PLS NEWSLETTER - 19.01.2021

New Year’s Greeting from Masumi Ormandy, Chairperson, PLS Group

Dear PLS Sister School Association members,

A Happy New Year to you all.

The start of a new year is usually a time of excitement, but there’s no doubt that many of us entered 2021 with anxiety and mixed emotions. A sharp increase in coronavirus cases has triggered another state of emergency in Tokyo and 10 further prefectures. Of course both the economy and education are important, but measures to contain the spread of infection are of paramount importance as we eagerly await the availability of a vaccine.

Getting through this unprecedented pandemic is a significant challenge. While there are no obvious solutions, I can offer one piece of advice for a way to live a happy life. How we take in the information and events around us is important. For example, constant exposure to coronavirus-related news is bound to make you feel anxious. Be flexible in the way you think. If you’re always worried, this will negatively impact your work, hobbies, and everyday life, which in turn will make you mentally and physically ill. 

The “glass half-full” or “half-empty” mentality is a habit of the mind, and it’s important to recognise that habits accumulate. We can not stop the world changing. But if you’re positive, and habitually focus on the good points of change, this can lead to motivation. I’d like to think about the things we can achieve because, not in spite, of the coronavirus.

As some of us spend more time working from home, we’ve gained extra hours that otherwise would have been spent commuting and have less fatigue. Utilising this extra time, and taking advantage of online technologies, many are looking to learn something new or gain new qualifications. As a personal anecdote, many people have approached me with serious ambitions to study English. This was the same 40 years ago. Now is the time to build a bright future for our children, and the number of adults looking to improve their English is increasing.

English and strong communication skills are essential for children.

Let’s improve the global standard of English education!

Masumi Ormandy

Chairperson 

PLS Group