What inspired you to work for Meiji Academy?
I was essentially attracted by teamwork, which is central to the success of Meiji Academy. Teamwork is important for the success of all businesses. It is especially important when your team comprises of a diverse team of individuals of different skill-sets, cultural perspectives, and backgrounds.
It allows my company to thrive as our diversity contributes to new ideas and solutions. Our team is self-motivated and works together with a similar goal in mind, which is crucial for achieving our company’s mission.
Joining Meiji Academy was also great for my own personal development - before becoming Meiji’s School Director, I worked as a Japanese teacher. As a teacher, my sole focus was on teaching.
However, as a school director, I have learned to be able to handle many different tasks simultaneously. Keeping calm and managing multiple tasks at hand, especially in a multicultural context, has been my biggest take away.
From the amazing Meiji team!
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job would have to be meeting all of our students, and hearing from our former students who have had success studying with us.
Out of many heartwarming stories I’ve received from returning students, one story holds a special place in my heart. Learning a new language can be challenging and intimidating for most students.
This student, in particular, spent his free time after class reviewing and revising at the Academy’s common area. His eagerness to learn Japanese was commendable, thus, I spend my free time helping him out.
After returning from his trip to Tokyo, he bought me a thank-you gift. He told me that he was able to put the practical phrases I had taught him to good use during his trip. The sense of satisfaction of being able to extend their language abilities to a higher level and contribute to a student’s experience is unparalleled.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
Travel as much as you can and learn from all of your experiences. A great example of this would be my trip to Cambodia, which was a mind-broadening experience. I was able to step out of my comfort zone and immerse myself in the local daily life.
My host family’s house did not have any gas, electricity or a proper shower, which fascinated me. The ‘shower’ they had was a well with a pail to scoop out water; there were even fish living in that well. Never have I experienced such living standards and it made me appreciate what I have in Japan.
Angkor Wat
Why should someone choose Meiji Academy over competitors?
The teachers at Meiji Academy are professional and passionate about teaching the Japanese language. What really sets us apart from other language schools is that the teachers at Meiji come from different backgrounds along with unique experiences. Our teachers are flexible and tailor teaching methods to match the student’s goals.
What is the academy's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Our mission is to provide foreign students with an entry route to Japan. As a foreigner, it is not easy to properly integrate yourself in Japanese culture, especially if you cannot speak the language. With this in mind, we work hard every day to help our students discover all the wonders of this amazing and unique culture.
Kijima Kogen Park
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
Essentially, it's really important that our students come out with a positive experience after studying with us. I hope that our participants come away with not only a better understanding of the language, but also the culture.
But above all, I hope our students have fun! Learning a language is a long and difficult process, so it's best to have fun whilst doing it.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
I think traveling abroad and experiencing new cultures is the best education you could possibly get. It's the best way to build a true understanding of the world and the humans living across it.
I think that understanding the world is the true meaning of life, and it's something that so many of us unfortunately do not get the opportunity to accomplish!
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
To me, meaningful travel is traveling with a purpose. While it is fine to travel and have a good time, I believe that traveling and making an effort to gain something from your travel is much more worth your time. This may be more knowledge on a certain language, a certain culture, or even just the people there. If you can take something home with you in the form of a lesson, that is meaningful travel.
Our wonderful students!
How is your company handling Covid protocols? What should participants know about your Covid readiness? How are you assisting participants with navigating the new travel landscape?
The Covid situation is particularly an issue in Japan, so we take great care in maintaining a safe environment for all of our staff and students. All of our staff wear masks in the workplace, we have hand sanitizer available, and all of our surfaces are regularly cleaned to prevent the spread of infection.
