What Chess Teaches Me About Learning

華陵高校に勤務していたとき、同僚の先生方と協力して『Karyo Weekly』という英文記事を2003年から2015年まで毎週発行していました。その頃を思い出して、今回は英文エッセイを書いてみました。

One of my daily habits is to play chess until I win at least once. It’s fun, challenging, and insightful. Let me explain.

First, it’s fun. You get to taste victory on a daily basis unless you give up halfway through. A hard-fought win can be exhilarating. As my opponent is a computer, I can play anytime and have a good time, which is a big plus.

Second, playing chess is challenging. You need to stay calm, be flexible, and be patient. After a careless move, I say “ugh” out loud, which happens more often than I want. So, you need to not only be laser-focused on what you are trying to do but also use a mental radar over the entire chess board to avoid falling into your opponent’s trap. It’s not a piece of cake you can enjoy without effort, which makes each win even more delicious.

Lastly, it is insightful. It’s a daily reminder that lets me feel how my students feel when they can and cannot solve problems on college entrance exams. Learning English is something I’ve been doing for ages, so I know how to do it. But when it comes to playing chess, I don’t know everything I need to win, just like my students don’t always know everything they need to solve problems. Playing chess helps me stay humble and feel more compassionate.

Oh, by the way, playing chess can be addictive, so I try to limit my daily playtime to 75 minutes by using an app called LeechBlock. Hopefully, when my students study English, they will refuse to use this kind of limiter and become enthusiastic about learning English, just as I am. Let’s have limitless fun!

本日(2025年7月4日)も積極的な氣持ちでがんばります！(笑)