The English Lounge is a place where students can 
use English naturally, discussing a myriad of topics 
and interests. With each day dedicated to a certain 
grade or level, all students can participate and 
become acclimated to conversational English 
appropriate to their abilities.
As a conversation partner, my goal is to increase 
students` ability in “spontaneous language”. I want 
students to be able to agree and disagree with 
others, talk about their feelings, talk about their 
personal experiences, describe people, places and 
things and be able to talk about problems and 
solutions. I am more concerned with what they have 
to say than with how they say it. By de-emphasizing 
grammar and encouraging them to make mistakes 
and learn from them, I hope that students will see 
that English is not “difficult”. It’s all about being positive 
about a new learning opportunity. 
On Saturdays, I really look forward to the English 
Lounge. On that day, the room is open to all grades 

My name is Saara Tuomisto and I live in Helsinki, Finland. I stayed in this school 

as an exchange student the first of September 2014. At first I did not speak very 
good Japanese and was a little bit worried if I would be able to make any friends. I 
soon came to realize how nice everyone in this school was and made many good 
friends who I will never forget. I also joined the volleyball club to keep myself busy.
  Japan and Finland are far away from each other and have very different cultures. 
During my stay in Japan, I experienced and learned many things. By studying and 
with the help of the people around me, I became able to communicate easily using 
only Japanese. I also think this exchange year helped me develop as a person. I 
am now much more outgoing and won’t be afraid of trying new things. I really 
came to love Japan and its people and its culture. I have made so many good 
friends and memories that I can happily say that Japan feels like a second home to 
me. I will never forget the time I spent here in Japan. 
  Thank you everyone! 

 Saara

The English Lounge

Foreign students’ life

Foreign students’ life

Foreign students’ life

and levels. We watch movies, play games and do 
different activities that all students can enjoy. I think 
our students are getting more confident in their 
English by the day as they realize how fun it can be.

 Sean Patterson

When I first came to this school I was shown the 
English Lounge.  With its bright, stimulating interior 
and spacious windows opening out to the school's 
picturesque courtyard, it is an ideal space for the 
exchange of ideas and relaxing conversation, 
whether the topic of the day is the changing seasons 
or the latest news and trends.  It is a place where 
students can meet, have lunch and practice their 
skills with native speakers as well as with each other.  
In the English Lounge, we at KGM hope that visitors 
can stretch their minds and imagine places and 
cultures both near and far, familiar and foreign.
While most classes are taught in a formal setting, the 
atmosphere in the English Lounge is one that aims to 

transport people to a zone of mutual respect, 
regardless of ability, age, grade, gender or 
nationality.  All that we ask is that when you open the 
door and decide to drop in, you make your best effort 
to communicate in English and be welcoming, 
gracious and understanding to the others - because 
you are always “Welcome!”

 Jamie Rumble