A Night Walk Near Chiba City Hall and 50,000 LED Lights I Wasn’t Expecting by Jesse | Jabble Chiba

Yesterday evening, I was walking home through Chiba after work, not really thinking about anything in particular.
I was checking my phone, listening to some music, and just thinking about my day.

Then I noticed the lights.

In front of the Keiyo Bank branch, between Chiba City Hall Monorail Station and Chiba-Minato Station, the street was lit up with LED lights.
A lot more than I expected. I later heard it was around 50,000 LED lights, which honestly surprised me. For Chiba, it was pretty impressive.
It’s not a place I would usually stop. Normally, I would just pass by that kind of place without really looking around.
But last night, I noticed a few people were slowing down, taking photos, and actually stopping for a moment.
It wasn’t crowded or loud — just calm, bright, and a little nicer than usual.

I stood there for a minute longer than I planned to, took a few pictures, then kept walking.

These Small Moments in Chiba
Chiba has a lot of places like this. Areas that usually feel very normal, very practical. Stations, offices, banks. Nothing special.
But sometimes, especially in winter, something small changes the mood. Lights, decorations, or just a quieter night. And suddenly the same street feels different.
I think that’s one of the good things about living and working here. You’re not constantly surrounded by big events, so when something simple stands out, you actually notice it.

Thinking About English on the Walk Home
While I was walking, I started thinking about how familiar that feeling is in my English classes.
English improves the same way those LED lights work. One light doesn’t change much. But when you add them consistently, the whole space feels different.
When you’re learning English, one lesson doesn’t suddenly make you fluent. One correction doesn’t feel important.
One new word doesn’t seem like much. Most days, it feels like nothing big is happening.
But then, after a while, something changes.
You answer a question more quickly.
You don’t stop as long to think.
You explain something and realize the other person understands you.
It’s not dramatic. It just feels… easier.

What I See in Class
At Jabble Chiba, I see this kind of progress all the time.
Students often tell me they feel stuck. They say they keep making the same mistakes, or that speaking still feels hard.
And they’re not wrong — those things don’t disappear overnight.
But from a teacher’s point of view, I can see the difference. Their sentences get a little longer.
Their reactions get faster. They start correcting themselves before I say anything.
When I point it out, a lot of students look surprised. They hadn’t noticed it themselves yet.
That’s probably because progress doesn’t feel exciting when it’s happening slowly. You only really notice it when you stop and look back.

Adult English Isn’t About Big Leaps
Most of the students I teach in Chiba are adults. They come to class after work, sometimes tired, sometimes distracted, sometimes stressed. That’s normal.
Because of that, learning English has to fit into real life. It can’t depend on motivation every day or studying for hours.
What matters more is showing up, speaking regularly, and being okay with making mistakes. If you do that, even inconsistently, things still add up.
Just like those lights — one at a time, quietly doing their job.

On the Way Home
I finished my walk, got home, and honestly didn’t think about the lights again until later. But writing this now, I realize that’s kind of the point.
Not everything needs to be a big event to matter.
If you’re near Chiba City Hall, the monorail station, or Chiba-Minato, and you happen to pass by in the evening, it’s worth looking up for a moment.
Even if it’s just on your way home. And if you’re learning English and feel like nothing is changing, it might be the same situation.
The changes are there — just quietly building up.

Chiba校
Jesse

【日本人スタッフによる要約】
千葉市役所モノレール駅と千葉みなと駅の間、京葉銀行前で行われている約5万球のLEDライト。
Jesseの何気ない夜の散歩から、英語学習の「少しずつ積み重なる変化」についての気づきが生まれました。
英語の上達は劇的ではなくても、続けることで確実に変化が見えてきます。
日常の中の小さな発見とともに、学びの過程を感じていただけたら嬉しいです。