An Interview with Ms. Kathleen De Silva Grade 2 Teacher 30 March 2016

Another of Aoba’s great teachers’ is part of the elementary school department. Ms. de Silva is a
Grade 2 teacher who plays a big part in the educational development and care of our young learners. She takes a lot pride in what she does in and out of the classroom with her students. When she accepted the invitation to be interviewed I was excited.

Where are you from?
I’m from Malaysia, from a small part of the population called Eurasians. My mother tongue is English and because Malaysia is a multi-racial country, I also speak Malay and Chinese. I learnt to speak and write Japanese when I came to Japan.

How long have you been at Aoba?
I’ve been at Aoba since 2008. I started out at Meguro as a K-4 teacher for 2 years.

How long have you been teaching for?
I have been teaching for 16 years.

What do you enjoy about teaching the most?
I really enjoy the interaction with my students. We are constantly learning from each other.  I feel very happy to know that I’ve taken part in shaping their future.

What are your hobbies and how do they influence your work?
My hobbies are art and snowboarding. I took up snowboarding 4 years ago, and it has helped me develop a growth mindset type of thinking. When I come across a challenge, I think about what I’m doing wrong and how to overcome it. I try to teach my students this principle.

Can you give a quote?
Helping the students to grow to their potential begins with the teacher being able to see their potential.