Pauline Li Gaudefroy
Junlin Chu
Danna Yoon
This month, our precious Isogai sensei (Japanese teacher) has been elected as the Teacher of the Month, and for great reasons! She is known for teaching Japanese to new students who come to Saint Maur, and always manages to make every student whom she encounters smile. But there’s more to her than meets the eye! Throughout these 12 questions, we get to see who our Isogai sensei really is.
1. Where were you born?
Quite obviously, Isogai sensei was born in Japan. And not too far from Yokohama either! Her childhood involved beach related activities with her family and friends, and many other interesting things to do in Enoshima.
2. Do you have any siblings?
Isogai sensei has one older brother.
3. What was your childhood like?
Isogai sensei describes her childhood as “Tomboy.” She was the tomboy at her all-girls’ school, and she claims that she was influenced by her older brother.
4. What was your dream job as a kid?
Despite her entire family working in the education field, she wanted to pursue her future in the Arts. More specifically, in drama! But unfortunately, her efforts didn’t take her there. However, she still enjoys her job as a teacher, as it has also brought to different parts of the world. Her students would know that she has worked in San Diego, California with university to high school students.
5. What is your life motto and why?
“Enjoy your life.”
Most certainly, everyone can agree with this motto. Isogai sensei’s explanation for this interesting choice for a life motto is, “Life is short, so enjoy it while you can.”
6. What’s your favorite thing about your job?
She simply feels that this job is rewarding. Not because she earns money, but because she gets to see every student she teaches or has taught succeed in life and become something great. Now that’s a quality teacher to keep close!
7. What are your hobbies?
Her most recent is…drum roll please…playing the saxophone! She often plays with her friend whenever she gets the chance. Isogai sensei also prefers jazz over anything else if she has to play saxophone. Maybe this is her first step into pursuing the arts?
8. What’s your favorite food?
When it comes to food, it’s a very むずかしい muzukashii (difficult) decision for Isogai sensei. But her past influences her present and spicy food is always her first choice since she lived in San Diego near Mexico. She also loves sushi. I mean, who doesn’t?
9. Who’s your favorite teacher, or the teacher you’re closest with?
Isogai sensei stands closely to her life motto and believes that everyone is her friend. Therefore, she has no favorite teacher. Once again, a testament to her kind nature!
10. What is your favorite thing about Saint Maur?
Despite living in a big city with many foreigners, Saint Maur doesn’t have many students. Probably also because they’re only allowed a maximum of 500 students in total, which naturally makes Saint Maur a small school. Isogai sensei really likes this part of Saint Maur.
11. Do you have any advice for the Saint Maur students?
Her advice comes from a great adviser named Gandhi, who once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
12. Do you speak Spanish?
“¡Sí! Un poquito.”
Thank you Ms. Isogai for being a considerable help for so many students of Saint Maur. We all owe you a big thanks.
Pauline Li Gaudefroy, Chaemin Yoon, Junlin Chu