Have you ever read a book that helped you or changed how you see things? Today I want to share one of my experiences with you.
I was reading a book called “In Search of Lost Time” by Marcel Proust, a famous French writer. In this book, written in French, I found an interesting idea about being too polite. Here is what he wrote (translated into English):
Her one and only failure in true politeness was being too polite… She always saw her less important friends as people who might become upset when she doesn’t invite them to events. So she tries to be extra nice to them now, like putting money in a bank, so she can spend it later when she doesn’t invite them to her dinner or party.
This part of the book really made me think because I have seen similar behavior among teachers at my school, and it bothers me.
These teachers often wait outside the teachers’ room door, trying to let others go in first. The problem is that everyone wants to show respect to everyone else! So sometimes two teachers stand there, each trying to let the other go first, and they block the way for everyone.
I don’t like seeing this for two reasons:
First, these teachers seem to think they are so important that they deserve special respect even for small things like who goes through a door first. They seem to enjoy this little show of politeness.
Second, this politeness is not natural or necessary. Two people can easily go through a doorway at the same time!
I thought this strange behavior only happened with teachers, doctors, or important people. But one day, I was surprised to see the same thing at my local library. A man was leaving the building, but when he saw me coming, he stopped and waited for me to enter first. I wondered if I was making too much of this small thing.
After reading Proust’s words, I feel better about my feelings on this “too much politeness” for two reasons:
１. Proust gave me a new way to think about this kind of behavior.
２. I now know I’m not the only one who notices these things.
Isn’t reading wonderful? Books can give you new ideas when you least expect them. It might seem small, like just making a tiny hole in the wall of a closed room. But that small opening that lets in fresh air can make a big difference!
私立学校に英語教師として勤務中、40代半ばに差し掛かったころ、荒れたクラスを立て直す策として、生徒に公言して英検1級に挑戦することを思い立つ。同様の挑戦を繰り返し、退職までに英検一級（検定連合会長賞）、TOEIC満点、国連英検SA級、フランス語一級、スペイン語一級（文科大臣賞）、ドイツ語一級、放送大学大学院修士号などの成果を得る。
アメリカで生徒への対応法を学ぶ為に研修（地銀の助成金）。最新の心理学に触れた。4都県での全発表、勤務校での教員への研修を英語で行う。現在も特別選抜クラスの授業を全て英語で行っている。「どうやって単語を覚えればいいですか？」という良くある質問に答える為、印欧祖語からの派生に基づく「生徒には見せたくない語源英単語集」を執筆中。完成間近。常日頃洋書の読破で様々な思考にふれているが、そうして得た発想の一つを生かして書いた論文がコロナ対策論文として最近入賞。賞品の牛肉に舌鼓をうっている。元英検面接委員