PROFILE
Samantha Kennedy
From the ALT
Hello! My name is Samantha Kennedy and I am the ALT (assistant language teacher) at Mikata High-School. I am from the state of Pennsylvania in the United States of America.
What does the ALT do at Mikata High-School?
I teach about 16 oral communication classes a week at Mikata High School. My job is to get students to practice speaking and understanding English in a communicative manner so that if they have the opportunity to travel abroad or speak with English speakers, they will be able to exchange conversation in an effective manner. My job here also consists of including cultural understanding into my lessons in order to create an understanding of the differences and similarities between Japanese and American culture as well as different cultures around the world.
My classes consist of internal classroom oral communication activities as well as external activities and correspondence with schools in America. This year Mikata High School students have participated in a pen pal letter exchange with students at South Allegheny High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We have also done a culture exchange where Mikata High School students created a book about Japanese culture in English and we sent it to Dover Middle School in the state of Ohio and we received a book from Dover Middle School about American culture.
Anything else?
-I belong to the softball club at Mikata High School! I have had the opportunity to attend practices and games and assist in coaching the club.
-I also belong to the ESS (English Speaking Society) at Mikata High School that meets once a week to practice English conversation skills after school!
-I am working with the JRC Club in executing a service project to collect school supplies to send to students in Mali, Africa. We will be collecting school supplies until the end of May and then we will send them. The teachers in Mali will be sending pictures and letters from the students in Mali upon the reception of our gifts.
As a foreigner, what do you think about Mikata High School
Mikata High School is a special place. I have felt welcome by everyone here. The students at Mikata High School are wonderful. Even if they cannot speak English, the students try to speak with me and challenge themselves to work harder in order to communicate with me. The students always make sure that they say hi to me when they see me outside of school. It is a great feeling when I am in town or on the train and I see my students and they come up to me and talk to me. I feel very lucky to be the ALT at Mikata High School!
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