The Opening

By Karina Seaton, ALT, Mie-ken, 2005-2007

Unless you’re an ex-JET – or a Japanese teacher or student – chances are, you’ve never been to an official opening ceremony at a Japanese high school. If you’re lucky enough to simply observe, you may find it a relaxing way to glimpse a bit of Japanese culture. That is, unless you have to give a speech – in Japanese, which, as the new ALT in Mie-ken, is exactly what was of expected of me when I started the JET Program in the summer of 2005.

I’ve always been one who likes to be on stage, perhaps reading poetry or dancing, but the thought of speaking in Japanese – in front of a crowd, no less, tends to damper my stage-loving fire.

You see, I gave a speech one other time – in Japanese – at the Japanese Consulate in San Francisco. I remember seeing on the faces of my two Japanese teachers that it was going well, when a man’s voice started blaring through the PA system, announcing fire procedures in Japanese. I lost my concentration and had to read what was left of my speech. This was a speech in front of maybe 100 people, few of whom I’d be seeing in the future – I really didn’t have much to lose. But my speech at Kawagoe High School would be in front of 1,000 students and all of my colleagues whom I’d be seeing every work day – for the next year, at least!

When the opening ceremony arrived, I stepped on the platform to give my introductory speech. I heard ripples of whispers run through the crowd. Students were probably talking about my very un-Japanese bright pink suit (many told me later they thought was cool). I spoke about being born in Venezuela, speaking Spanish and my nicknames. Everyone watched attentively, amazed that their new ALT could actually speak Japanese.

I walked off the stage, facing a sea of approving smiles from my new colleagues. Some of the students rushed at me, excited to have a new ALT. Two students spoke Spanish because they’d lived abroad. And after the whole ceremony was over, one of the teachers actually approached me and told me it was the best speech he had ever seen an ALT give. I felt a short-lived rush of triumph – the opening ceremony was just the start of my upcoming adventure in Japan.


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