SRF-JRMC Graduates 25 Apprentices From English Proficiency Class
Story and photo by Keiichi Adachi, CFAY Public Affairs



(Center) SRF-JRMC Commanding Officer Capt. Steven Stancy and 25 apprentice students get together for a group photo after completion of the apprentice English graduation ceremony. 訓練生語学訓練の卒業式終了後、SRF-JRMC司令官スティーブン・スタンシー大佐（中）と25人の訓練生が集合写真に納まる。

The U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center (SRF-JRMC) Yokosuka held a graduation ceremony June 28 for 25 members of the Apprentice Program who had graduated from the SRF Basic English language course.

The ceremony included introductions of key language program personnel, speeches and brief presentations, all of which were conducted in English, by the graduating students.

The 25 students displayed their English language skills for an audience consisting of SRF-JRMC Commanding Officer Capt. Steven Stancy, Deputy Commander Cmdr. Bill Manders, Production Officer Cmdr. Garrett Farman, other SRF-JRMC leaders and the students’ supervisors and coworkers, all of whom came to celebrate their graduation after 10 months of training.

Helen McDaniel, the head of SRF-JRMC Language Training Division and an employee of the Defense Language Institute located at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, has been teaching English as a second language since 1976 and has been working at SRF-JRMC since October 2009.

McDaniel stated during her speech that effective communication is vital to accomplishing the SRF-JRMC mission to “Keep the 7th Fleet Operationally Ready,” and that for the Japanese apprentices, that ability to successfully communicate begins in their first year with intensive English language training. They follow a rigorous schedule and must perform at the highest level possible.

“I am privileged to oversee a teaching staff that is dedicated to seeing our trade development students become as proficient in English as possible,” said McDaniel. “They’re a hard-working team, diligently planning lessons, creating interactive activities and sometimes, going the extra distance by working after hours to provide extra help for those students in need of a little additional assistance.”

In 1984, SRF-JRMC studied the possibility of establishing a language program for its employees. Surveys were conducted and it was determined such a program was needed. Soon afterward in 1985, the English Language Training Program was established.

According to McDaniel, the English program is an essential component of SRF-JRMC and it supports one of the principles to communicate and enhance our bilingual capability and that it has the potential to grow in the next several years, providing opportunities for more students to enroll in the program.

“The Japanese students seem highly motivated and eager to practice their new skills,”said McDaniel. After the students’ presentations, Stancy helped present diplomas to students and delivered his congratulatory remarks. According to Stancy, the students had all worked very hard to complete the intensive training course and they should be very proud of their special accomplishment. Stancy also stated that completing the program marks a very important milestone in an apprentice’s training and that he hoped that the students would continue to study and improve their English communications abilities at SRF-JRMC.

“Good communications is such a vital part of our work everyday, in interacting with our fleet customers and fellow SRF-JRMC employees,” said Stancy. “It is important in meeting our mission to ‘Keep the 7th Fleet Operationally Ready.’
 
So don’t stop learning, work to improve communication and continue to do your best every day!” One of the graduates said,

“I repeatedly listened to a CD that contains short sentences for improving my listening comprehension and then studied English grammar from scratch. Being able to communicate well among shops, codes and shipboard personnel is very important to accomplishing my job.”

According to McDaniel, it has been an honor to work with such a skilled group of teachers and has been all the more fortunate to have witnessed the growth in language development of these fine young men of the SRF-JRMC Apprentice Program. “I see not only past accomplishments but also future opportunities,” said McDaniel, when addressing the graduates.

“You successfully completed a year of intensive English training, which was no easy task. I watched as you gradually increased your ability to communicate in a foreign language. Some of you struggled to the very end, but because of your perseverance, you accomplished your goal! And now, ahead of you lies the challenge of taking full ownership of your language learning.

I do hope that you’ll continue to persevere in your quest to increase your knowledge of English. Read for pleasure, listen attentively, and speak confidently.”


