In an ongoing series at the end of the school year PantherNation sat down Mr. Soule who is leaving ISB this year.

In what occasions would you be most proud of students?

The two things that stand out the most for me and the best thing about teaching at ISB are that we see so many opportunities to be proud of our students. One of them is students’ determination, in particular when students struggle but remain determined; that is something that shows success better than any grade. Second thing I am really proud of is the active kindness between students.  One of the things I love to hear is when students tutor their classmates after school or give them some advice to explain something they may have missed in class. This is especially so when new students arrive at ISB and are immediately welcomed into the class routine.

What do you do as a teacher to keep the class engaged and involved?

Well, it’s certainly not possible to assume that all the time that every student will be at the edge of his or her seat. There are times when the teacher needs to give direct instructions and keep the class on task. On the other hand, I try to use a sense of humour try to throw in some jokes here and there to keep it light and engaging.  Sometimes I introduce a controversial topic and let the students debate in order to develop and arrive at their own opinions.   When we have a group activity, I enjoy walking around and listening to students share their ideas and sometimes provide my opinions and questions.

Tell us a little bit about what you plan on doing after you move to the United States?

I will be spending a lot of time with my family in the United States and Ms. Soule’s family.  We hope to make a lot of memories with our children as they grow to know their family and their country better. We hope to continue teaching in U.S. schools, take some classes online, and hopefully travel.

Hope you have a fantastic time, thank you for all the endless support you have given to students.  We will miss you so much!

Haruto Tanaka