Hi everyone!
This time let me introduce an English expression: to put someone’s shoes on – meaning to experience someone’s feelings or actions by standing their position.
In this post, I will share about the first time I “wore someone’s shoes” in the UK.
I learned this expression while studying dance movement psychotherapy in London. My course teacher first showed me how to “wear the clients’ shoes” as a way to understand them in therapy sessions.
Young Ayaka from a dance studio in London University!
‘Wearing their shoes’ is a metaphor. As a master student, we joined the work placements at various facilities. After each visit, we reflected on our experiences in supervision sessions, without breaking confidentiality.
These moments were where we stepped into the clients’ shoes. We could sense how they might have felt, by standing their position and seeing how my own body has responded.
As a dance therapy trainee, it was crucial to experience through the body – though sometimes the experience was overwhelming me! Gradually I have learned how to put these physical impression into words.
For this reasons, ‘to put someone’s shoes on’ can be a powerful action. It helps us understand others on a non-verbal level and show compassion. But don’t rely on your own interpretation alone. Always check someone that trust, or consult a professional if needed.
I was reminded of this lesson when I met some deaf university students at an event for Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics. We chatted about my Japanese sign language learning. They shared their perspectives as members of the deaf community. Finally… we danced a bit!
It felt like wearing their shoes again!
If you’re curious about someone’s world, step into their shoes—you might discover a brand new pair waiting for you!
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今回の記事は、夏休み企画！
英語の言い回しをご紹介し、
それをどのように、
行動に移していたのかについて
ご紹介しました。
Put someone’s shoes on が
ただの「靴を履く」
という意味だけでなく
もっと深い意味を持つことが
理解できたでしょうか？
この記事の元ととなっているのが、
デフリンピックイベントで出会った
学生とのエピソードです。
→学生とのエピソードはこちら
*･゜ﾟ･*:.｡..｡.:*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*
そして！
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夏も、英語学習も楽しみましょう！
