What about Meiji Academy inspires you and your work?
The people at Meiji Academy motivate me to come to work every day. There is not a dull day at work and I look forward to the interaction with students as well as working with my staff. The work environment here is positive and centered around working as a team.
Fun in the city!
Can you tell us about your role as the Operations Director?
As the Operations Director, my main task is to ensure everything is running smoothly from the moment the students step on the plane to Japan to the moment they leave Japan. My role also includes working with other departments to ensure everything is going according to schedule.
How does your background in English Communications studies influence your work today?
My background in English Communications studies plays a key role in my work today. As most of our students are international students, English is commonly used as an intermediary language between students and local staff. Our diverse team is comprised of people with different mother tongues and backgrounds so having a background in English Communications has proven to be very useful.
Check out what a day in the classroom looks like!
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is witnessing the student’s growth from being a diffident individual to a self-reliant individual. It gives me a strong sense of satisfaction when the students enjoy learning the Japanese culture, language, and when they use what they learned in class in other conversations.
You teach Japanese language classes and Japanese business courses as well. What challenges do you face in these roles and how do you overcome them?
There aren’t any major challenges I face while teaching Japanese. However, students tend to overuse their native language in their conversations which I strongly encourage them to speak in Japanese and help them if they struggles. ‘Practice makes perfect,’ and with that being said, practice is the best way to improve language capabilities and Meiji Academy emphasizes practicing in actual conversations, what you learn in the classroom.
Why do you think it is important to travel and experience new cultures?
I think traveling and experiencing new cultures is essential for the development of an individual. It is the best way to broaden one’s horizon and appreciate what your home country might have or might not have.
Talking with participants
What qualities make up your ideal Meiji Academy participant?
There isn't an ideal Meiji Academy participant as anyone can be one! However, a positive attitude pro ves to be helpful when learning the Japanese language and culture. Our students take Japanese as their second or third language and this can be tough at times but with the right attitude, anyone will be able to overcome the challenges.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
Start learning the local language! There are many ways to learn a new language with the advances in technology, and it does not hurt to invest some time in studying the language of the country you will be residing in.
What hopes do you have for the future of Meiji Academy?
My hope for Meiji Academy is for it to become a hub for international students to learn Japanese and meet new people. We are on our way to becoming one of Fukuoka’s leading language schools and hopefully, we can expand and have branches in other parts of Japan as well.
