Japanese scientific technologies are highly advanced in various fields, perhaps second to none compared to other countries. So naturally, most of us enjoy reading about Japanese scientific technologies in the Japanese language. But I do remember well that there were quite a lot of English articles about daredevil explorations and adventures of courageous westerners delving into the hinterlands or Polar Regions. I also remember having read many articles on scientific topics, and reports on scientific and technological civilization based on vast range of explorations and researches.
Reading such kinds of stories or listening to adventurous tales read out loud by someone in English often left a strong impression on me. I almost felt as if they were my own experiences. Reading non-fiction adventures or scientific documentaries in English often gives us huge impact, and readers often become strongly and deeply absorbed in the stories.
In other words, the adventurers’ experiences and voices can significantly affect the listeners or readers, imprinting those imageries and ideas within our hearts and brains, thus creating a great learning experience at the same time.
I myself am a keen reader of “National Geographic.” Somehow, regardless of the destination of the adventure or area of study, whether it is an adventure into the end of the universe, or a look into the inner part of the human body, I always found it more exciting if I was reading or listening in the original language, English.
In fact, Japan has been trying to learn from the western civilization ever since the Meiji Restoration period. No matter how advanced Japanese scientific technologies may be now, it’s been only 150 years since Japan opened itself to the rest of the world, and began learning from the world. Japan still has a long way to go before it can achieve enough accomplishments, depths, appeals, interests to be on the same level with the histories and people of the rest of the world. So, this is how we came about to launch our new SES “Science in English School.” We hope to provide young people with the opportunity to read myriad of intriguing scientific stories existing in today’s world, and share the enjoyment of math and science, especially in the English language.
The talented faculty of teachers is all wonderful story tellers, so you can look forward to enjoying this experience here at SES.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
The chief director of SES
Translated by the vice principal of SES
Email:okamura3@oksemi.co.jp
This is a recollection of my memories as a young student. I had plenty of free time back then, so I would often spend hours in the library reading science or math textbooks, various documents, fables and research papers in English. I was very much drawn to those books and literatures at that time, and I can still recall the excitement I felt reading each page.
Needless to say, Japanese scientific technologies are highly advanced in various fields, perhaps second to none compared to other countries. So naturally, most of us enjoy reading about Japanese scientific technologies in the Japanese language. But I do remember well that there were quite a lot of English articles about daredevil explorations and adventures of courageous westerners delving into the hinterlands or Polar Regions. I also remember having read many articles on scientific topics, and reports on scientific and technological civilization based on vast range of explorations and researches.
Reading such kinds of stories or listening to adventurous tales read out loud by someone in English often left a strong impression on me. I almost felt as if they were my own experiences. Reading non-fiction adventures or scientific documentaries in English often gives us huge impact, and readers often become strongly and deeply absorbed in the stories.
In other words, the adventurers’ experiences and voices can significantly affect the listeners or readers, imprinting those imageries and ideas within our hearts and brains, thus creating a great learning experience at the same time.
I myself am a keen reader of “National Geographic.” Somehow, regardless of the destination of the adventure or area of study, whether it is an adventure into the end of the universe, or a look into the inner part of the human body, I always found it more exciting if I was reading or listening in the original language, English.
In fact, Japan has been trying to learn from the western civilization ever since the Meiji Restoration period. No matter how advanced Japanese scientific technologies may be now, it’s been only 150 years since Japan opened itself to the rest of the world, and began learning from the world. Japan still has a long way to go before it can achieve enough accomplishments, depths, appeals, interests to be on the same level with the histories and people of the rest of the world. So, this is how we came about to launch our new SES “Science in English School.” We hope to provide young people with the opportunity to read myriad of intriguing scientific stories existing in today’s world, and share the enjoyment of math and science, especially in the English language.
The talented faculty of teachers is all wonderful story tellers, so you can look forward to enjoying this experience here at SES.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
The chief director of SES
Translated by the vice principal of SES
Email:okamura3@oksemi.co.jp
