BY Ayako KAGEYAMA

Ms. Mayumi Toyosato joined the faculty of Sapporo University as an instructor in April, this year. After she had graduated from Ryukyu University, which is located in Okinawa, the prefecture of her hometown, she went to the graduate school of Indiana University, Pennsylvania, to study abroad, where she was awarded a Doctorate of Literature. Her major is modern American Minority Novels by female writers. Now she teaches English Reading, seminar, introductions to English and American literature, etc. Half a year has passed since she arrived, and students adore her original class style and her natural cheerful character. I'm taking several of her classes, and now I have been drawn by her tempting class, which is of a kind I have never taken before.

At first, I questioned her frankly about why she had decided to become a teacher at a University. She replied with her own strong assertion. "In Junior high school and high school, we must follow guidance or adopt the methods of other teachers; for me, such rules are very cramping. So, a university, where I can decide the syllabus for each class or make tests by myself, gives me freedom, and is much better for me." I guess that this is related to the fact that she has studied abroad for over seven years, including a one year exchange program at Ryukyu University. Her original class style, as I said, may be influenced by American Education.

"I noticed over seven years that the most important thing is not your style of pronunciation, but to have your own opinion." she said. Actually her classes make a point of encouraging students' remarks, and I have sympathy for her style. Also, the texts she uses for classes are unique. In English reading II, which I am taking, she uses "The Glass Menagerie", a play written by Tennessee Williams. She said, "When I studied abroad, I took an acting class. This class mainly studied pronunciation and utterance and staged a play at the end of the semester. I learned from this class not only English dialect or way of speaking, but also what I'm lacking in my own English. It was a very good study. I've been thinking that I want to use this style in my class when I teach English in the future. So this time, I choose such material." The custom of ordinary reading classes in Japan is to read literary works and understand the meaning of words or dissect each character. However, her classes add the factor that is designed to improve our "Speaking English" skills. Her original style is likely to be the result of her experience of studying abroad for many years.

This spring, she moved from the south of Japan, Okinawa, to the north, Hokkaido. This is the first time for her to live in Hokkaido. Although she is puzzled by the nip in the air of Hokkaido, she seems to be looking forward to her life here, watching soccer games or challenging winter sports, and so on. I questioned her about her home prefecture, Okinawa. She replied jokingly. "Rightly, Okinawa has a great influence on me. I now think the reason why I am interested in the minority novel is because I have lived in a region which has a different culture from the rest of the country. I also think my easygoing character is because I was brought up in a broad-minded region." Okinawa has two cultures, those of Japan and America, for Okinawa has an American installation and a numerous Americans live there. Although we, who have not lived there, can not imagine those surroundings, I suppose such a situation would make supple and wonderful characters like her.

Besides, she said, "I want each student to become a person who can greet others. When they get a job in the future, it will be the most important thing. So when I call the roll, if someone doesn't raise his or her face, I call over and over until they notice. Also I want them to meet various people so as to become people who can find many interests. Each student is a University student, the same as you. If you feel someone is not your type, first of all try to talk to them without making a fine distinction!"

She said that the important thing is not just to utter words, but to greet others with feeling. Her comments made me realize afresh that the thing university students learn from teachers is not only study but much more. We will learn many things through meeting teachers or fellow students during four years of University life. Half a year has passed and she seems to live a full daily life, striving in her investigations and teaching vigorously. Ms. Toyosato is brimming over with youthful energy, and her enthusiasm from now on will know no bounds. We shall develop well if we can absorb from her a broad range of knowledge and a sophisticated attitude to life.