S R F - J R M C 、２ ５ 名の英語訓練クラスの卒業を祝う
文・写真：安達慶一、CFAY広報課

６月２８日、艦船修理及び日本地区造修統括本部（SRF-JRMC）はSRF-JRMC基礎英語クラスを修了した２５人の技能訓練生の卒業式を行なった。英語による式は講師の紹介、スピーチや生徒たちの英語発表などで構成された。 SRF-JRMC司令官スティーブン・スタンシー大佐、副指令官ビル・マンダース中佐、造修部長ガーレット・ファーマン中佐を含むSRF-JRMCを代表する指導者、訓練生の監督者と同僚が卒業を祝うため集まる中、１０ヶ月の訓練を終えた２５人の訓練生たちが英会話能力を披露した。 SRF-JRMC語学訓練部部長、テキサス州ラックランド米空軍基地にある国防語学学校の従業員であるヘレン・マクダニエルさんは１９７６年から英語を母国語としない生徒に英語を教えている。SRF-JRMCでは２００９年１０月から教鞭をとっている。スピーチの中でマクダニエルさんは、効果的なコミュニケーションは「第七艦隊を常に機能出来る状態に保つ」というSRF-JRMCの使命遂行に極めて重要だと語った。だからこそ、訓練生への集中英語トレーニングは技能訓練制度の初年度に行われているという。訓練生は厳しいスケジュールの中、最善を尽くして勉強に励むことを強いられる。「訓練生の能力を最大限に伸ばそうと奮闘する講師を監督することができて光栄に思います。彼らはとても勤勉で、熱心にレッスンプランを立て、対話式の授業を行っています。必要とあれば時間外でも補習授業を行なうこともしばしばあります。」 1984年にSRF-JRMCは日本人従業員の語学育成プログラムの実施可能性を調査し、その結果、プログラムの必要性を確信した。その翌年には英語訓練プログラムを発足、訓練生英語クラスも産声を上げた。英語訓練プログラムはSRF-JRMCに非常に必要なものであり、プログラムは「当廠の二ヶ 国語のコミュニケーション能力の強化」という原則に則るものである。更に、今後の成長が期待され、より多くの生徒の参加の機会を増すことにも繋がるとマクダニエルさんは話す。「日本人の生徒たちはやる気に満ちていて、学んだことを実践するのにも積極的です。」訓練生の英語の発表後、スタンシー大佐は彼らに卒業修了書を授与し祝辞を述べた。祝辞で訓練生の集中トレーニングに対する勤勉さを労い、この修了に誇りを持つべきであるとスタンシー大佐は話した。また、技能訓練制度に於いて、英語プログラムは極めて重要な意味を持つ故に、卒業後も英語のコミニケーション能力の向上に引き続き励んで欲しいと訓練生に伝えた。「良いコミニケーションは日々の業務、艦隊の顧客とSRF-JRMC従業員間の関わりに欠かせないものです。『第七艦隊を常に機能出来る状態に保つ』という使命の達成に重要なのです。学び続ける姿勢を崩さずに、日々、コミニケーションの向上とベストを尽くすように今後も努めてください。」卒業生の一人が卒業に至るまでの勉強方法を語ってくれた。「リスニング用の短い英語の文章の入ったCDを繰り返し聞きました。文法は基礎からやり直しました。業務に於いて、部署の従業員や艦船の乗組員とコミュニケーションを取ることはとても大切ですから。」マクダニエルさんは、熟練講師たちと働けることは光栄であり、SRF-JRMC訓練生プログラムの優秀な生徒の語学能力の成長を目にすることが出来、この上なく満ち足りた気分だと言う。「皆さんには今回の偉業に限らず将来の可能性を感じます。1年間に渡る集中英語トレーニングの修了は決して容易ではありません。英語でコミュニケーションを取る皆さんの能力が次第に上がっているのを見守ってきました。最後まで苦労した生徒も途中で挫折することなく、見事にゴールを達成しました。これから皆さんには自分自身での言語習得の挑戦が待ち受けています。英語知識の向上に継続して励んで頂きたいと心から願っています。英語は、楽しみながら読み、注意深く聞き入り、自信を持って話して下さい」とマクダニエルさんはスピーチを締めくくった。