通訳案内士（英語）の試験に合格（Pass the exam to guide interpretation of the (English)）

佐世保市黒髪町の元高校教諭、石橋さん（７６）が通訳案内士（英語）の試験に合格した。外国人向けに全国各地で観光ガイドなどができ、報酬も得られる資格で、４度目の挑戦で合格率１４・６％の難関を突破。「身に付けたさまざまな知識を世界の人たちと共有したい」と喜んでいる。
　県立高の元英語教諭。定年後の期限付き採用を含めて４０年以上教壇に立った。退職後も市立図書館で毎日欠かさず英字新聞を読む。知り合った外国人とはメールなどで親交を深め、英語で日本の魅力を発信。インターネットで英語のニュースを視聴するのも日課だ。
　２００８年に県の地域限定通訳案内士試験に合格。より高い見識を備えようと全国版への挑戦を決めた。
　試験は年に１回、政府観光局が主催。世界１１の言語から希望するものを選び受験する。１１年度の英語には３１９７人が挑戦し、筆記（昨年８月）と口述（同１２月）試験を通過した４６７人が今年２月に合格。長崎県内では石橋さん１人で、英語合格者では最年長だった。
　筆記試験では、全国の地理や歴史、産業、経済、政治、文化に関する問題もある。石橋さんは３度の不合格を教訓にし、「過去問や参考書を基に徹底的に学習した結果がやっと出た」。
　「通訳案内士はあくまで勉強の一環」と笑顔の石橋さん。「物事を知れば知るほど、達成感がある。何歳になっても学び続けることが大事」とさらなる向学心を燃やしていた。 目標を持って命ある限り学び続けることが大切なんでしょうね。

(76) has passed the test (English) former high school teacher to guide interpretation, Mr. Ishibashi of the city Sasebo black hair. Qualifications etc. can be tour guide for foreigners throughout the country, is also obtained rewards, exceeded the barrier of 14.6% pass rate for the fourth time in the challenge. We are delighted, "I want to share with people around the world the knowledge of a variety of wearing."
Former English teacher at a prefectural high. Stood on the platform with more than 40 years, including the adoption of post-retirement period. Read the newspaper every single day in the city library even after retirement. I met with foreigners deepen a friendship such as e-mail, originating the appeal of Japan in English. Routine but also when you watch the news in English on the Internet.
Pass the exam to guide interpretation of the regional prefecture in 2008. Decided a challenge to the national edition and get ready for a higher insight.
Test once a year, sponsored by Tourism. Pick and choose what you want to take hope from the language of the world 11. English in fiscal 3197 to 11 people is the challenge, pass in February this year, 467 people passed through the test (May 12 the same) and oral (last August) writing. In Nagasaki Prefecture is one Mr. Ishibashi, who was the oldest English pass.
In the written test, there is also a problem and the historical geography, industry, economic, political and cultural information throughout the country. Mr. Ishibashi is the lesson of failed three times, "the result of a thorough study based on past questions and reference book finally came out."
"Interpretation is part of the study guide only," Mr. Ishibashi and smile. Burning desire to learn and further was "important that even though the years keep learning. What we know about things, there is a sense of accomplishment." I would not be important to keep learning as long as there is life with the goal.