大学生との面会に感謝　　Thanks for the visit by a college student

先週、投稿で紹介した「英検１級資格者ネットワーク in 日本」（＊）の最年少メンバーで、現在は20歳、大学2回生のK.M.君が私を尾道に訪ねてくれました。

（＊）https://www.office-ktk.jp/%E8%8B%B1%E6%A4%9C%EF%BC%91%E7.../

彼は高校生時代に市の教育委員会の推薦で海外留学を経験し、英検準1級も取得し、高校生として数年前にネットワークに参加してくれまました。

今回、「全国社会教育研究大会広島大会」に全国最年少委員として出席した帰路に立ち寄ってくれました。

彼は国際バカロレア資格を含め英語教員資格取得を目指して大学で勉強する傍ら、市役所の生涯学習審議会で委員（社会教育委員）も務め、その資格で市を代表してこの大会に出席したとのことでした。

面会時間が限られていたこともあり、私は尾道の旧市街の対岸の向島の国立公園・高見山に車で彼を案内しながら一時間強、色々と有意義な話ができました。

学生であると同時に早い段階からより広く社会に積極的に視野を向けて活動している礼儀正しく前向きな好青年の彼の姿に私もエネルギーをもらいました。

Mr. K.M., the youngest member of the " STEP 1st Graders' (& Equiv.) Network (E1N) in Japan" (*), which I introduced in my post last week, is now 20 years old and a second-year university student, visited me in Onomichi.

He had studied abroad when he was a high school student on the recommendation of his city's board of education and had passed the English Proficiency Test (EIKEN) Pre Level 1.

This time, he stopped by at Onomichi on his way home from attending the "National Social Education Research Convention in Hiroshima" as the youngest committee member in Japan.

He has now been studying for his English teaching certification, including the International Baccalaureate, at university and also serving as a member of the Lifelong Learning Council of his city (Social Education Committee).

He attended this convention on behalf of the city in that capacity.

Since our meeting time was limited, I showed him to Mt. Takami, a national park on Mukojima Island, on the other side of the old city of Onomichi, and we had a meaningful conversation for a little over an hour including the driving time.

I have been energized by his polite and positive attitude as a student who, from the early stages of his life, has been actively engaged in society at large.