Q.1 What is the work you are responsible for and what do you find rewarding about it?
Working in an IT field that shapes the future while watching children develop
I work at Sakulabo, a programming school for elementary school–aged children and older. My responsibilities are wide-ranging, from teaching classes and developing teaching materials to handling publicity and administrative work needed to operate the school. It has been about three years since I joined, and during that time I have participated in many projects, including special visiting lessons at elementary schools, online events, and support for opening events at new locations. What I find most rewarding is being able to witness the children’s growth firsthand. In everyday lessons, children often discover the “fun” of IT in ways adults who are used to technology might overlook. I feel this is one of the unique pleasures of a programming school whose goal is to “cultivate the ability to create new things with IT and shape the future.”
Q.2 What are you aware of in your work?
Lessons that engage children begin with us enjoying them ourselves
The most important thing is that children enjoy learning. I believe programming becomes truly meaningful when children naturally feel, “This is fun!” To achieve that, I focus on whether we, the people designing the lessons, are genuinely enjoying them. When we sincerely think "this is interesting," that enthusiasm naturally comes through in our teaching, and the children pick up on it. Especially when work becomes busy, I remind myself to maintain this mindset of enjoying the process. In the classroom, I try to interact with each student individually and provide lessons that make them feel, “I’m glad I came to Sakulabo.” I was especially happy when a parent told me, “My child didn’t stick with other activities, but they always want to come to Sakulabo because it’s fun.” In a learning environment for children, there is rarely just one correct answer. This is particularly true in programming, where rapid technological change means the best solution evolves over time. That is why continual trial and error in lesson design is essential. I always consider what I can do now to help create a better future for the children learning here, and I approach my work with that in mind.
Q.3 Please tell us about the growth you have experienced through this job and your goals for the future.
Developing the ability to tailor communication to each student through lessons
Above all, I feel I have grown in my communication skills. At Sakulabo, classes are not divided strictly by school grade as they are in ordinary schools. Instead, lessons are matched to each student’s level, so a single class may include children from the lower elementary grades through junior high school. Even when using the same materials, the way I explain things must change depending on the student. Compared with when I first joined, my ability to adapt my communication style to each learner has improved greatly. Additionally, through the many projects I have participated in, I also feel that my planning ability and initiative have developed significantly. At first I was unsure how to approach the tasks I was given, but by fully committing myself to the work, I eventually realized how much I had grown. My next goal is to develop from a business perspective as well. As someone who creates lessons, my first priority is always the children. However, to see my work as part of a larger organization, I need to adopt a mindset that balances providing value to students with sustaining the company’s operations. I hope to build on the experience I have gained so far and continue to take on greater responsibilities.
