I received the test results for Level 3 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test from the Kudamatsu Board of Education today. I was quite nervous as I opened the envelope.
“Open it! Open it! Quick, open it! I want to know the results!,” my wife said.
“Ok, let’s see what it says,” I replied, looking at the envelope.
So, I opened it and the first thing I read was “Passed.”
My wife and I immediately embraced.
I really could not believe the results!
I honestly imagined the results to have been “Not Passed.” It was last December I first took this exam, and I failed it quite miserably. However, after that exam, I studied as hard as I possibly could each day to be able to pass it during round two, and no matter how difficult it got, I never gave up on myself.
I believe the next challenge will be Level 2. The next level looks like quite the jump, however if I just keep practicing and studying, I believe I can do it.
I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone for believing in me and offering me lots of support as I continue my Japanese studies.
Kyle Undem, ALT, appointed the honour of cultural ambassador in Hawaii
Kyle Undem (31, Canada), a Junior High School Assistant Language Teacher in Kudamatsu City has been appointed with the duty and honour of cultural ambassador for the city of Kudamatsu for a three-year term.
Undem has worked for the City of Kudamatsu since August of 2010 and today, August 1, is his official departure from office.
Hereafter, he will move to Hawaii and be married to his fiancé, who resides on the island of Oahu.
On this day at Kudamatsu City Hall, Undem participated in a swearing-in ceremony where Mayor Igawa presented him with a written request of ambassadorial duties.
“It is my wish for you to present to the people of Hawaii that Kudamatsu is a city of laughter, flowers, and children’s stories. If you have a chance, please visit Kudamatsu again,” the Mayor requested.
Undem said, “Kudamatsu is an extremely easy city to live in, and is filled with nothing but good people. I want to tell people in Hawaii just how amazing this place has been to me.”
The outcome of this international exchange falls upon the initiative of the person appointed to this role.
Undem met in front of 12 people representing the city of Kudamatsu. During his three-year term as cultural ambassador for Kudamatsu, Kyle plans to distribute pamphlets about Kudamatsu at his new workplace and to various people throughout his new home. He will also continue to exchange the cultures of Japan and the West.
Thank you so much for holding a farewell party for me. I had a lot of fun and the food was incredibly delicious. Also, thank you so much for teaching me so many things during these two years. Teaching together with all of you is a great memory that I will never forget. All of you teach with great passion every day, which has really influenced me. And because of you, I feel like now I want to try and become a teacher sometime down the road. Perhaps I will study to become a Japanese teacher at Hawaii University. No matter what, I will give it my all.
I will never forget you guys. We must meet up in Hawaii, and let’s please exchange many emails. I’d like to send you some photos of our wedding ceremony as well.
Please tell all the students we taught to continue to study and be well!
This is my farewell speech at Kudamatsu Junior High School. Below the video is the Japanese transcript and English translation of the speech. Thank you for watching and listening!
Hello, everyone! I am very happy that you have all gathered here for me today.
It is extremely sad to have to say goodbye to everyone at this school. But, I will do my best.
On August 2nd, my 2-year term in Japan will come to an end and I will move to the United States.
I cannot believe it! These two years have gone by in a flash. I first came to Kudamatsu two summers ago, and on my way here from Ube Airport, my first impression was that Yamaguchi truly is a beautiful place, but man was it unbelievably hot! At that time, I knew absolutely no Yamaguchi dialect, but now I can speak a little, I think.
During these two years, I have had many wonderful experiences. I have been able to travel all over Japan, to places like Yakushima, and Hokkaido, to name a few. Also, in this very prefecture, I was able to meet the love of my life. We will be married next month in Hawaii, and begin our new lives together there.
On top of all that, I have had the pleasure of teaching you English, which has made me ever-so happy.
Before I came to Japan, I had very little idea of how to teach, or what teaching would be like. However, now, thanks to everyone here, I have been able to become a confident teacher. Thank you very, very much! I am forever grateful for that.
To all the students: I want to thank you for smiling and laughing with me every day, for studying with great enthusiasm, for talking with me in the hallways, and for eating school lunch with me. Thanks to you, these two years have been so very fun. Also, I have learned a lot from you. My hope is that I have been able to teach many things about English. If this has been the case, I am very happy.
Please continue your studies of English. I understand that foreign languages are very, very difficult, however if you study earnestly every day, you will be able to improve your communication skills and speak with many foreign people from all over the world, so just give it your all! And, no matter how difficult it gets, please never give up!
To my fellow teachers: I want to thank you for always offering assistance when I have needed help. Thanks to all of you, I have been able to experience a very welcoming work environment, and I am very grateful to you for that. Thank you.
Someday, my fiancé and I will return to Kudamatsu, and I am already looking forward to it. Also, if you ever end up in Hawaii, by all means, let’s meet. Anytime is a-ok!
I will never forget these two years. One more time, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. So, instead of saying “goodbye,” I will simply say “See ya later.” Thank you.
今日は下松教育委員会から、私の日本語能力試験の三級の結果をもらいました。封筒を開けながら、とってもドキドキしていた。
