Testimonials

Hi there, I’m fairly new to Smith’s School of English. I chose Smith’s because it is a highly flexible school that met and adapted to my current needs, which were to accommodate my hectic schedule, and provide a positive working environment while refraining from overburdening myself with stress.

When I first started here, I was totally taken aback by the friendly and personal atmosphere that greeted me. Although there are plenty of English conversation schools in Japan, I believe firmly that Smith’s is unique in that it concentrates on the human aspect of coach-student relationships. The teaching process doesn’t begin or end with every lesson. In fact, as soon as the student walks through the doorway, he or she is met with kindness, open conversation, and a warm cup of coffee or tea. As for when it ends, there aren’t any restrictions written in stone. The coach is free to converse and associate with the student whether they’re inside the building or outside enjoying a drink and chat together. Smith’s students themselves are probably a reflection of the encouraging and supportive atmosphere that is provided here. Not only are the students very eager to learn English, they are also extremely positive, friendly and feel comfortable discussing just about any topic with the coaches and their peers. On a rather interpretive level, I would go as far to say that the relationships here are much like that of a family. What better place is there to thrive and grow than in the company of people whom you consider to be that close?

One thing that I wholeheartedly appreciated about Smith’s was their ability to adapt to my lifestyle. There are many projects that I am pursuing, which make it difficult to work a fixed 5-day work week with regular hours. Smith’s understood my situation and offered me a schedule that wouldn’t interfere with the activities that I am already involved in, simultaneously meeting my needs in terms of employment. As unavoidable circumstances or events arise, Smith’s allows their employees – without question – to take days off for trips, returning home for the holidays, or in the unfortunate event that the flu shot didn’t work quite as effectively as one would have hoped. Roughly thirty-four calendar holidays a year, including 2 weeks vacation time for Christmas and New Year’s allows me to relax without the anxiety of worrying over having to request for it myself and possibly having that request rejected.

The teachers and staff are the people who are responsible for maintaining the positive atmosphere within Smith’s. Variety is said to be the nectar of life and this has thus far been reflected through the teachers and staff at Smith’s. The teachers come from all walks of life, different countries with different experiences – both personal and professional – as well as a pretty wide age range. When not teaching, the teachers are able to enjoy conversing with each other while learning from the unique backgrounds of their peers. This of course provides a refreshing moment of entertainment before work, between breaks, or afterwards. The Japanese office staff members help to keep the environment comfortable not only for the students but for the teachers as well by providing all manner of administrative service from student counseling to scheduling to translation and interpretation to advertising and general support. They are wonderful at working behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly while interacting whenever possible.

All in all, I am very happy to be a part of such a dynamical work environment, unlike any other. Not only am I teaching, but I am also learning and for me, knowledge is the thing that drives every human being to better himself/herself. Therefore, I would highly recommend Smith’s to any student wishing to learn English, or any teacher that would be interested in this kind of friendly environment.

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